Stay Connected With TOPS Talks 

Expert Advice and Virtual Support

(Last updated May 17, 2022) Our goal in TOPS has always been to focus on the safe and healthy journey to wellness. Individuals at any weight or size can take small steps to better health with help from our TOPS Talks presenter, who have decades of combined experience in a variety of settings including medicine, obesity research and one-on-one patient care.  At the conclusion of each presentation, members will have the opportunity to ask direct questions to help support their efforts to better health.

How to Register

The registration link for each talk will be available in the Members Area under TOPS News and Reminders and My TOPS Resources/Webinars.

Missed A Talk?

Each recorded session will be placed in the Members Area under My TOPS Resources/Webinars so chapters and members may access talks on demand. Please allow two business days after each talk for posting.

Need a program in a pinch? Sharing a recorded TOPS Talk at chapter is a great opportunity to learn and discuss as a group!

TOPS Talks Schedule

Previous TOPS Talks

January 22

Sit and Be Fit With Jodi Stolove

Jodi Stolove, CEO of Chair Dancing Fitness, has been presenting to TOPS members—both in-person and online—for years. She has been offering free fitness classes via Zoom during COVID to help keep TOPS members and others healthy! Join her for this uplifting presentation suitable for people of all abilities and ages.  Video recording available now for members.

February 19

The Heart of the Matter With Jamy Ard, MD

Jamy Ard, MD, practices at Wake Forest School of Medicine and Wake Forest Baptist Health. He will be discussing the disease of obesity and its effects on cardiovascular health to coincide with American Heart Month. He is also co-director of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Weight Management Center. Dr. Ard’s research interests include clinical management of obesity and strategies to improve cardiometabolic risk using lifestyle modification. Dr. Ard has more than 20 years of experience in clinical nutrition and obesity. Video recording available now for members.

March 19

Dealing with Weight Bias and Fat Stigma With Joe Nadglowski

Joe Nadglowski is President & CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), a nonprofit organization formed in 2005. OAC is dedicated to elevating and empowering individuals affected by obesity through education, advocacy and support. A frequent speaker and author, Mr. Nadglowski is especially passionate about access to obesity treatments, tackling weight bias and sharing his own experiences with obesity. He has more than 25 years of experience working in patient advocacy, public policy and education and is a graduate of the University of Florida. Video recording available now for members.
 

April 16

Eating Well for the Health of It With Frances Wild, RD, CDE

Registered Dietitian Frances Wild is the Lead Dietitian at Constant Health in Ottawa, Ontario, as well as a certified diabetes educator. Video recording available now for members.


May 14

It's A Family Matter With Joseph "Joey" Skelton, MD

"Joey" Skelton, MD, MS, FAAP, FTOS, is a board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist at Wake Forest School of Medicine and Wake Forest Baptist Health. He has an interest in working with entire families to change behavior as well as working with community organizations who have the same goals. Skelton is the founder and director of Brenner FIT® (Families In Training), a family-based pediatric obesity program that is active in clinical care, research, education, and community outreach. Dr. Skelton researches how to incorporate the entire family system into health care and teaches medical students in a field called Culinary Medicine, which is a way to improve nutrition and health through cooking. Video recording available now for members.

June 25

The Gatekeeper, Go-Getter and Sleepy Executive With David Macklin, MD, CCFP

David Macklin is a lecturer at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and a University of Toronto trained family physician.  David has committed his career to the prevention and treatment of obesity; has for 16 years directed multidisciplinary, evidence-based - behavioral weight management programs. He is the Medical Director of the Weight Management Program at the Medcan Clinic. He is also the Medical Director the Weight Management Program at the Toronto Mount Sinai Hospital High Risk/Special Pregnancy BMI unit.  He is a Science Committee member at Obesity Canada (OC). David is a co-author of the Canadian Action Study, a co-author of the Behavioural Treatment Chapter in 2020, Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of Obesity in adults. In this engaging and informative presentation, Dr. Macklin explains that obesity is now understood as a genetically influenced, brain-centered, real disease. He also discusses how to overcome the body’s predisposition to seek out food and to conserve fat. Video recording available now for members.

Upcoming Speakers

July 23 

Let's Talk Facts About Microbiomes With Srividya Kidambi, MD, MS

Dr. Kidambi is the Director of the TOPS Obesity and Metabolic Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Medical Director of the Comprehensive Weight Loss Program in the Division of Endocrinology, which uses a multipronged approach to treat metabolic problems caused by obesity. An endocrinologist (hormone doctor) by training, she focuses on managing obesity, diabetes, lipid problems and high blood pressure. Registration opens Friday, June 24. 


August 13

20 Ways to Keep up the Support With Nia Mitchell, MD, MPH

Dr. Mitchell, is a General Internist and Medical Weight Management Specialist at the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center. She conducts research related to diet, obesity and weight-loss support, which includes several studies of TOPS members and chapters. Registration opens Friday, July 22.  

September 17

What Do My Genes Tell Me? - With Michael Olivier

Dr. Olivier is the Director of the Center for Precision Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He also directs the TOPS GENOME Registry, a study that members and the public are invited to join. TOPS Talk registration opens Friday, August 19. 

October 15 

Can I Afford Treatment? - With Arya M. Sharma, MD, PhD, DSSc (h.c), FRCPC, University of Alberta>

Registration opens Friday, September 16. 


November 19

How Do I Quit Shaming Myself For My Weight? With Ximena Ramos-Salas, PHD

Ximena Ramos Salas has a PhD in Public Health with a specialization in Health Promotion & Socio-Behavioural Sciences from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. She currently works as a research consultant with Obesity Canada, the European Association for the Study of Obesity and the World Health Organization – Regional Office for Europe. As a public health researcher her goal is to prevent the perpetuation of weight bias and obesity stigma through public health policies and strategies. She has authored and co-authored numerous scientific articles and lectured widely on the impact of weight bias, health inequalities, and patient-centered research, education, and policies. Registration opens Friday, October 14.


December 17

365 New Opportunities Are Waiting for Us With Rick Danforth

TOPS President Rick Danforth shares a message of hope, coupled with a call to action to make 2023 your best year yet. Registration opens Friday, November 18.