The three dentists at the holistic dental practice share a common aim of helping New Yorkers obtain healthy teeth and mouths and aesthetically beautiful smiles. To that end, the practice offers comprehensive restorative treatments including dental implants and dentures. Metropolitan Dental Care also provides a full suite of cosmetic dental procedures. Two of the three dentists at Metropolitan Dental Care are Invisalign-trained and certified.
According to Dr. Mermet, who has been in private practice in New York City since 2002, the new website better reflects the specializations available at Metropolitan Dental Care.
“We are a unique dental practice in Manhattan in that we approach dentistry holistically. We aim to help our patients improve not just their oral health, but their overall health and wellness. We leverage the power of technology to find root causes so that we can design custom treatments that aren’t just masking symptoms–but are instead treating underlying conditions.”
The modern office of Metropolitan Dental Care is equipped with all of the latest advancements in dental technology that enhance patient outcomes, comfort, and experience. As a digital dental practice, the office boasts advanced dental technologies including the iTero scanner, digital intraoral cameras, and 3D digital impressions, which enable the practice to provide services including:
General Dentistry
Restorative Dentistry
Cosmetic Dentistry
Prosthodontics
TMJ Treatment
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment
About Metropolitan Dental Care
Metropolitan Dental Care is a holistic dental practice providing general, cosmetic, restorative, and prosthodontic treatment at 275 Madison Avenue, Suite 2118, New York, NY 10016 near Bryant Park and Grand Central Station. Visit https://www.metropolitandentalcarenyc.com to learn more or call 212-867-4223.
“Mortgage rates falling more than 1% since October’s peak is major news for a high-demand real estate market like Miami,” MIAMI Chairman of the Board Ines Hegedus Garcia said. “We should begin to see the impact in sales numbers in early 2024. Low inventory in key price points has impacted home sales, but we are beginning to see that change. New listings have risen for three consecutive months.”
Southeast Florida Home Sales Forecasted to Expand by 7% Year-over-Year by End of 2024 MIAMI REALTORS® Chief Economist Gay Cororaton forecasts mortgage rates to fall to 5.25% by the end of 2024 given the overall effect of the Fed’s planned cumulative rate cut of 0.75% and cooling inflation. Mortgage rates hit a 23-year high of 7.8% in October 2023, impacting November 2023 sales numbers across the nation.
“Southeast Florida’s home sales could expand by about 7% year-over-year by the end of 2024 while prices will continue to appreciate at a modest pace of 5%,” Cororaton said. “In the low to mid-price segment of the market, the lower mortgage rates will drive up demand from first-time buyers and renter households. In the high-price and luxury segment, the wealth effect from rising stock prices, a pickup in economic growth in 2024, and sustained migration of high-income households into Southeast Florida will push up demand.”
Total Miami-Dade sales decreased 7.8% in November 2023, from 1,791 to 1,651, due to elevated mortgage rates and low inventory in key price points. November home transactions came to terms in October, which saw rates peak at 7.8%. The statistics don’t include South Florida’s robust developer new construction market and volume.
Miami single-family home sales decreased 1.5% year-over-year, from 718 in November 2022 to 707 in November 2023. Miami single-family home sales, which saw an increase in transactions in September 2023, still has a lack of inventory in key price points as elevated mortgage rates have impacted buyers looking to finance.
Miami existing condo sales decreased 12% year-over-year, from 1,073 in November 2022 to 944 in November 2023. The condo market has been more impacted by lack of inventory at key price points and elevated mortgage rates.
Total Miami New Listings Increase for Third Consecutive Month Miami new listings increased 7.7% year-over-year in November 2023, from 2,982 to 3,211. The Miami-Dade market remains in a seller’s market but the fresh supply of listings will give buyers more options.
Miami single-family homes new listings increased 0.97% while Miami condo new listings jumped 11.93% year-over-year.
Mortgage Rates at Near Lowest Levels Since May 2023 According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.95% as of December 14, falling below 7% for the first time since August 10. That’s down from 7.03% the previous week but up from 6.31% one year ago.
