Keynote Speaker to Professionals on Nutrition

Margaret Furtado, MS, RD, LDN,

Has almost 20 years' experience in clinical nutrition and dietetics, including 4 years as a nutrition support dietitian (CNSD), 2 years as a clinical nutrition manager, and 6 years as a renal nutrition specialist. She has spent the last 6 years working in the field of bariatric nutrition and obesity medicine, including approximately 4 years as a Lead Dietitian at Tufts/New England Medical Center's Obesity Consult Center, and 2 years at Massachusetts General Hospital's Weight Center.

Margaret received her undergraduate degree in nutrition from the University of Rhode Island, and her M.S. degree in nutrition and dietetics from Florida International University, where she also completed her RD training.

Areas of particular interest to Margaret are metabolic changes accompanying bariatric surgery, mindful eating, and stress reduction. She is a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200), and was recently a co-investigator in a yoga and lower back pain study at Boston University. Ms. Furtado speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish, and enjoys counseling individuals of varying cultural backgrounds.

Ms. Furtado has written several journal articles regarding bariatric nutrition, and has also co-authored chapters in nutrition textbooks on both renal and bariatric nutrition. She is the co-author of the book "Recipes for Life After Weight Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You," which was released in February of 2007.

Margaret is a member of the Allied Health Committee of the ASMBS, and gives talks related to bariatric surgery and nutrition throughout the United States.

 

 

Deborah Thedford, RN, MSN, CWOCN
UAB Hospital Birmingham, Alabama

Offering contact credit hours

www.uab.edu/obesitysurgery.com

Is the Bariatric Surgery Coordinator at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama. Deborah has served in this position since December 2006. Deborah has been a nurse for over 35 years in various nursing roles-head nurse, Wound, Ostomy Continence Nurse, medical sales as Nurse Consultant with Hill-Rom, case manager for Burns and Trauma service, Legal Nurse Consultant, just to name a few, before taking the present position. Deborah assisted the UAB Bariatric Surgery Service to obtained it’s accreditation through the ACS and consulted with other hospitals to assist in their certification.

Deborah facilitates three different bariatric support group meetings a month. One meeting for bariatric weight loss surgery employees of the hospital, one for the weight loss surgery patients that live in south Alabama and one for the general public. There are more than 200 weight loss surgery patients touched by the support group meetings each month.

Bo McCoy, MBA

Obesity Help.com

 

For over 33 years Bo has suffer from morbid obesity, at the height of his weight gain he weighed 626 lbs and all he wanted was to feel normal. His life was full of physical pain, emotional torment, and isolation. The pounds had taken control of his life. Through faith, friendship, and medical assistance he found the strength to tackle the biggest obstacle of his life. He had RNY surgery on July 31, 2002.  Since his surgery he has re-created his life and is now living life for the first time. 

 

With a BA Degree in Business Management and is currently seeking his MBA/Marketing from University of Phoenix online. His goals are to achieve his PHD in Marketing and teach college students.  For nearly 5 years he has been apart of the ObesityHelp team of professionals and works with clients, hospitals, and vendors to strategize, plan, and execute marketing strategy on the ObesityHelp website and service lines. 

 

As the Director of Sales for ObesityHelp.com he has traveled the entire country. Bo has the heart to reach those who suffer from obesity and morbid obesity and has been a speaker at the ASBMS Conference in Washington, DC., Nashville TN,  Detroit, MI and more.

 

 

Chef David Fouts

 

Received his Culinary Degree in 1994 from the Florida Culinary Institute in sunny West Palm Beach, Florida. Soon thereafter, he was hired by the prestigious 5 Star Diamond Hotel “The Breakers” in West Palm Beach, where he worked for several years. Other professional appointments include Director of Food Services at Hippocrates Health Institute which is one of the premier vegan/vegetarian resorts in South Florida; Executive Chef for Omni Hotels; and Personal Chef for a wonderful family in Naples, Florida. He currently is the Corporate Chef for Western Bariatric Institute and the International Metabolic Institute both based in Reno, Nevada.

Over the last several years, Chef Dave has written, contributed and advised on several editorial boards for publications throughout the country. In 2003, he wrote his first book, “Culinary Classics: Essentials of Cooking for the Gastric Bypass Patient.” The book was born out of his passion to help patients he works with on a daily basis and to help them overcome their challenges with food choices following weight loss surgery. It was this endeavor which led Chef Dave to co-author the first edition of “Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies,” as well as an invitation to the editorial board as a contributor for WLS Lifestyles magazine and writer/contributor for Beyond Change, Bariatric Times and several other health publications.