OMA Member Story: Manisha Chand

From a young age, Dr. Manisha Chand knew she wanted to go into healthcare. "I cannot recall a time when I wanted to be anything other than a doctor," she shares. While her choice of specialties has evolved over the years, her passion for healthcare has remained constant. This commitment to helping others has guided every step of her journey, shaping her into the dedicated obesity medicine specialist she is today.

Canadian born and raised, Dr. Chand attended medical school in Europe and completed clinical rotations in the US and a year of clinical research in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. After completing her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Illinois at Rockford in 2020, she quickly realized her calling.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Chand came face to face with the complexities of obesity. As the world battled a global health crisis, she had a realization: many of the critically ill patients she treated shared one significant risk factor – obesity. "It was then that I realized care for patients with obesity has been greatly marginalized.” Dr. Chand knew there was room for change, and she knew that she wanted to be a part of it.

This realization ignited a passion for obesity medicine that has only grown with Dr. Chand. She recognized that obesity was often overlooked in primary care settings, despite its direct connection to many chronic conditions. "So many patients felt neglected, and yet addressing their obesity could resolve or improve so many other conditions.”

Making the shift from family medicine to obesity medicine was not without challenges. Dr. Chand faced both personal and professional roadblocks, including the guilt of leaving family medicine during a time of physician shortages. But she persisted in finding the perfect job for her, driven by the need for comprehensive obesity care. “There are so many opportunities within Obesity Medicine, it’s easy to want to do it all,” she says. “While there were many organizations that were supportive of my interest, I found that several institutions were wary of hiring a full-time Obesity Medicine Physician. I am very fortunate to have found my place with immense support from my leadership”.

Dr. Chand’s journey to obesity medicine was deeply influenced by her involvement with the Obesity Medicine Association. Recommended by a fellow physician, she joined OMA while preparing for the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) exam. After seeing the work that the OMA has done to create space for obesity medicine in the medical world, she wanted to remain a member.

The community of like-minded professionals she encountered through OMA conferences solidified her decision to pursue obesity medicine full-time. "I was still on the fence about pursuing obesity medicine full time. It was members I met at OMA meetings who encouraged me to take the leap," Dr. Chand recalls. She values the ongoing advocacy and educational advocacy resources OMA provides, which have played a crucial role in her professional development.

Today, Dr. Chand considers the OMA meetings and the network she’s built as the most valuable resources in her journey. "I have met so many remarkable people, some who are just getting started and others who are trailblazers in the field," she says. Dr. Chand has also adopted OMA’s educational tools, such as the patient intake form, which she uses in her daily practice.

Dr. Chand states that pursuing obesity medicine is the best decision she has made in her career to date. She firmly believes that the field of obesity medicine has given her a platform to affect change in the lives of patients on numerous levels. “I have been privy to several educational events, panels and fireside chats. Whether it is community involvement, employee wellness or health policy; there is so much opportunity within the specialty itself,” she notes.

Her advice for those considering obesity medicine is simple: "Go for it! You won’t regret it. There is a great need, and there is so much to learn".

Outside of her medical career, Dr. Chand is passionate about travel, food, and fashion. Her love for global cuisines and the history of designer fashion offers her a unique perspective on the social stigmas and biases related to body image, further fueling her dedication to fighting obesity stigma. Her travels have allowed her to learn about the countries her patients are from, providing her with a way to connect with them regardless of cultural background.

Dr. Chand’s story is proof of the transformative power of obesity medicine. While her jump from family medicine to becoming a full-time obesity medicine provider may have come with its challenges, it shows the true compassion and dedication that so many obesity medicine providers possess. As she continues to advocate for comprehensive obesity care, Dr. Chand remains an example of the meaningful difference one provider can make in the lives of countless patients.