Another leading indicator for sales are showing appointments. South Florida showing appointments declined 1% year-over-year in November 2023 to 157,242 appointments. South Florida showing appointments increased five consecutive months year-over-year before October 2023.
Miami-Dade Inventory is Still Down 42.9% From Historical Average Total inventory is down 42.9% from the historical average for Miami. The monthly historical average for Miami-Dade existing inventory is 20,302 and current inventory is at 11,576.
Total active listings at the end of November increased 3.6% year-over-year, from 11,178 to 11,576.
Inventory of single-family homes decreased 10.1% year-over-year in November 2023 from 4,288 active listings last year to 3,856 last month. Condominium inventory increased 12% year-over-year from 6,890 to 7,720 listings during the same period in 2022.
Months’ supply of inventory for single-family homes is 4.4 months, which indicates a seller’s market. Inventory for existing condominiums is 6.8 months, which indicates a balanced market. A balanced market between buyers and sellers offers between six- and nine-months supply.
Nationally, total housing inventory registered at the end of November was 1.13 million units, down 1.7% from October but up 0.9% from one year ago (1.12 million). Unsold inventory sits at a 3.5-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 3.6 months in October but up from 3.3 months in November 2022.
Miami Real Estate Hits 12 Years of Consecutive Home Price Appreciation Miami-Dade County single-family home median prices increased 11.8% year-over-year in November 2023, increasing from $550,000 to $615,000. Miami single-family median prices have risen for 144 consecutive months (12 years), the longest running-streak on record. Existing condo median prices increased 6.3% year-over-year from $395,000 to $420,000. Condo median prices have stayed even or increased in 144 of the last 150 months.
Miami is tied for No. 3 in the U.S. for annual home price appreciation, according to the latest US CoreLogic S&P Case-Shiller Index.
South Florida’s Incredible Wealth Migration Local home prices have risen with South Florida’s wealth migration. In-migration boosted South Florida household income by $16 Billion in 2021, according to MIAMI REALTORS® analysis of the 2020-2021 migration data released by the Internal Revenue Service.
New households moving into Miami-Dade in 2021 had an average adjusted gross income of $229,300. New households moving into Broward County had an average adjusted gross income of $102,600. New households moving into Palm Beach County had an average adjusted gross income of $242,200.
Miami Real Estate Posts $201 Million Local Economic Impact in November 2023 Every time a home is sold it impacts the economy: income generated from real estate industries (commissions, fees and moving expenses), expenditures related to home purchase (furniture and remodeling expenses), multiplier of housing related expenditures (income earned as a result of a home sale is re-circulated into the economy) and new construction (additional home sales induce added home production).
The total economic impact of a typical Florida home sale is $122,000, according to NAR. Miami-Dade sold 1,651 homes in November 2023 for a local economic impact of $201 million.
Miami total dollar volume totaled $1.33 billion in November 2023. Single-family home dollar volume increased 8.8% year-over-year to $698 million. Condo dollar volume decreased 9.7% year-over-year to $637 million.
Miami Distressed Sales Remain Low, Reflecting Healthy Market Only 0.9% of all closed residential sales in Miami were distressed last month, including REO (bank-owned properties) and short sales, lower than 1.6% in November 2022. In 2009, distressed sales comprised 70% of Miami sales.
Short sales and REOs accounted for 0% and 0.9% year-over-year, respectively, of total Miami sales in November 2023.
Miami’s percentage of distressed sales are lower than the national figure. Nationally, distressed sales represented 1% of sales in November 2023, virtually unchanged from last month and the prior year.
Miami Median Price Appreciation Outperforming Nation, State In Florida, closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 17,722 in November 2023, up 4.2% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 7,108, up 0.3%. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.
Nationally, total existing-home sales transactions elevated 0.8% from October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.82 million in November. Year-over-year, sales fell 7.3% (down from 4.12 million in November 2022).
