The Valley Hospital has been named a recipient of an Equitable Obesity Care Grant from the American College of Physicians (ACP) to confront equity challenges and reduce stigma in obesity care. Valley is one of only 12 grantees chosen nationwide for the collaborative, community-based initiative, securing an award of $24,740.
According to the ACP, the grant program supports scalable, locally driven models designed to expand access to culturally responsive care, enhance medical education, and reduce clinical bias surrounding obesity and cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome care. Grantees were selected based on their feasibility, patient partnership strategies, and potential for measurable impact.
The funded project, titled “Weighing In: Tipping the Scales of the Stigma of Obesity through Physician-Patient Partnerships in Education and Innovation,” was submitted by Dr. Dawn Calamari-Brinkrode. Calamari-Brinkrode serves as the medical director of the Earl Wheaton, Jr., Family Care Center and the Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Valley Health System, which operates in partnership with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
The project team includes residents from Valley’s Internal Medicine Residency Program: Drs. Travis Adamson; Dena Alsurakhi; Amy Yeung; and Kruthi Kella.
“This project will ensure the next generation of physician trainees excel at obesity management and patient care, as well as provide education and individualized care to our obese patient population through meeting all the pillars of obesity care, including a focus on diet and nutrition, sleep, exercise, and behavioral and mental health conditions,” Calamari-Brinkrode said.
The grant funding will be utilized to implement a specialized obesity care program at the Dr. Earl Wheaton, Jr., Family Care Center, located at 223 North Van Dien Avenue in Ridgewood. The center provides comprehensive outpatient primary, prenatal, pediatric, and specialty care across all age groups and is situated on a local bus route, ensuring access for an underserved population.
Over the course of multiple appointments, internal medicine residents will utilize official ACP obesity management resources, screening tools, and patient care forms to track patient progress across key metrics. The educational framework will be supported by:
- Dedicated dietitian support and professional chefs.
- Professional exercise trainers.
- Patient support groups and specialized evening lectures.
“We are honored to have been chosen to receive a grant for our initiative to help provide education on the epidemic disease of obesity to an underserved population,” Dr. Calamari-Brinkrode said. “Patients will now have the benefits of early education for lifelong goal setting and disease prevention.”
The initiative aligns with a larger push by the ACP to strengthen clinical capacity and address deep-seated gaps in obesity treatment and cardiometabolic health.
“Obesity is a critical public health issue and presents a significant health equity challenge,” Dr. Jason Goldman, president of the American College of Physicians said. “This grant initiative provides recipients an opportunity to fill knowledge gaps, accelerate scientific advancement, and develop innovative solutions in care for those with obesity.”
Following the local implementation of the program, The Valley Hospital team will participate in a post-project summit convened by the ACP in 2027 to share outcomes, insights, and long-term sustainability opportunities with fellow grantees.
