Gratitude and Appreciation for Dr. McCarthy's Years of Service to OMA

The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) would like to recognize and thank Dr. William (Bill) McCarthy for all his years of dedication and service to the organization and the advancement of obesity medicine.

Dr. Bill McCarthy joined the Obesity Medicine Association in 2005 and has been an avid member and a crucial resource for advancing obesity medicine ever since. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and practiced obesity medicine in the Northern Virginia area. He received his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine and served his internship and residency in family practice at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Hospitals. He practiced family medicine for 30 years before transitioning into full-time bariatrics in 2007. He previously served on the Board of Trustees of the OMA (formerly ASBP) and was also one of OMA's Co-Executive Director of Clinical Education for 7+ years. Dr. McCarthy won the OMA Steelman-Seim Educator Award for Excellence in Academics twice.

Many OMA members and Dr. McCarthy's colleagues would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation. Karli Burridge says, "Dr. McCarthy has been a calm, kind, grounding, and consistent presence at OMA since I have been a member. His contributions to the field, passion for educating and mentoring providers, and commitment to providing the best care possible for his patients have made this world a better place. Thank you, Dr. McCarthy, for all you have done."

Dr. Nicholas Pennings writes, "It was so nice to be in person at the OMA Spring Summit in Atlanta. I enjoyed the great lectures, seeing old friends, and meeting new participants exploring obesity medicine for the first time. I even saw a former student, now a family medicine resident, advancing her education in obesity medicine. But for me, there was also a huge void. This was the first conference I attended that my friend, mentor, and CME partner, Bill McCarthy, did not attend. Bill retired from his role as co-director of clinical education this January. He has contributed to the OMA in so many ways. In addition to his role in CME planning, he was a board member, conference presenter, and co-author of the Obesity Algorithm. Bill's contribution to obesity education cannot be understated. His attention to detail, content quality, and commitment to the integrity of education helped take obesity education to a new level, as evidenced by participant feedback and culminating with the OMA receiving Accommodation with Commendation from the ACCME! Thank you, Bill, for all your hard work, commitment, and leadership in advancing obesity education.

I look forward to getting together when you can attend future conferences."

Dr. Harold Bays writes, "This is to acknowledge and thank my friend and colleague, Dr. Bill McCarthy. As a clinical trialist, I have > 30 years of experience working with some of the greatest minds in metabolic research, spanning lipids, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Based on my experience, the term' opinion leader' is often too loosely applied. In working with Dr. McCarthy as a co-author of the Obesity Algorithm and witnessing his work as OMA Executive Director of Clinical Education, I can objectively say that Dr. McCarthy is indeed an 'opinion leader' in the truest sense of the word."

"Because I am so immersed in clinical research, and because of my compulsive and careful nature, it was not unusual for me to ask Dr. McCarthy to review my work, even when I knew I had it right. In the most professional and humble ways, Dr. McCarthy often pointed out how I didn't have it right. I could not be more grateful. Speaking with colleagues, OMA staff, and just about anyone who knows him, I sensed a universal agreement that Dr. McCarthy had an uncanny knack for drilling down and identifying essential issues. Then, with surgical-like precision, he would make practical recommendations to fix the issues. His attention to detail, coupled with pragmatic solutions, is a unique gift that we will all greatly miss. As importantly, I will miss his kindness (niceness is a much-underappreciated skill set). I wish Bill nothing but the best; I will miss working with my friend."

The Obesity Medicine Association would like to extend their sincerest appreciation for all the work and dedication Dr. McCarthy gave to the organization.