The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes was $413,000, up 3.3% from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Last month’s statewide median price for condo-townhouse units was $321,990, up 3.9% over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.
Nationally, the median existing-home price for all housing types in November was $387,600, an increase of 4.0% from November 2022($372,700). All four U.S. regions posted price increases.
Miami Real Estate Attracting Near List Price The median percent of original list price received for single-family homes was 97% in November 2023. The median percent of original list price received for existing condominiums was 96%.
The median number of days between listing and contract dates for Miami single-family home sales was 23 days, down from 31 days last year. The median time to sale for single-family homes was 64 days, down from 74 days last year.
The median number of days between the listing date and contract date for condos was 32 days, up from 35 days. The median number of days to sale for condos was 72 days, up from 74 days.
Miami Cash Sales 51.5% More than National Figure Cash sales represented 40.9% of Miami closed sales in November 2023, compared to 42.3% in November 2022. About 27% of U.S. home sales are made in cash, according to the latest NAR statistics.
Cash buyers are not deterred by rising rates. The high percentage of cash buyers reflects Miami’s top position as the preeminent American real estate market for foreign buyers, who tend to purchase with all cash as well as some moving from more expensive U.S. markets who can buy more with their profits from real estate sales.
Cash sales accounted for 50.2% of all Miami existing condo sales and 28.4% of single-family transactions.
Note: Statistics in this news release may vary depending on reporting dates. MIAMI reports exact statistics directly from its MLS system.
About the MIAMI Association of Realtors® The MIAMI Association of Realtors (MIAMI) was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 103 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations: MIAMI RESIDENTIAL, MIAMI COMMERCIAL; BROWARD–MIAMI, a division of MIAMI Realtors; JTHS-MIAMI, a division of MIAMI Realtors in the Jupiter–Tequesta–Hobe Sound area; MIAMI YPN, our Young Professionals Network Council; and the award-winning MIAMI Global Council. MIAMI REALTORS represents nearly 60,000 total real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S. and has official partnerships with 260 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI’s official website is http://www.MiamiRealtors.com
“The sudden shutdown of SmileDirectClub operations has left hundreds of thousands of patients without any form of case supervision,” explains Dr. Alan Acierno, Smile Brands’ President of Clinical Operations. “Orthodontic cases frequently require mid-treatment modifications based on regular check-ins with a qualified professional. We want to make sure these patients can access the support they need to achieve the beautiful smiles they were promised.”
SDC patients interested in finding a local Dentist or Orthodontist for the remainder of their treatment should complete this Free Consultation Request Form to be matched with a nearby aligner expert.
About Smile Brands Inc. Smile Brands, based in Costa Mesa, California, is one of the largest providers of dental support services in the United States. Smile Brands supports a portfolio of over 75 brands including well-known regional brands; Bright Now! Dental, Castle Dental, Merit Dental, Midwest Dental, Monarch Dental, and Mondovi Dental. The company provides comprehensive business services through exclusive long-term agreements with affiliate dental groups allowing affiliated practices to spend more time caring for patients and less time on the administrative, marketing, and financial aspects of operating a dental office. The organization receives frequent recognition for its award-winning culture and has been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Glassdoor, Comparably, Stevie® Awards, and more. Visit smilebrands.com for more information.
In 2023, Kegelbell achieved a significant milestone by securing an issued utility patent for its revolutionary device. This recognition underscores the uniqueness and inventiveness of Kegelbell’s offerings in the Women’s Health and FemTech space. Furthermore, Kegelbell’s FDA-registered device is now eligible for reimbursement through FSA/HSA, making it more accessible to a broader audience.
Looking ahead, Kegelbell is actively seeking strategic partnerships within the women’s health industry. By collaborating with like-minded organizations, Kegelbell aims to enhance its impact further and contribute to the advancement of women’s health on a global scale.
