A Montana-registered global scientific society advancing evidence-based obesity medicine  |  Incorporated 2024
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Leadership

Guided by Global Experts

ISO's founding Scientific Advisory Council represents 25+ countries across six continents — bringing together the world's most distinguished clinicians, researchers, and advocates in obesity medicine, endocrinology, and metabolic health.

Co-Founders Executive Board Founding Advisory Board Scientific Advisory Council Pharmacotherapy WG LMICs & Equity Policy Council Education Committee
Co-Founders

ISO Co-Founders

The International Society of Obesity was co-founded in 2024 by two individuals whose combined expertise spans clinical endocrinology, medical publishing, HCP education, and global health advocacy.

SK

Dr. Sanjay Kalra

Founding President
🇮🇳 India

Dr. Sanjay Kalra is one of the world's most prolific endocrinologists, with a career spanning over three decades in clinical medicine, medical education, and scientific publishing. He serves as Consultant Endocrinologist at Bharti Hospital, Karnal, Haryana, India.

The author of more than 2,000 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Kalra has been instrumental in shaping diabetes and obesity medicine practice across South Asia and globally. He has served in leadership roles with the Endocrine Society of India, the Association of Physicians of India, and numerous international endocrine societies, and is a long-standing member of the International Society of Endocrinology (ISE) leadership.

As Co-Founder and President of ISO, Dr. Kalra brings unmatched scientific credibility and a deep personal commitment to advancing obesity medicine as a distinct, evidence-based clinical specialty — particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden is rising fastest.

Bharti Hospital, Karnal 2000+ Publications Endocrinology Obesity Medicine ISE Leadership
NK

Dr. Nitin Kapoor

Founding Secretary General
🇮🇳 India

Dr. Nitin Kapoor is Professor and Head of the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at Christian Medical College, Vellore, and a practising Bariatric Physician. He holds a PhD in the clinical and genetic indicators of obesity from the University of Melbourne.

He has been ranked among the world's top 2% most influential researchers by Stanford University in both 2023 and 2024, and is the recipient of the AR Seth Gold Medal from the Endocrine Society of India (2020). Dr. Kapoor is the author of more than 400 PubMed-indexed publications spanning endocrinology, obesity, and metabolic health.

As Founding Secretary General of ISO, Dr. Kapoor brings deep clinical and research expertise in obesity medicine, along with a strong track record of international scientific collaboration, to lead the Society's day-to-day operations and scientific direction.

CMC Vellore Bariatric Physician 400+ Publications Top 2% Researchers (Stanford) AR Seth Gold Medal Endocrinology
Governance

Executive Board

The Executive Board is ISO's principal governing body, responsible for strategic direction, financial oversight, and ensuring ISO fulfils its mission. It comprises the two Co-Founders, regionally elected Board members, and the founding Treasurer. Full board will be announced soon.

JR
Regional VP — Asia-Pacific

Dr. Jeremy Robles

Executive Board — Asia-Pacific
Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu City · Philippines

Past President, Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PCEDM). Past President, Philippine Thyroid Association. NIH-trained in medical neuroendocrinology. ISE leadership member. Strong advocate for digital engagement in endocrinology across ASEAN.

JQ
Regional VP — Americas

Dr. Jonathan Q. Purnell

Executive Board — Americas
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, Oregon · USA

Professor of Medicine at OHSU, board-certified in both Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine. Medical Director, OHSU Interdisciplinary Weight Management Program. Past co-chair, The Obesity Society Education Committee. Research focus: bariatric surgery mechanisms, brain response to weight regulatory hormones.

AU
Regional VP — Africa

Prof. Andrew E. Uloko

Executive Board — Africa
Bayero University Kano & Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital · Nigeria

Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology and Head of Department, Bayero University Kano. President, Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria (EMSON). Leading voice for technology-enabled diabetes and obesity care across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Governance

Founding Advisory Board

ISO's Founding Advisory Board is currently being constituted. Members will be announced as appointments are confirmed.

