Childhood Nutrition and Obesity Prevention Committee Meeting: Advanced Treatments for Severe Pediatric Obesity
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
AAPCA1 invites you to join the Childhood Nutrition & Obesity Committee meeting held virtually on Wednesday, June 17 from 12:00 p.m. to 01:00 p.m. Don’t miss this important discussion on Advanced Treatments for Severe Pediatric Obesity, featuring guest speaker Dr. Janey S.A. Pratt, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Director of the Adolescent Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.
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Agenda:
- 12:00 PM – Introduction
- 12:05 PM – Dr. Pratt (30 minutes)
Advanced Treatments for Severe Pediatric Obesity - 12:35 PM – Questions and Answers
- 12:40 PM – Ms. Bessie (Dairy Council of California) (10–15 minutes), followed by Questions and Answers
Meet Our Speaker
Dr. Janey S.A Pratt, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Dr. Janey S.A. Pratt, MD, FACS, FASMBS is a general surgeon who specializes in Robotic Surgery and the treatment of Pediatric Obesity with Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS). She began her career in general surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she was a founding member of the MGH Weight Center. As surgical director she introduced minimally invasive MBS and adolescent MBS to MGH in 2001 and 2007 respectively. In 2011 Dr. Pratt took over as Director at the MGH Weight Center and continued to work on several national committees towards improving access and care of children with severe obesity. In 2016 Dr. Pratt moved to California where she began her work at Stanford University. As a Clinical Professor of Surgery, Dr. Pratt is involved in training Stanford medical students and residents both in the OR, in clinic, in simulation labs and in the classroom. Dr. Pratt the is Director of the Adolescent Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. This is an MBSAQIP accredited program in a free-standing children’s hospital dedicated to the multidisciplinary care of children with obesity. Dr. Pratt has been involved in creating and updated guidelines for Adolescent MBS since 2005. In 2018 she was first author on the ASMBS Pediatric Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Guidelines. Dr. Pratt frequently lectures on Pediatric Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
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
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