On May 22nd 2024, the Middlesex-Mercer Counties Medical Society (MMCMS) hosted its 3rd “Leadership in Medicine” event: "Improving Health and Improving Lives: Making Prevention and Effective Treatment of Obesity an Achievable Goal" at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal. More than 150 physicians and other professionals participated in the evening’s festivities.

Dr. Myriam Mondestin-Sorrentino, president of MMCMS, began the program by emphasizing the importance of addressing obesity, including during pregnancy, advocating for healthy food choices, making groceries affordable, and ensuring the accessibility of appropriate medical and surgical weight loss interventions.

Key speakers included:

· Joyce Varughese, MD: Described the connection between obesity and cancer.

· Hannah Lawman, PhD: Discussed lifestyle and behavioral modifications in obesity management.

· Lee Kaplan, MD, PhD: Explained the pathophysiology of obesity, the latest trends in medical management, and barriers to care.

· Ragui Sadek, MD: Covered the role of bariatric surgery.

· Nashon Hornsby, JD: Provided an update on ongoing community efforts to address obesity through the NJ Department of Health.

This was followed by a multidisciplinary stakeholder discussion panel, moderated by Rameck Hunt, MD, that also included:

· John Azzariti Jr, MD, New Jersey Assemblyman

· Herb Conaway Jr, MD, New Jersey Assemblyman

· Neil Goldfarb, President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health

Our program honored five physicians who had been nominated for their outstanding service. This year’s Leadership Award recipients were:

· Rameck Hunt, MD, Penn Medicine Princeton Health

· Jooyeun Chung, MD, Capital Health

· Ragui Sadek, MD, Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health

· Maureen Cernadas, MD, Saint Peter’s University Hospital

· Rao Pasupuleti, MD, Comprehensive Neurology LLC

Following the award ceremony, Dr. Mondestin-Sorrentino extended her gratitude to the sponsors (Capital Health, Penn Medicine Princeton Health, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, RWJ Barnabas Hamilton, Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson, Keller Williams, Eli Lilly), the MMCMS board of directors, her colleagues and office staff, and guests who made the event possible.