About Us
Board of Directors
President
Firas Ghomraoui, MD
Dr. Ghomraoui is a double board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine, well known for his compassionate and patient-centered approach to care. As the president of the North Carolina Obesity Society (NCOS), Dr. Ghomraoui is a leading advocate for addressing weight management with empathy, understanding, and science-based strategies.
Dr. Ghomraoui's weight loss philosophy emphasizes improving health metrics, rather than focusing solely on physical appearance and believes that a successful weight management program should incorporate balanced nutrition, regular movement, quality sleep and effective stress management. By addressing these key pillars of wellness, Dr. Ghomraoui empowers his patients to achieve sustainable, long-term health improvements.
He graduated his internal medicine residency from University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY and underwent his fellowship training in obesity medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Other than his passion for fighting obesity, he also has interests in traveling/backpacking, photography, weightlifting, meditation/healing, dancing, and languages.
Vice President
Anne KOME, PHARMD, CPP
Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner – Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of North Carolina Health
Clinical Adjunct Professor – University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Dr. Komé is a clinical pharmacist practitioner at the University of North Carolina Health Endocrinology and Weight Management Clinics in Chapel Hill, NC. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill, NC and completed ambulatory care-focused residencies at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond, VA, and the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in Columbus, OH. In addition to advocating for obesity medication access, she has interests in traveling the world, working out, exploring local restaurants and coffee shops, and indulging in reality television.
Secretary
Tiffany Lowe Clayton, DO
(Dr. Tiffany) is dually board certified by the American Board of Osteopathic Family Physicians and the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She is also an assistant professor in the department of family medicine at Campbell University- School of Osteopathic Medicine in Buies Creek, N.C. She obtained her medical degree and completed her residency training in family medicine from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine (now a part of Rowan University) in 2003.
After years of working with patients and their families as a primary care physician, in recognizing the impact that an unhealthy weight has on a patient’s health, Dr. Lowe Clayton received specialized training in the management of obesity to be able to address those needs. She aims to assist patients in losing weight with a comprehensive nonsurgical approach and offers both one-on-one counseling and support group sessions to help them prevent disease, improve their overall health and reverse chronic obesity related medical illnesses.
A consummate teacher at heart, she is committed to empowering her patients to reach their health goals by utilizing her training as an osteopathic medical physician to address the needs of the "whole person". Her motto is that “healthy living is more than just a physical principle.” By helping patients understand and attend to the underlying factors that may have contributed to the struggle with their weight, she seeks to equip them with the skills needed to reach and sustain their health and wellness goals.
On a personal level, Dr. Tiffany believes in the importance of self-care. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, writing, motivational speaking and recreational boxing.
Treasurer
Cressent Pressly, MD
Dr. Cressent Pressly is board-certified physician in family practice and obesity medicine. She attended medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed residency at Cone Hospital in Greensboro, NC. After seventeen years as a clinician at Novant Health Maplewood Family Practice in Winston-Salem, NC, she became the medical director of CoreLife Novant Health, a clinic-based program for patients with obesity. She now serves CoreLife as the Chief Medical Officer providing oversight for their collaborative care model including medical, dietetic, behavioral health and fitness providers at twenty-six locations in North Carolina and Maryland. Dr. Pressly is a passionate advocate for and educator on treating the disease of obesity, a member of the Obesity Medicine Association, and an inaugural board member of the NC Obesity Society.
Board Member
Emily Weaver, NP
Emily Weaver is a nurse practitioner (NP) who is certified in obesity management through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Emily brings more than a decade of healthcare experience spanning a variety of clinical areas including neurosurgery, intensive care, primary care, and obesity management. She currently serves as the Director of Patient Care at True You Weight Loss in Cary, NC.
She holds bachelor’s degrees in nursing and exercise/sport science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as a master’s degree in nursing, with a specialization in adult-gerontology primary care, from George Washington University. Skilled in engaging with patients to develop care plans that meet their health goals, Emily has also trained extensively in nutrition and health coaching. She is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association and serves on the Advocacy Committee for this national organization. Emily has been active in advocating for increased access to services for patients with obesity in North Carolina over the last two years.
Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Emily currently lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her son and dog. She enjoys being active, working out at home, hiking, traveling, and cooking.
Board Member
Jessica Bartfield, MD
Dr. Jessica Bartfield is an Associate Professor at Atrium Health/Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and practices obesity medicine at its comprehensive Weight Management Center. She is board certified in internal medicine and was among the first group of physicians certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine in 2012. Jessica directs the obesity medicine fellowship and the fourth-year obesity medicine elective course at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She is an active member of The Obesity Society and Obesity Medicine Association. In addition to clinical practice and education, she participates in clinical research focusing on behavioral modifications and anti-obesity pharmacotherapy for long term weight management.
