Catawba Valley Medical Center’s (CVMC) Healthy House Medical Director Vondell Clark, MD, MPH, recently received board certification in Bariatric Medicine from the American Board of Bariatric Medicine (ABBM).

As an ABBM diplomate, Dr. Clark follows bariatric practice guidelines for medical (non-surgical) body fat reduction/weight loss methods. These guidelines combined with board certification help to ensure the highest standard of medical practice when treating overweight and obese patients. Achievement of Bariatric Medicine certification assures that the recipient has a body of knowledge in the practice of bariatric medicine that includes multi-disciplinary techniques and specialized intervention guidelines to help better treat overweight and obese patients. Dr. Clark is also board certified in Integrative Holistic Medicine as well as Family Medicine.

CVMC’s Healthy House, a facility dedicated to both preventing and treating childhood obesity, is the first of its kind in the region and is located on the medical center campus. The Healthy House’s prevention initiative, the Wellness FAN (Fitness, Awareness, Nutrition) program, seeks to make a sustainable difference in the epidemic of childhood obesity. The program provides education, activities, and resources that may lead to the prevention of obesity in high-risk children. The Healthy House also offers a variety of treatment options – including physical activity, behavioral strategies, and nutritional guidance – for children already dealing with obesity.

Currently, most participants in The Healthy House’s childhood obesity prevention program are coordinated through Catawba County’s Head Start initiative. However, the treatment program is open to any child in the community who has a need and is at or above the 95th percentile for age-adjusted BMI.

To learn more about CVMC’s Healthy House, please call 828/326-3410.

Catawba Valley Medical Center is a not-for-profit, public healthcare system providing and promoting the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventative medicine and acute care. CVMC, three times recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet facility, was recently named as a “Distinguished Hospital for An Outstanding InPatient Experience” by J.D. Power and Associates as well as a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers.