Maria Pena, MD, director of the Center for Weight Management at Syosset Hospital, recently became part of the first group of physicians in North America to be certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) as an obesity medicine specialist.
This certification makes Dr. Pena one of about 850 physicians in the U.S. and Canada to date who are certified to treat obesity.
“Having this certification helps me better treat people who are obese with the appropriate actions including behavioral modification, diet, medical treatment and exercise,” Dr. Pena said. “Obesity is a complex disease and at the Center for Weight Management, we aim to offer the best resources we can to both our overweight and obese patients so they can successfully lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
To achieve this certification, Dr. Pena completed 500 hours of training during her endocrinology fellowship, attended a week-long conference and passed a certification exam. The ABOM exam was created in 2012. The certification is valid for seven years.
