New Multidisciplinary Clinic Addresses Weight Management: Pathways Toward Wellness

Pediatric Clinical Update - January 2019

A new multidisciplinary weight management clinic, Pathways Toward Wellness (PTW), is accepting new patients (8-18 years old) who are overweight or obese on a monthly intake basis. 

Pediatric endocrinologists, Ryan Farrell, MD, Tasa Seibert, MD, and Naveen Uli, MD; clinical psychologist, Carolyn Ievers-Landis, PhD; and dietitian, Jennifer Dorman, RD, are leading this effort that is built on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). 

Once a referral is approved, patients should be instructed to contact Rebecca Finney at 216-844-3661 to schedule their initial evaluation and complete baseline questionnaires assessing dietary intake and physical activity, sleep duration/regularity, psychological functioning, and quality of life mailed to their home.  The PTW evaluation clinics are held on the first Friday mornings of each month at UH Landerbrook Health Center.  Patients participate in an initial evaluation conducted by pediatric specialists from the Divisions of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics & Psychology, and Pediatric Sports Medicine and includes physicians, a psychologist, dietitian, and nurse. 

The evaluation includes brief tests to estimate resting energy expenditure and physical conditioning.  The evaluation is followed by four monthly participatory group sessions on principals of ACT for behavior modification, mindfulness, and nutrition education.  Additional individual follow-up sessions can be scheduled with the PTW providers as needed. A pilot that began in June of 2017 of PTW has treated approximately 50 patients and produced many successful patient outcomes. 

To find out more about the program or to refer a patient, e-mail Carolyn Ievers-Landis, PhD at Carolyn.landis@uhhospitals.org or Ryan Farrell, MD at ryan.farrell@uhhospitals.org.