Board Member
Gail Cohen, MD
Dr. Gail Cohen is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. She is a general pediatrician by training and became certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine in 2018. She obtained her medical degree at Harvard Medical School, and did her pediatrics residency at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also obtained a master’s degree in clinical research. She practices obesity medicine at the Brenner FIT program at Brenner Children’s hospital, an interdisciplinary pediatrics weight management program, and serves at the team’s director of education.
Board Member
Stephanie Ortiz Page, DO
Dr. Page is a board-certified family medicine physician with additional fellowship training in diabetes/metabolism from East Carolina University and is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She currently is working as a lead diabetes and obesity medicine specialist at Carteret Medical Group in Eastern North Carolina, and principal investigator for Clinical Trials focusing on metabolic disease treatment. She is an active member of the Obesity Medicine Association and has served as a mentor and in multiple committees including bariatric surgery/obesity medicine and currently on the editing team of the Obesity Medicine Algorithm. Dr. Page has a passion and expertise in understanding the daily challenges of managing diabetes and obesity. She is on the board of directors for the NCOS. In her role as a board member for the North Carolina Obesity Society, she remains dedicated to advocating for her patients and improving education for healthcare providers across North Carolina with the goal of better treatment, reduced stigma, and less bias in obesity care.
Board Member
John Parker, MD
Dr. John Parker is a fourth-generation physician from Fuquay-Varina, NC. He graduated medical school from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He then completed his Endocrinology subspecialty training at Duke University. Dr Parker began clinical practice in 2003 as an endocrinologist in Wilmington, North Carolina and was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology in 2005. He is certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Diabetes and Metabolism. Currently, Dr Parker practices at Wilmington Health, where he also served as Medical Director of an evidence-based obesity treatment program (Health Management Resources at Wilmington Health) for more than 8 years, and he also conducts clinical research in multiple areas of endocrine disorders, including hypercortisolism, obesity, hypothyroidism, and type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, with Accellacare. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, Consulting Associate in Medicine at Duke University and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Board Member
Andrea D. Coviello, MD, FACE, MMCi, MSc
Andrea D. Coviello, MD, FACE, MMCi, MSc
As a board-certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist, my research focus has been on the neuroendocrine control of reproduction and metabolism and the influence of reproductive hormones on metabolism and cardiovascular disease. This project aligns with my research goals as it focuses on the treatment of obesity and related endocrinology disorders in relation to newer prescribed incretins and I am excited to be part of this team in my role as a co-Investigator.
My research has encompassed clinical and genetic epidemiology studies in population-based cohorts such as the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) and NHANES as well as translational clinical research. I am working with the CHARGE (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology) Consortium as a FHS investigator on the genetic influences of reproductive traits such as menopause as well as circulating gonadal and adrenal sex hormones and their relationships to health and chronic disease. My clinical research has included clinical trials of testosterone therapy in men. In women, I have studied the metabolic disorders associated with androgen excess in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as the metabolic and cardiovascular sequelae of higher androgens in women of white European ancestry (1RO1HL094755-01A2). I mentor a junior investigator with a BIRCWH K12 (Duke) examining the role of sex steroids in hidradenitis in women with PCOS.
My clinical trial work has shifted to focus on industry sponsored trials in obesity, diabetes, lipid disorders and fatty liver disease. I have clinical expertise in the treatment of obesity and related endocrinology disorders combined with research expertise in reproductive endocrinology in the effects of sex steroids on health and disease. I am currently developing a clinical trial program in obesity and obesity related disorders in the Department of Medicine’s Clinical Research Unit. As the Director of the UNC Weight Management Program with clinical expertise in the treatment of obesity and related endocrinology disorders I am uniquely qualified to facilitate research, specifically clinical trials, with obesity and obesity related metabolic disorders.
Board Member
Mark Schwartz, MD
Dr. Mark Schwartz is board certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine. He works at atrium health weight management in bariatric medicine.
I chose medical weight management because obesity is the root cause of many chronic conditions. There is no greater reward than seeing my patients lose weight, no longer need medication for their chronic diseases and have a positive outlook on life.”
Dr. Schwartz is board certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
Dr. Schwartz received his medical degree at the State University of New York. He completed a residency at Rutgers University, where he stayed on as an attending physician and was recognized with the Department of Medicine Volunteer Faculty Award.
When not working, Dr. Schwartz enjoys spending time with his wife and son. His hobbies include photography, cars, traveling and anything Disney.
Administrator
Rebecca Schwartz, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Rebecca Schwartz, graduated as Valedictorian from Sacred Heart University with a Doctor of Nursing Practice, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has experience in Internal and Family Medicine, as well as critical care and emergency medicine.
Rebecca is currently proud to serve as the Nurse Practitioner for the City of Wilmington. She is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the city’s employees. Her passion for enhancing community health aligns perfectly with the mission of the North Carolina Obesity Society. Rebecca looks forward to advocating for patients living with obesity and contributing to the overall wellness of North Carolina.