Childhood Nutrition and Obesity Prevention Committee Meeting
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join us on January 21 at 6 PM for the Childhood Nutrition & Obesity Prevention Committee meeting. Internal Medicine Physicians Dr. Smruti Nalawadi and Dr. Shagun Bindlish will guide an interactive conversation on nutrition trends, obesity prevention, and how clinicians can work together to promote healthier outcomes for children and families.
Agenda Highlights
Dr. Chamarathi will present on UPF – 10 minutes
Dr. Bindlish and Dr. Smruthi will introduce GSOS (Golden State Obesity Society) – 10–15 minutes
Dr. Alli will present her book (Tayo and Super Produce Pals at the Grocery Store)– 10–15 minutes
RSVP Here
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. Alli is one of 13 recipients of the ACP’s Advancing Equitable Obesity Care grant, which supports her work educating clinicians through the Transforming Obesity Care in Arizona through Food for Medicine curriculum. This initiative focuses on using nutrition and lifestyle interventions to manage obesity and chronic diseases. She is also the Chair for the ACP Arizona Chapter Task Force on Obesity Education, leading efforts to educate clinicians on best practices for obesity care.
Smruti Nalawadi, MD
Dr. Smruti Nalawadi, MD is a board-certified internist with 15 years of extensive experience in outpatient and inpatient medicine. She holds additional board certifications in Obesity and Lifestyle Medicine, and has specialized training in Women’s Health and Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Nalawadi graduated from Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences in Bangalore, India, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Louis Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where she also served as Chief Resident.
She further advanced her expertise through a Clinical and Research Fellowship in Women’s Heart Disease and Preventive Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Nalawadi has established a clinic in Morgan Hill, California under BASS medical group where she is dedicated to her philosophy of achieving ‘Balance and harmony between science, nature, and lifestyle for overall good health and wellness.’ This innovative clinic’s dieticians, coaches & physicians provide lifestyle precision care for chronic conditions, starting with personalized evaluations and extending into comprehensive management with lifestyle interventions. The clinic is equipped with advanced tools like a body composition analysis machine, and offers unique services such as metabolic risk assessments, evidence-based nutritional guidance emphasizing plant-based diets and mind and body medicine concepts.
Shagun Bindlish MD, FACP, FOMA
Dr. Shagun Bindlish is an internationally recognized physician leader, diabetologist, and global health advocate with advanced training in diabetes and metabolic disorders. A board-certified Internal Medicine physician and Fellow of the American College of Physicians, she serves as Scientific & Medical President for the American Diabetes Association (California) and is the President & Founder of the Golden State Obesity Society, an organization dedicated to advancing metabolic health globally.
Dr. Bindlish is a sought-after international speaker, presenting across Europe, Africa, India, and the United States on obesity, diabetes technology, cardiometabolic health, and lifestyle-based interventions. She brings extensive academic and editorial expertise as Editor for Clinical Diabetes (ADA) and Associate Editor for Obesity Pillars (Elsevier), and has authored multiple clinical practice statements and peer-reviewed publications in diabetes and obesity medicine.
She is widely recognized for building global collaborations, leading community-based metabolic health initiatives, and educating clinicians through national CME conferences and international platforms. Fluent in multiple languages, Dr. Bindlish is committed to advancing equitable diabetes care, promoting evidence-based prevention strategies, and shaping global conversations on chronic disease and metabolic health.
Meet The Committee Chairs
Dr. V. Sushma Chamarthi, MD, FAAP, DABOM – Chair
Dr. V. Sushma Chamarthi is a pediatrician and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) with more than 15 years of clinical experience, including eight years serving children and families in California’s Central Valley. Practicing at Valley Children’s Healthcare in Fresno, she is a strong advocate for underserved and rural communities, where she focuses on the early recognition, prevention, and treatment of childhood obesity to reduce long-term comorbidities.
Dr. Vaishali Benaka Hebbar, MD, FAAP – Vice Chair
Dr. Vaishali B. Hebbar is a dedicated pediatrician with a strong focus on nutrition, preventive care, and advancing health equity in underserved communities. She is committed to addressing the root causes of health disparities by promoting access to early interventions and family-centered care. Through her clinical work, Dr. Hebbar emphasizes the importance of empowering families with the tools and resources needed to support children’s long-term health and well-being.
Contact: info@aapca1.org