April 2026 Newsletter

In this issue:

  • Match Day 2026: Congratulations to our MSSI Alumni!

  • Save the Date! MSSI Match Panel

  • Featured Article: “Beyond BMI” by Dr. Mara Gordon

  • Upcoming AWSIM Events

Match Day 2026: Celebrating our MSSI Alumni!

We are thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of our MSSI members who matched into residency! We are so proud of this year’s graduates and excited to see them carry the mission of size inclusivity into residency programs across the country.

Read on to learn where our graduating members are headed for residency and how they plan to incorporate size-inclusive medicine into their future practice.

Rebecca Case

  • Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

  • Residency: Internal Medicine at Rutgers Health Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

  • One way that you plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into your future practice: “I will continue to use size-inclusive language with colleagues and patients to address weight bias and create a safe space for all of my patients.”

Syd Klumb

  • Medical School: Rocky Vista University, CO

  • Residency: Child Neurology at University of Utah Health

Marisa Langton

  • Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

  • Residency: Internal Medicine at Thomas Jefferson

  • One way that you plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into your future practice: “I plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into my career by modeling it in clinical practice and sharing its principles with co-residents and colleagues, helping to shift the focus from weight to overall health. In doing so, I aim to advocate for clinical environments and resources that make patients of all body sizes feel safe, respected and compassionately cared for.”

Sophie Lalonde-Bester

  • Medical School: University of Alberta

  • Residency: Family Medicine at University of Alberta Red Deer

  • One way that you plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into your future practice: “I’m really looking forward to building longitudinal relationships with patients in family medicine and creating a space where they feel heard and supported. I’m excited to be entering a specialty that allows me to focus on preventive care, health-promoting behaviours, and patient advocacy. I also plan to continue my research to improve screening for eating disorders, particularly in those with polycystic ovarian syndrome.”

Taylor Lees

  • Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

  • Residency: Emergency and Internal Medicine at Ohio State University

  • One way that you plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into your future practice: “Weight-inclusive care has been and will continue to be a common thread throughout all of my patient interactions rather than an isolated skill I only occasionally incorporate. All patients deserve access to non-biased healthcare without being shamed, blamed, or othered for the shape or size of their body. The way this shows up will look slightly different in emergency and internal medicine, but both will require being aware of patients' harmful past experiences with bias in healthcare settings, moving away from weight-centric models of care, and focusing on accessible health promoting behaviors.”

Jay Liu

  • Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine

  • Residency: Family Medicine at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center

  • One way that you plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into your future practice: “I hope to become a full-spectrum primary care physician capable of providing equitable, accessible, skillful, and size-inclusive care in both the hospital and the clinic. Everyone deserves to feel safe with their doctor and to pursue health on their own terms, and I hope to walk with them on that journey.”

Laurel Neufeld

  • Medical School: University of Minnesota

  • Residency: Family Medicine at Smileys

  • One way that you plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into your future practice: “Be in community with local organizers! Follow my patients’ lead!”

Samantha Temucin

  • Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

  • Residency: General Surgery at Jefferson Abington Hospital

  • One way that you plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into your future practice: “I plan to ensure a safe environment in the operating room and discourage any harmful and ill-informed comments regarding various body sizes. I hope to educate myself on best considerations for surgery in larger bodies and ensure equal access to treatment for all!”

Alli Bevel

  • Medical School: University of Colorado

  • Residency: Family Medicine at Southern Colorado FMRP

  • One way that you plan to incorporate weight-inclusive care into your future practice: “Weight inclusive lifestyle counseling and peer education”

Tristen Lamb

  • Medical School: Washington State University Elson S Floyd College of Medicine

  • Residency: Pediatrics at Mayo Clinic — Rochester, MN

SAVE THE DATE: MSSI Match Panel

Please join us in celebrating our graduating M4s at the MSSI Match Panel on Tuesday, April 14th at 8-9pm EST. We will be joined by recently matched M4s, residents, and MSSI alumni. Get all your questions answered and hear how size inclusivity impacted their career decisions and the application process.

Please note, this event is intended for medical students and residents/fellows only.

Time Conversion:

  • Tue, April 14, 2026 7:00 pm Central Time 

  • Tue, April 14, 2026 6:00 pm Mountain Time, & Alberta

  • Tue, April 14, 2026 5:00 pm AZ, Pacific Time, Vancouver

  • Wed, April 15, 2026 12:00 pm AEDT Melbourne Australia

  • Wed, April 15, 2026 1:00 am GMT Dublin Ireland

Click here for the meeting link and registration.

Featured Article: “Beyond BMI: What to talk with your doctor about besides weight”

In a recent NPR article, size-inclusive primary care physician Dr. Mara Gordon highlights strategies for moving beyond weight-centric care and discusses alternative approaches to assessing health beyond body mass index (BMI). Her insights offer practical guidance for how we, as future physicians, can foster more patient-centered and size-inclusive clinical conversations.

Reframing Weight-Centered Conversations in Clinical Practice

Recognize the limitations of BMI
BMI was originally developed as a population-level measure, not an indicator of individual health. Recent reports by the American Medical Association and The Lancet have emphasized its significant limitations. As clinicians, this underscores the importance of avoiding overreliance on BMI when assessing patient health.

Be thoughtful about routine weigh-ins
Weight is often treated as a standard vital sign, but it is not clinically necessary at every visit. When obtaining a patient’s weight, consider whether it will meaningfully impact management (e.g., medication dosing), and be prepared to explain its relevance.

Focus on health behaviors and individualized goals
Encouraging sustainable health behaviors—such as adequate sleep, regular movement, balanced nutrition, and mental health care—can be more meaningful than focusing solely on weight. Patient goals will vary across contexts and life stages, and care plans should reflect that flexibility.

Clinical Metrics Beyond BMI

Glycemic markers
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) provides a longitudinal measure of blood glucose over ~3 months and is a key tool in assessing diabetes risk and management. Importantly, improvements in glycemic control can occur with behavioral changes independent of weight loss.

Cardiovascular risk assessment
Tools such as the ASCVD Risk Estimator and PREVENT calculator offer a more comprehensive evaluation of cardiovascular risk by incorporating multiple clinical variables rather than relying on weight alone.

Age-appropriate cancer screening
Ensuring patients are up-to-date on recommended screenings (e.g., cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer) is a critical component of preventive care and often more impactful than weight-focused interventions.

Upcoming AWSIM Events!

May 8, 2026: AWSIM First Annual Scientific & Member Assembly

This inaugural scientific assembly brings together clinicians, educators, researchers, trainees, and community partners committed to advancing weight-inclusive care. Beyond sharing evidence, this space is designed to foster meaningful connection, dialogue, and collaboration—creating a community where ideas are exchanged, perspectives are challenged, and collective learning moves the field forward. Participants will also have the option to engage in sequential small-group discussions with the same group throughout the day, intentionally designed to support deeper dialogue and build lasting professional connections within the AWSIM community.

Student Registration Cost: $20

For 20% off registration, use discount code SOCIAL10

If you are a medical student interested in attending but the registration cost poses a barrier, please contact [email protected].

This newsletter was authored by MSSI member Megan Coolahan (Tufts University School of Medicine).