For complete symposium details and registration link, scroll below.
TO ENSURE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, REGISTER BY WEDNESDAY AT NOON

Clinical & Research Symposium
Saturday, April 13, 2019
UTEP Health Sciences and Nursing Building
To register for HEAL U, go to HEALU.questionpro.com
Submit poster abstracts today at https://bit.ly/2T4cYBe. Deadline to submit April 5, 2019.
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM Registration and Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM Welcome and Introduction – Leah Whigham, PhD, FTOS
8:15 AM – 9:15 AM Diabesity and Behavior Change – John Foreyt, PhD
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Describe successful behavior change strategies for individuals with diabesity
- Present 10-year outcome data on a long-term weight loss trial for individuals with diabesity
- Discuss the secrets of successful weight loss and maintenance
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM This is Your Brain on Food – Martin Binks, PhD, FTOS
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Participants will understand how the brain interacts with internal and external factors to determine ingestion
- Participants will be able to articulate how 2 major nutrition approaches influence the brain’s response to food cues
- Participants will be able to articulate the impact of total meal replacement on food craving, obesity and diabetes
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Breakout Session #1
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Lunch & Student Poster Presentations
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Breakout Session #2
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Breakout Session #3
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM Student Poster Presentations
Breakout Sessions
Each session will be 1-hour. Attendees will choose preferred breakout topics during registration process. Presenters: John Foreyt, PhD, Martin Binks, PhD, FTOS, Craig Field, PhD
Breakout Topic A
Effective Coaching Skills and Strategies – John Foreyt, PhD
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Discuss theories and models of coaching
- Describe the characteristics of effective coaches
- Discuss effective coaching strategies for behavior change
Breakout Topic B
Challenging Obesity Cases – John Foreyt, PhD
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Describe and discuss challenging obesity cases
- Discuss various treatment options with challenging obesity cases
- Discuss options for increasing adherence to diet and exercise with challenging obesity cases
- Discuss options for long-term weight maintenance with challenging obesity cases
Breakout Topic C
Exercise, Sedentary Behavior and Health – Martin Binks, PhD, FTOS
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Participants will understand the role of exercise with and without diet in obesity
- Participants will learn the overall impact of exercise on health across the lifespan
- Patients will be able to articulate at least 2 major gaps in our knowledge of the role of sedentary behavior in public health
Breakout Topic D
Ask Dr. Binks: A Discussion About What We Know and What We Need to Know – Martin Binks, PhD, FTOS
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Participants will understand the need for careful consideration of scientific evidence in implementing clinical and public health intervention
- Participants will be able to identify at least 2 common nutrition/health myths
- Participants will understand and be able to articulate why willpower does not cure lifestyle associated diseases
Breakout Topic E
Pain and Poor Sleep: How They Impact Health and Why Pills Won’t Fix It – Martin Binks, PhD, FTOS
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Participants will understand the role of pain and poor sleep in obesity and diabetes
- Participants will articulate how medication may exacerbate both pain and sleep issues
- Participants will be able to describe at least 2 behavioral medicine interventions to assist in treatment
Breakout Topic F
Live Demonstration of Motivational Interviewing for Diet & Exercise – Craig Field, PhD
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Distinguish motivational interviewing from standard practice
- Identify two changes in consultation practice based on motivational interviewing that you can apply in your consultation with patients who are overweight and/or would benefit from changes in their diet or increased exercise
Breakout Topic G
Five Components of Brief Motivational Intervention for Diet & Exercise – Craig Field, PhD
Upon conclusion of this session participants should be able to:
- Distinguish motivational interviewing from standard practice
- Identify two changes in consultation practice based on motivational interviewing that you can apply in your consultation with patients who are overweight and/or would benefit from changes in their diet or increased exercise