To be announced

To be announced

To be announced

To be announced

To be announced

Scientific Advisory Council

Scientific & Clinical Advisory Council

The SAC is ISO's primary scientific body, overseeing all clinical guidelines, position statements, and educational content. It spans endocrinology, bariatric medicine, metabolic research, and public health across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

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SAC Member — Asia-Pacific

Prof. Ketut Suastika

SAC — Metabolic Syndrome & Obesity
Udayana University & Sanglah Hospital, Bali · Indonesia

Professor of Medicine in Endocrinology; former President, Udayana University (2013–2017). Past President, Indonesian Society of Endocrinology (Perkeni). 175+ publications, 2,160+ citations in metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance. Instrumental in Indonesian national diabetes policy.

HA
SAC Member — East Asia

Prof. Hiroshi Arima

SAC — Neuroendocrinology & Energy Balance
Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine · Japan

Professor, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Nagoya University. PhD from Nagoya; post-doctoral fellow, NIH (USA). Past President, Japan Endocrine Society. Research focus: hypothalamic-pituitary disorders, vasopressin neuron systems, and homeostatic/reward systems regulating energy balance. ISE leadership member.

AK
SAC Member — Greater China

Prof. Alice P.S. Kong

SAC — Obesity, Diabetes & Clinical Trials
The Chinese University of Hong Kong · China (Hong Kong SAR)

Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Dept of Medicine and Therapeutics, CUHK. Honorary Consultant, Prince of Wales Hospital. Post-doctoral training, UCSD. Fellow, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism). Former Vice President, Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity.

JJ
SAC Member — Middle East

Dr. Jubbin J. Jacob

SAC — Gulf & Middle East
Qatar

Consultant Endocrinologist and leading voice for endocrinology and obesity medicine practice across the Gulf region. Brings critical perspective on obesity care in high-income MENA settings and the unique metabolic phenotypes observed in Gulf populations.

JR
SAC Member — Southeast Asia

Dr. Jeyakantha Ratnasingam

SAC — Southeast Asia
Malaysia

Consultant Endocrinologist and leading authority on metabolic medicine and obesity in Malaysia. Brings expertise on the distinct metabolic phenotype of Southeast Asian populations and the role of GLP-1 therapies in this context.

Working Group

Obesity Pharmacotherapy Working Group

Responsible for ISO clinical guidelines and position statements on GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual/triple agonists, oral obesity agents, and emerging pharmacological treatments across diverse populations and health systems.

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Working Group Co-Chair

Dr. Rakesh Sahay

Pharmacotherapy WG Co-Chair
India

Senior Endocrinologist and leading authority on insulin therapy, GLP-1 therapeutics, and comprehensive diabetes and obesity pharmacotherapy across Indian clinical practice.

FA
Working Group Member

Dr. Faria Afsana

Pharmacotherapy WG — South Asia
Bangladesh

Consultant Endocrinologist with expertise in obesity pharmacotherapy and diabetes management in Bangladesh, representing the perspective of high-burden, lower-resource South Asian settings.

MA
Working Group Member

Dr. Mayur Agarwal

Pharmacotherapy WG — India
India

Endocrinologist with a focus on obesity pharmacotherapy and metabolic medicine in Indian clinical settings, contributing to the development of evidence-based prescribing guidance for the Indian subcontinent.

AJ
Working Group Member

Dr. Akshay Jain

Pharmacotherapy WG — North America
Canada

Endocrinologist and obesity medicine practitioner based in Canada, bringing a North American and South Asian diaspora perspective to obesity pharmacotherapy guidelines and GLP-1 access challenges in diverse health systems.

SB
Working Group Member

Dr. Sarita Bajaj

Pharmacotherapy WG — India
India

Senior Endocrinologist contributing expertise on the pharmacological management of obesity in Indian clinical practice, with a focus on practical prescribing in real-world Indian hospital settings.

SS
Working Group Member

Dr. Shehla Shaikh

Pharmacotherapy WG — India
India

Consultant Endocrinologist with expertise in obesity and metabolic medicine, contributing to pharmacotherapy guidance for the Indian and broader South Asian clinical context.

Working Group

Obesity in LMICs & Global Equity Working Group

ISO's most geographically diverse working group — spanning 12 countries across Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, and the Caribbean — focused on the research priorities, access challenges, and clinical realities of obesity management in low- and middle-income country settings.

