John M. Jakicic, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management at the University of Kansas. His primary area of research is the study of obesity and body weight regulation and their relationship to chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and others. Within this research area he has a particular focus on physical activity and the implementation of novel interventions to enhance engagement and effectiveness, which includes a history of research to determine the appropriate dose of physical activity for long-term body weight regulation.

Dr. Jakicic has served on various national and international committees to develop physical activity guidelines for the prevention and treatment of obesity and other chronic conditions. This included being appointed to the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. Dr. Jakicic has also authored or co-authored numerous position papers and clinical guidelines related to obesity and physical activity.

David Creel, PhD, has earned credentials in several disciplines. He is a licensed psychologist, an ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist, a registered dietitian, and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.

At Indiana University, Dr. Creel completed his undergraduate training in dietetics and received bachelor’s and master's degrees in exercise science. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University and trained at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Dr. Creel completed his pre-doctoral psychology internship at The Medical University of South Carolina.

Dr. Creel joined the Cleveland Clinic Staff in 2019 after working for 13 years at the St. Vincent Bariatric Center in Carmel, Ind. In addition to his role as a psychologist and the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, he is the Director of Exercise Physiology for the Enterprise Weight Management.

He enjoys his work with both surgical and nonsurgical weight loss clients and has a special interest in promoting physical activity among people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. His research has primarily focused on physical activity among people who have had bariatric surgery.

Colleen Tewksbury, PhD, MPH, RD, CSWOM, LDN is an assistant professor in nutrition science at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and holds a secondary appointment in surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. With a PhD in public health social and behavioral sciences and an MPH in public health nutrition, Dr. Tewksbury has built a career deeply rooted in clinical nutrition and obesity treatment.

Since 2014, Tewksbury has been a registered dietitian at the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program, where she has played a crucial role in client care and program management. Her research, focused on obesity and weight management, has been widely published, and she leads several funded studies on the effects of pharmacotherapy on nutrition and health outcomes.

In addition to her clinical and research roles, Dr. Tewksbury is a leader in professional organizations, such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. She has received numerous awards, including the Keystone Award from the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Dean’s Award for Exemplary Professional Practice. A dedicated educator, she mentors students and professionals, contributing significantly to the advancement of nutrition science and the improvement of patient outcomes in bariatric care.