Stephanie Schull, PhD expresses gratitude for the recognition, saying, “It is an honor to be recognized alongside such accomplished and dedicated leaders in Women’s Health and FemTech. At Kegelbell, we remain committed to pushing boundaries and developing solutions that positively impact the lives and health of women globally.”
The list compiled by Anja Streicher and Marija Butkovic acknowledges leaders who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and creativity in the Women’s Health and FemTech space throughout 2022. Stephanie Schull’s inclusion on the list for two consecutive years underscores her sustained excellence and leadership in the industry.
About Stephanie Schull and Kegelbell:
Stephanie Schull, PhD is the dynamic CEO of Kegelbell, a company dedicated to revolutionizing women’s health and wellness through innovative solutions. Kegelbell’s commitment to providing effective and empowering products has earned the company a prominent place in the FemTech landscape.
Those living with diabetes, wherever they are based in the US, can now install the eddii app from both the App Store for iOS users and Google Play for Android.
Since eddii’s official API partnership was announced with Dexcom in June this year, the app has integrated with its users’ real-time CGM readings, delivering updates on blood glucose levels. By combining Dexcom’s reliability, with the wit and charm of eddii’s sense of humor – encouraging users to monitor and keep on top of their blood glucose through his quirky language, eddii has received reams of initial praise.
eddii quickly amassed 16,000 sign-ups on the app’s early access waitlist, while a phased rollout, starting in Oklahoma and gradually opening up across middle American states saw over 4,000 users and a stellar 4.8-star rating on the iOS app store within months.
“We pride ourselves on listening to our user’s desires and always prioritize their needs. This is evident in our recent developments, implementing Spanish functionality across the app, introducing real-life gift cards as health incentives, creating an eddii Apple-watch widget, and of course improving our users’ favorite features, the quizzes, and character customization features” said Farhaneh Ahmadi, PhD, eddii’s CEO.
eddii is on a mission to enable access to diabetes care in every corner of the US, hence an initial focus on rural areas. The app’s imminent Virtual Care feature will only further that effort. Soon, on the same fun and gamified app that streams their child’s real-time glucose data from their Dexcom CGM, parents can schedule an appointment with a licensed pediatric endocrinologist at the tap of a button.
“This is only just the beginning of our plans”, expressed Farhaneh Ahmadi, PhD, eddii’s CEO. “eddii is gearing up to launch even more features as early as next year. Picture this: as children glance at their real-time CGM data on eddii, they’re simultaneously immersed in a world of fun and laughter, can seek support, and eagerly anticipate daily rewards – all within one dynamic interface
Over time, eddii evolves into a spirited health companion, tailored to his friend, cheering, challenging, and celebrating achievements. It’s not just managing diabetes; it’s turning health routines into an enjoyable journey. It’s making it fun.”
After conducting a clinical trial where 92 children with T1D and their families were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) using Dexcom CGMs, the outcomes from the trial showed a statistically significant 5.3% improvement in Time In Range (TIR), roughly translating into 1.5 additional hours every day of optimal glucose levels for children living with T1D.
About eddii
eddii is a startup focused on making diabetes management fun. Founded by CEO Farhaneh Ahmadi, PhD., who lives with Type-1 diabetes, its vision is to create a fun, supportive, and educational interface that helps people living with diabetes take care of themselves around the clock and feel happier doing so.
“She’s EmPOWERed serves as a platform to amplify the voices of young visionaries and inspire others to make a difference,” said Rasheda Kamaria Williams, youth empowerment speaker, author and founder/chief empowering officer for Empowered Flower Girl. “We are inspired by 21st century teens and tweens who are challenging stereotypes, breaking down barriers, standing up and using their power for good.”
In addition to the She’s EmPOWERed program, Empowered Flower Girl has facilitated youth empowerment initiatives like the Be the Impact Virtual Summit, which showcases and celebrates young people making or aspiring to make positive contributions to society as well as helps them discover their passion for community service.
She’s EmPOWERed nominations are accepted year-round from those residing in the United States and Canada. Youth selected receive recognition via social media, empowering swag and an opportunity to join Empowered Flower Girl’s alumni network.