AU

Prof. Andrew E. Uloko

🇳🇬 Nigeria — Group Lead
Professor of Medicine & Endocrinology, Bayero University Kano; President, EMSON. Leading authority on diabetes and obesity epidemiology in Sub-Saharan Africa.
CB

Dr. Charlotte Bavuma

🇷🇼 Rwanda
Endocrinologist, Kigali, Rwanda. Advancing metabolic and endocrine care across Central and East Africa in resource-limited settings.
SB

Dr. Silver Bahendeka

🇺🇬 Uganda
Leading endocrinologist in Uganda, contributing to obesity and diabetes care development across East Africa and the broader African continent.
MN

Dr. Maïmouna Ndour Mbaye

🇸🇳 Senegal
Endocrinologist in Senegal, bringing a West African perspective on the rapidly rising obesity burden in francophone Africa.
JA

Dr. Jacko Abodo

🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire
Endocrinologist, Côte d'Ivoire. Contributing to the development of obesity medicine capacity in francophone West Africa.
OB

Dr. Okere A. Beatrice

🇰🇪 Kenya
Endocrinologist in Kenya, contributing to obesity and metabolic disease research and clinical capacity building in East Africa.
KR

Dr. Kaushik Ramaiya

🇹🇿 Tanzania
Consultant Endocrinologist, Tanzania. Pioneer of diabetes and obesity care in East Africa, with decades of experience building metabolic medicine capacity in the region.
JT

Dr. Joel David Teelucksingh

🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago
Endocrinologist, Trinidad and Tobago. Representing the Caribbean and Latin American diaspora perspective on obesity in Afro-Caribbean populations.
ZA

Dr. Zhanay A. Akanov

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
Endocrinologist, Republic of Kazakhstan. Representing Central Asian perspectives on the obesity epidemic and metabolic health in post-Soviet health systems.
UK

Dr. U Ko Ko

🇲🇲 Myanmar
Endocrinologist in Myanmar, contributing insight into obesity and metabolic medicine in one of Southeast Asia's most underrepresented healthcare systems.
PB

Dr. Payal Buckoreelall Chintaram

🇲🇺 Mauritius
Endocrinologist, Mauritius. Addressing the high burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Indian Ocean.
GD

Dr. Guru P. Dhakal

🇧🇹 Bhutan
Endocrinologist, Bhutan. Representing the perspective of Himalayan South Asia in managing rapidly transitioning metabolic disease burdens in small nations.
HI

Dr. Hinde Iraqi

🇲🇦 Morocco
Endocrinologist, Morocco. Bringing North African and Maghreb perspective to obesity and metabolic medicine in MENA.
MK

Dr. Mohammad E. Khamseh

🇮🇷 Iran
Endocrinologist, Iran. Contributing expertise on metabolic disease management in Middle Eastern populations with one of the highest obesity burdens in the MENA region.
MM

Dr. Moosa Murad

🇲🇻 Maldives
Endocrinologist, Maldives. Representing the unique challenges of obesity and metabolic disease management in Small Island Developing States of South Asia.
MR

Dr. Musarrat Riaz

🇵🇰 Pakistan
Endocrinologist, Pakistan. Contributing to ISO's work in the context of Pakistan's rapidly growing obesity epidemic and strained health system capacity.
Policy Council

Population Health & Policy Council

Bridges clinical science and public health policy. Works with governments, health ministries, and international bodies to translate ISO's scientific positions into national obesity policies, access frameworks, and anti-stigma legislation worldwide.

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Policy Council — Public Health

Dr. Madhur Verma

Policy Council — South Asia Lead
India

Public health physician and epidemiologist with expertise in non-communicable disease policy, obesity prevention frameworks, and health systems strengthening in India.

JJ
Policy Council — Gulf

Dr. Jubbin J. Jacob

Policy Council — Middle East & Gulf
Qatar

Endocrinologist in Qatar, with insight into national obesity strategies and health policy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) context, where obesity prevalence is among the highest in the world.

