Obesity Management in Underserved Communities

Session Objectives:

Explore vulnerability factors for severe obesity and associated comorbidities
Examine the accessibility of bariatric healthcare services within underserved populations in Canada
Examine the range of tools available for promoting cultural safety and inclusivity within healthcare services

Speaker

Dr. Fannie L. Trempe, MD, Msc, FRCPC

Spécialiste en médecine interne générale et médecine bariatrique
Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec
Professeure associée, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval

Dr. Fannie L. Trempe is a physician specializing in General Internal Medicine (GIM) with a focus on obesity medicine and cardio-metabolic diseases. Based at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, she serves as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Laval University in Quebec, Canada and a Clinical Professor at the Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Trempe holds memberships with the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Her academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Medicine from the University of Montreal, complemented by a minor in International Health from Sherbrooke University. Dr. Trempe furthered her education with a master's degree in Biomedical Research from the University of Copenhagen, where her research delved into the influence of adiposity on cardio-metabolic risk factors among diverse ethnic groups in Kenya. This early exposure ignited her passion for exploring cardio-metabolic health on a global scale.

During her residency training in GIM at Laval University, Dr. Trempe pursued a PhD in nutrition, focusing on the clinical implications of obesity within underserved and underrepresented ethnic communities, particularly immigrants and indigenous populations in Canada. She then honed her expertise through clinical and research post-doctoral fellowships, first at King's College London in Obesity Medicine, followed by a research post-doc at the University of Copenhagen. In the latter role, she led an international multicentric pilot study investigating the impact of obesity on cardio-metabolic health across various ethnic backgrounds worldwide.

Dr. Trempe's research endeavors center on understanding the influence of environmental factors prevalent in underserved communities on cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity, notably hepatic steatosis. Through collaborative efforts, she aspires to enhance health outcomes and research capabilities concerning non-communicable diseases in low and middle-income countries.