The People behind the scenes

Our Leadership

A group passionate about advancing weight inclusive medicine as a way to reduce healthcare disparities for larger bodied patients and promote body autonomy for patients of all sizes.

Interim Executive Director

Don S. Doering, Ph.D. (he/him)

With a career dedicated to building organizations and fostering innovations, Dr. Doering’s expertise lies in philanthropic strategies designed to create change. Over the past 20 years, he has developed and executed strategies in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors (see links below). He has served on governing boards, advisory boards, and task forces. He has a degree in Biophysics from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in Biology from M.I.T.

Interim Program Director

Mónica Peralta, MD (she/her)

Dr. Mónica Peralta is a physician and certified counselor specializing in intuitive eating, mindful eating, and body liberation. Based in Nicaragua, she brings extensive expertise to her practice, supported by a postgraduate degree in clinical nutrition and diabetes. With a steadfast commitment to patient well-being, Dr. Peralta fosters a nurturing environment, prioritizing a weight-inclusive approach in direct patient care. Her advocacy work involves raising awareness with scientific evidence on how weight stigma and the pathologization of bodies causes systemic discrimination and oppression.

AWSIM Administrative Assistant: Meaghan Williams (she/her)

Board of Directors

President

Lisa Erlanger, MD (she/her)

  • Director of Medical Services
    The Emily Program, Washington State
  • Clinical Professor of Family Medicine
    University of Washington School of Medicine
  • Certified Body Trust (R) Provider
    The Center for Body Trust, Portland, OR

Treasurer

Naomi Busch, MD (she/her)

  • Family Medicine
  • Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner (MCMP)
  • Seattle Menopause Medicine (owner)

Secretary

Julie Phillips, MD, MPH (she/her)

AWSIM Education Committee – Director of CME

  • MSU Family Health Center, Michigan State University
  • Professor and Chair, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Vice President

Katarina Wind, MD, CCFP (she/her)

AWSIM Membership Engagement Chair

  • Family Physician and Hospitalist, Vancouver, Canada 
  • Clinical Instructor, University of British Columbia

– Clinical Instructor, University of British Columbia 

Anna R. Whelan, MD, FACOG (she/her)

AWSIM Education Committee Chair

  • Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • UMass Memorial Medical Group & UMass Chan Medical School
  • Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine

Student Representatives – Medical Students for Size Inclusivity (MSSI) Co-directors: Jessica Rosenblum (she/her)