Interested in being featured or know someone who should? Email [email protected] or complete the questionnaire at https://bit.ly/shesempoweredform. Parental consent is required for individuals under the age of 18. Empowered Flower Girl reserves the right to reject incomplete or irrelevant submissions. Companies interested in sponsoring swag bag items are encouraged to email us.
About Empowered Flower Girl
Empowered Flower Girl is a social enterprise on a mission to transform the way young people relate to one another and themselves. From workshops that combat bullying and increase empathy to events that inspire intergenerational collaboration, Empowered Flower Girl helps youth and youth advocates discover their power and purpose. We offer programs for tweens/teens, like our signature Chica Chat workshop as well as Girl World Peace Academy – our virtual course and coaching program for adults passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of young people in their communities and schools. Visit www.empoweredflowergirl.com for more information.
“Orthofix’s in-kind donation of medical equipment will be critical to our 2024 missions, beginning with our program in Pakistan in February,” said Dr. Mark Myerson, founder of Steps2Walk and a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon. “Many patients we see in the countries we visit have severe foot and ankle deformities and little to no access to basic medical support devices, let alone surgical care. With this donation, we can impact the lives of thousands of patients across the regions we visit.”
A leading global spine and orthopedics company, Orthofix produces medical devices and innovative solutions for a variety of procedures, including those focused on repairing foot and ankle trauma or deformities.
“At Orthofix, we strive to improve the lives of patients around the globe,” said Kim Elting, President of Global Orthopedics. “We are pleased to partner with Steps2Walk in support of their mission of giving individuals in underserved areas around the world the ‘Gift of Walking.’ We were proud to partner with the Steps2Walk team to identify how we could best support their mission and the patients and surgeons impacted by their programs.”
In 2024, Steps2Walk has 18 programs planned, including missions into countries where there is only one orthopedic surgeon who can treat severe foot and ankle deformities for every 50 million people. For this reason, the organization prioritizes providing intensive training and education so that local surgical residents can provide much-needed patient care.
“The devices and equipment donated by Orthofix will not only help us perform surgeries while on each mission,” said Dr. Myerson. “But they will also ensure we have the tools needed to demonstrate to our program registrants, the local surgeons themselves, advanced surgical techniques and practices they otherwise wouldn’t learn.”
For more information on how to become a volunteer faculty member or trainee participant in one of Steps2Walk’s programs, visit https://steps2walk.org/faculty/. Steps2Walk also accepts online donations, which can give the gift of walking to those who need it most and help fund critical training and education programs for regional orthopedic surgeons.
About Steps2Walk
Steps2Walk, a 501(c)(3) organization, is an international network of surgeons working to perform surgical care on individuals suffering from severe foot and ankle deformities in under-served regions of the world, while simultaneously educating orthopedic surgeons in various treatment and care alternatives. Founded by Dr. Mark Myerson in 2000 to provide a sustainable model of care and surgical training and to help patients regain their mobility and improve their quality of life, Steps2Walk envisions a world where everyone, no matter their circumstances, has access to quality surgical foot and ankle care. In its 23 years of service, Steps2Walk has completed more than 1,550 surgical operations and trained more than 1,500 regional surgeons in over 24 countries around the globe. By investing time into educating local surgeons and revisiting countries where the need is greatest and the resources are few, Steps2Walk is creating a lasting impact that will ultimately give The Gift of Walking to thousands of people worldwide.
About Orthofix
Orthofix is a leading global spine and orthopedics company with a comprehensive portfolio of biologics, innovative spinal hardware, bone growth therapies, specialized orthopedic solutions, and a leading surgical navigation system. Its products are distributed in approximately 68 countries worldwide.
