Care Team Spotlight: Maritza Jerome, MD | Obesity Medicine Fellow

The UMass Chan Medical School Obesity Medicine Fellowship was launched in 2025 to provide advanced subspecialty education for physicians preparing for careers in the rapidly expanding discipline of obesity medicine. The one-year program will train one physician annually, preparing graduates for roles as clinicians, clinician-educators, or research leaders dedicated to improving care for people living with obesity.

As the inaugural fellow, Dr. Maritza Jerome is helping shape the program from day one.

A Career Built Around Community and Chronic Disease Care

Dr. Jerome is a board-certified family medicine physician who has spent her career caring for patients with chronic disease in underserved communities. Her interest in obesity medicine was sparked years ago, while practicing in a rural community health center. A patient asked her to prescribe phentermine for weight loss, something Dr. Jerome did not yet have expertise in.

As new GLP-based medications emerged, she learned that obesity medicine was its own subspecialty. She attended her first Obesity Medicine Association conference in 2023 and realized that she wanted to do more to help those patients.

Exceeding Expectations

When Dr. Jerome interviewed with Drs. Amin Sabet and Nina Rosano, she immediately felt their enthusiasm for building a meaningful fellowship program.  After visiting the campus and meeting faculty, she knew she had found a program that fit her goals.

“All the faculty are genuinely invested in the program. I knew it was where I would find professional growth and support. It has surpassed my expectations.”

Being the first fellow is something she considers both an honor and a privilege.
“I feel lucky to be the first fellow. Dr. Rosano and Dr. Sabet have an extraordinary vision for expanding the fellowship and the medical weight-loss department. I hope to work alongside them to make it a reality.”

The Future of Obesity Medicine

Experts predict that obesity medications will become a standard part of obesity treatment. Dr. Jerome envisions the future as a combination of medication, surgery, and personalized care approaches tailored to each person's needs. New oral medications could be available as early as 2026 or 2027, and research is ongoing to develop treatments that maintain lean muscle mass during weight loss.

“With so much progression, this is the best time to practice obesity medicine,” she said.

Changing How Clinicians Think About Obesity

Having treated patients with obesity throughout her family medicine career, Dr. Jerome says the fellowship is already transforming her understanding and deepening her expertise.

“After this fellowship, I will have skills and tools to improve our patients’ lives.”

The program is also influencing endocrinology residents and fellows who rotate through the department, and medical students receive obesity-focused lectures. Regardless of specialty, trainees leave with a better understanding of obesity and how to support patients.

“Education provides knowledge, knowledge is power, and power is impactful,” she said.

Holistic and Multidisciplinary Approach

“We have a metabolic weight loss department supported by endocrinology, nutrition, psychology, exercise physiology, hepatology, pediatric endocrinology, and bariatric surgery. The camaraderie among specialists is incredible. We work together to provide the best possible care.”

Dr. Jerome believes this team-based approach and collaborative environment are essential, especially for patients who often feel discouraged or dismissed.

“Patients living with obesity have been told to ‘just eat healthy and exercise.’  Science shows it's not that simple. Genetics, hormones, environment, trauma, and many other factors contribute. It’s a chronic disease. People deserve support, not stigma.”

Breaking Misconceptions and Fighting Weight Stigma

Dr. Jerome is passionate about correcting some of the most damaging myths about obesity:

• “Obesity is not a disease.”
  It is. Complex, chronic, and deserving of treatment as aggressive as that for diabetes or heart disease.
• “If you eat one meal a day, you’ll lose weight.”
  Skipping meals often leads to rebound hunger and cycles of overeating.

She emphasizes that stigma remains one of the most significant barriers for patients. Many have lived their entire lives without support from family, friends, or even the medical community.

“We must empower patients. It’s not their fault. They have done nothing wrong. They need to be heard.”

Research and Pediatric Care

Although she enjoys caring for adults with obesity, Dr. Jerome entered the fellowship with a specific goal: strengthening her ability to treat pediatric and adolescent patients.

“I feel comfortable providing general pediatric care, but I lack the expertise to treat obesity in this population. I want to help adolescents prevent disease progression later in life.”

She also trains family medicine residents in Fitchburg and sees education as a core part of her future career. The fellowship has introduced her to research, which she finds both exciting and meaningful.

“So much so that I’m considering pursuing academia, research, and treating both pediatric and adult patients after fellowship.”

Message to Patients

Above all, Dr. Jerome wants patients to know they will be welcomed with empathy, respect, and partnership.

“We look forward to listening to your life and your struggles. This is a safe place where you can be yourself. Our goal is always to put the patient first. Let us help you in your weight-loss journey.”