KC
Policy Council — Gulf

Dr. Komal Chawla Verma

Policy Council — Bahrain
Bahrain

Endocrinologist based in Bahrain, contributing to ISO's policy work in the Gulf region and advocating for integrated obesity management within Gulf health systems.

JR
Policy Council — Latin America

Dr. Joel Rodriguez-Saldana

Policy Council — Mexico & Latin America
Mexico

Geriatrician and endocrinologist, Mexico. Contributing expertise on chronic disease policy and the obesity epidemic in Latin America, a region facing some of the world's fastest-rising obesity rates.

RA
Policy Council — Pacific

Dr. Radhika Arunkumar

Policy Council — Australia & Pacific
Australia

Endocrinologist in Australia, bringing insight into obesity management in high-income Pacific settings and the unique challenges facing Indigenous and diaspora populations in Australia and the Pacific.

MH
Policy Council — Europe

Dr. Martin Haluzik

Policy Council — Central & Eastern Europe
Czech Republic

Senior endocrinologist and metabolic medicine expert in the Czech Republic, representing the perspective of Central and Eastern European health systems in ISO's policy work.

Education Committee

Education Committee

Oversees all ISO educational programs — including eLearning, webinars, CME accreditation, fellowship programs, and the annual Congress scientific program. This committee is also responsible for ISO's Early Career program and mentorship framework.

AD
Education Committee Chair

Dr. Atul Dhingra

Education Committee Chair
India

Endocrinologist and medical educator with a particular focus on clinical education in diabetes and obesity medicine in India. Leads ISO's CME curriculum development and faculty engagement strategy.

NR
Education Committee Member

Dr. Nishant Raizada

Education — India
India

Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's obesity medicine curriculum, e-learning development, and CME accreditation strategy for Indian and South Asian clinical audiences.

SS
Education Committee Member

Dr. Shahjada Selim

Education — Bangladesh
Bangladesh

Consultant Endocrinologist in Bangladesh, contributing to CME content development and educational program design for South Asian clinicians managing obesity in lower-resource settings.

DS
Education Committee Member

Dr. Dina Shrestha

Education — Nepal
Nepal

Endocrinologist in Nepal, contributing to ISO education programs tailored for South Asian clinicians and for early-career practitioners in Himalayan South Asia.

RM
Education Committee Member

Dr. Robin Maskey

Education — Nepal
Nepal

Senior clinician in Nepal contributing to ISO's Himalayan South Asia educational outreach and the development of accessible CME resources for clinicians in resource-constrained settings.

AS
Education Committee Member

Dr. Amandeep Singh

Education — India
India

Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's educational content strategy with a focus on practical, clinician-friendly obesity medicine resources for the Indian healthcare setting.

Also Contributing to Education & Research
GP

Dr. Gagan Priya

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist with expertise in women's health, PCOS, and obesity in Indian clinical practice.
LN

Dr. Lakshmi Nagendra

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO scientific and educational output in India.
LK

Dr. Leepica Kapoor

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's obesity medicine curriculum and early career engagement.
MJ

Dr. Manjari Dwivedi

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's clinical education programs and position statement development.
RM

Dr. Rucha Mehta

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's educational content in diabetes and obesity management.
SD

Dr. Sambit Das

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's research agenda and clinical education programs.
SO

Dr. Sourabh Sharma

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's clinical guidelines development and education program.
SK

Dr. Suneet Kumar Verma

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's pharmacotherapy working group and Indian clinical education content.
SM

Dr. Sunetra Mondal

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's clinical guidelines and educational content.
HA

Dr. Hamid Ashraf

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's clinical content and research working groups.
HN

Dr. Hridish N. Chakravarti

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's education programs and clinical obesity medicine content.
KA

Dr. Khushboo Agarwal

🇮🇳 India
Endocrinologist contributing to ISO's educational content and early career obesity medicine programs.
AK

Dr. Atul Kalhan

🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Consultant Endocrinologist in the United Kingdom, bringing a Western European NHS perspective to ISO's clinical guidelines and education.
AP

Dr. Aswin Pankajakshan

🇦🇪 UAE
Endocrinologist, Dubai, UAE. Contributing to ISO's Gulf region engagement and clinical education programming.

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