The Company is headquartered in Lewisville, Texas and has primary offices in Carlsbad, CA, with a focus on spine and biologics product innovation and surgeon education, and Verona, Italy, with an emphasis on product innovation, production, and medical education for orthopedics. The combined Company’s global R&D, commercial and manufacturing footprint also includes facilities and offices in Irvine, CA, Toronto, Canada, Sunnyvale, CA, Wayne, PA, Olive Branch, MS, Maidenhead, UK, Munich, Germany, Paris, France and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“The Render Network remains committed to advancing a fully decentralized ecosystem that harmonizes supply, demand, and infrastructure within the GPU processing landscape. The implementation of the Burn and Mint Equilibrium model represents a significant milestone towards realizing this vision,” said Jules Urbach, founder and architect of the Render Network.
Key aspects of Render Network’s BME model include:
Predictable Fiat Pricing: Rendering and AI network tasks can now be priced in fiat currencies, allowing users to pay in the equivalent amount of native RENDER token or fiat for real-time services.
Emissions and Incentives for Network Participants: Predictable token emissions within the BME model incentivize GPU suppliers to serve the network’s growing demand. Network emissions are distributed on a predefined declining schedule, viewable under RNP-003, ensuring network stability. In RNP-006 the community passed an Emissions Schedule for the first year allocating 9,126,804 RENDER to aid the network.
Token Burning and Emissions: Upon completion of work, creators pay for jobs by converting fiat to RENDER using distributed liquidity pools. The RENDER is subsequently burned in exchange for completion of the work. A transparent log of these transactions is maintained by the protocol, which forms the basis for rewards for contributors at each epoch’s end.
Epoch-Based Allocation: Emissions are also allocated on an epoch-by-epoch basis, typically spanning a week period based on network usage. Adjustments to epoch durations can be made by a governance vote to effectively respond to changes in network utilization.
About The Render Foundation The Render Foundation is a Cayman-based, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Render Network, the world’s leading decentralized compute network. The Foundation is responsible for helping set the strategic priorities of the network, issuing grants to support them, and facilitating governance through the Render Network Proposal (RNP) system. To learn more, please visit https://renderfoundation.com.
About The Render Network The Render Network® is the world’s leading decentralized compute network. The network connects node operators looking to monetize their idle GPU compute power with artists looking to scale intensive 3D-rendering work and with machine learning developers looking to train and tune AI models. Through a decentralized peer-to-peer network, the Render Network achieves unprecedented levels of scale, speed, and economic efficiency. For more information on Render Network, please visit https://rendernetwork.com.
Media Contact: Render Foundation Media Relations Email: [email protected]
“The CMO Summit 360 is the only highly practical gathering of its kind to enhance our self-awareness and functional ability as a Chief Medical Officer as we learn from each other how to manage the myriad aspects of our job and stakeholders of our work,” said Roger Waltzman, CMO of Indaptus Therapeutics.
The 2024 keynotes announced include:
Former head of Global R&D at JnJ, Dr Mathai Mammen, CEO, President & Chairman of FogPharma will discuss highlights and lessons learned from his career leading R&D in both biotech and large pharma, as well as his thoughts about the future of clinical R&D and how CMOs can best add value.
Famed Harvard Business School Professor and author, Gary Pisano will discuss competitive strategy and sustained innovation in biotech. Over the course of his career, Dr Pisano has explored fundamental questions about how organizations innovate, learn, compete and grow, with a focus on the commercialization of science.
DIrector of MIT’s Wireless Center, Dr Dina Katabi presents on how biotech CMOs should think about artificial intelligence and its role in clinical development.
The state of the drug development industry keynote address will be given by Ken Getz, MBA, Director of Sponsored Research, Tufts CSDD, and Founder of CISCRP.
“We are proud to connect this incredible community of R&D leaders representing biotechs of all therapeutic areas,” said Andrew Goldstein, Senior Conference Producer for the CMO Summit 360°. “This year’s CMO Summit already has over 65 biotech Chief Medical Officers speaking in 35 sessions.”
Key topics addressed include: navigating the CMO role in 2024, best practices managing CMO departments, the lifecycle of a biotech CMO, biotech financing and business development, professional development for CMOs and more.
The Chief Medical Officer Summit 360°brings together CMO and R&D executives to address the unique challenges associated with directing and managing all R&D functions with limited resources, while raising capital and strategizing for appropriate exits. It is the annual Boston gathering for R&D leadership networking from small to mid-size biotechs to share ideas, solutions and support.
To learn more about the event, please visit cmo360.org.
About the Conference Forum: The Conference Forum is a life science industry research firm that develops conferences, podcasts, newsletters and webinars primarily around how to get therapeutics to patients faster. They examine and challenge the complex ecosystem of drug development and delivery, bringing ideas together from a variety of sources to help advance clinical research with common goals that are patient-focused. They are committed to creating the best content, exchange of ideas and solutions among peers, as well as providing high-quality networking. Learn more about the Conference Forum at theconferenceforum.org.
The 1,539 new Diplomates who passed the most recent exam join the 955 ABOM Diplomates who earned first-time board certification status in January 2023. Overall, the total number of obesity medicine physicians grew by 40 percent from 2022 to 2023.
Year Number of ABOM Diplomates 2023* 8,263 2022 5,881 2021 5,242 2020 4,102 2019 3,377 2018 2,656 *Includes both classes of ABOM Diplomates announced in January 2023 and December 2023.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity affects over 40 percent of U.S. adults and increases the risks for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and musculoskeletal problems. Obesity has been officially recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association since 2013, and many doctors want to help patients lose weight and improve health. However, physicians often graduate from medical school and residency programs with little or no training in weight management and nutrition – they are unfamiliar with treatment guidelines and have low confidence in their ability to treat obesity.
“The growth of obesity medicine board certification mirrors the rise in interest among physicians seeking a more evidence-based approach to treating patients with obesity,” said Dr. Judith Korner, MD PhD, Chair of the ABOM Board of Directors.
According to Dr. Kimberly Gudzune, MD MPH, ABOM Medical Director, board certification sends a strong signal to both patients and referring physicians that the Diplomate is prepared to partner with patients in addressing the complex challenges that obesity presents. Dr. Gudzune also noted that new anti-obesity medications can demand an enhanced level of sophistication and training.
“In the past, many doctors prioritized treating the problems caused by obesity rather than the disease itself. This attitude may stem, in part, from pessimism toward the effectiveness of older treatment options. Now with the advent of highly effective anti-obesity medications, doctors are seeking certification to understand how to use these new tools,” said Dr. Gudzune. “Through the certification process, they also learn the complexity of the disease of obesity as well as comprehensive strategies for treatment.”
ABOM Diplomates come from a wide spectrum of medical disciplines and specialties with primary care physicians comprising the largest number of Diplomates, said Dr. Korner.
“The strong showing from the primary care community is promising because primary care physicians are often in the best position to treat obesity,” Dr. Korner said.
The 1,539 new Diplomates who passed the most recent ABOM certification exam include internists (561), family physicians (462), pediatricians/pediatric subspecialists (106), endocrinologists (75), surgeons (69), obstetricians/gynecologists (44), and gastroenterologists (39), along with numerous other specialists.
Certification as an ABOM Diplomate signifies specialized knowledge in the practice of obesity medicine and distinguishes a physician as having achieved competency in obesity care, with ABOM Diplomates incorporating obesity medicine into their everyday practices or devoting themselves full time to the treatment of obesity. The number of first-time ABOM certificates issued annually now exceeds those of other fields such as cardiology, pulmonary disease, and medical oncology.
The next obesity medicine certification exam will be administered October 14-26, 2024.
About the American Board of Obesity Medicine The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) serves the public and the field of obesity medicine by maintaining standards for assessment and credentialing physicians. Physicians who complete the ABOM certification process are designated Diplomates of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. To find an ABOM-certified obesity medicine physician, search our directory of Diplomates. For more information about how ABOM certification can benefit you or your practice, visit http://www.abom.org, call 303-770-9100 or connect with us on Facebook, X/Twitter, or LinkedIn.
