The 20 Best Obesity Doctors near Towson, MD

Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, FACP, FTOS, is now an adjunct professor of gastroenterology and general internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Since 2019, he has also been a professor (and chair from 2019 to 2024) of Nutrition and Food Studies in the College of Public Health at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. In his research, Dr. Cheskin studies the effectiveness of various lifestyle and dietary changes in weight loss and weight maintenance. He has experience in the design and implementation of controlled clinical trials and laboratory studies of different dietary techniques, as well as individual and community-based interventions, including those targeting underserved residents of inner-city and suburban Baltimore. His background and experience are broad, ranging from basic science work on dopamine genetics to efforts aimed at preventing childhood obesity through systems-focused studies of the effects of policies and the built environment. Most recently, he has been studying health risk factors among young adult college students and the utility of mHealth in positively influencing diet and weight control. He has written approximately 250 peer-reviewed publications and 9 books and is frequently cited in the media on issues related to obesity, nutrition, and dieting. Dr. Cheskin is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Malnutrition, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Liver Embolization, and Endoscopy.

Kimberly Gudzune is an Internal Medicine provider in Lutherville Timonium, Maryland. Dr. Gudzune is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. Her top area of expertise is Obesity.

Dr. Maruthur has a primary care practice at the Levine Group Internal Medicine Practice at Johns Hopkins Green Spring Station. In addition to seeing patients for one-half day per week, Dr. Maruthur conducts clinical research in diabetes with an emphasis on prevention. She is especially interested in community-based approaches to improving diabetes outcomes and individualized medicine, the tailoring of preventive and treatment strategies based on an individual's biology and preferences. Dr. Maruthur also directs the JHU General Internal Medicine Fellowship. This provider is registered with the Florida Department of Health to perform telehealth services for patients in Florida. Dr. Maruthur is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. Her top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Low Blood Sugar, Obesity, and Gastric Bypass.

Rexford Ahima is an Endocrinologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Ahima is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Gastric Bypass.

Francesco Grasso is a Colorectal Surgeon in Towson, Maryland. Dr. Grasso is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Anal Cancer, Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, Genital Warts, Bladder Reconstruction, and Ureteroscopy.

Dr. Daisy Duan is an Assistant Professor of Medicine. She practices as an endocrinologist with a focus on diabetes and obesity. Dr. Duan sees patients at Johns Hopkins Bayview Endocrinology Clinic and The Johns Hopkins Healthful Eating, Activity & Weight Program at Greenspring Station. She enjoys partnering with her patients to individually tailor effective treatment regimens to improve metabolic health. In addition, Dr. Duan is actively engaged in NIH-funded clinical and translational research related to obesity and diabetes. Her current research interests include the impact of meal timing on substrate metabolism and leveraging the tools of circadian biology to combat obesity and diabetes. Dr. Duan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity, Cushing's syndrome due to Adrenal Tumor, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Craniopharyngioma.

Vikesh Singh is a gastroenterologist who specializes in pancreatology and pancreaticobiliary endoscopy. He evaluates and treats patients with inflammatory diseases of the pancreas, including acute and chronic pancreatitis and autoimmune pancreatitis as well as the complications of these diseases. After earning his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Singh remained at Johns Hopkins to complete residency training in internal medicine. He pursued fellowship training in gastroenterology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and earned a master’s degree in epidemiology from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. He then returned to Johns Hopkins, where he completed a two-year advanced endoscopy fellowship with a focus on pancreaticobiliary endoscopy. Dr. Singh has been on the faculty at Johns Hopkins since 2008, and rose to the rank of professor in 2021. His research interests include acute and chronic pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and novel methods to evaluate and treat abdominal pain. Dr. Singh is a member of the board of directors of the National Pancreas Foundation, chair of the Pancreatic Disorders Section of the American Gastroenterological Association, a councilor for the International Association of Pancreatology and a member of the inaugural medical advisory board for the Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome Foundation. Dr. Singh is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, Hereditary Pancreatitis, Acute Pancreatitis, Pancreatectomy, and Endoscopy.

"Michael Schweitzer, M.D., developed the laparoscopic bariatric surgery programs at the Medical College of Virginia (one of the first ten laparoscopic gastric bypass programs in the country), Georgetown University, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Schweitzer was the first surgeon in the mid-Atlantic area to perform laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the first in Maryland to perform laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery and laparoscopic duodenal switch with biliopancreatic diversion. Currently chair of the membership committee for the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, Dr. Schweitzer also serves as a site inspector for the American College of Surgeons Bariatric Center of Excellence Program. He serves on three editorial boards: the Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases the official journal of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons) and Bariatric Times. Dr. Schweitzer was the first to ever publish a technique for endoscopic stoma reduction using transoral endoscopic suturing. A great deal of attention is focused on the future of transoral surgery to avoid abdominal incisions for routine surgery (""No-Scar Surgery""). Dr. Schweitzer is one of the first to apply this technology to bariatric patients. A writer of numerous papers, chapters and review articles on bariatric surgery, several of Dr. Schweitzer''s laparoscopic bariatric surgical techniques have been featured in the American College of Surgeons Cine Video Series. He is considered an international expert on venous thromboembolic complications after bariatric surgery and has one of the lowest complication rates documented in world surgical literature. Dr. Schweitzer currently has an extremely active laparoscopic bariatric practice that includes laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic duodenal switch with biliopancreatic diversion, and revision of previous surgery. The team at the Johns Hopkins Center for Bariatric Surgery has successfully completed over 2500 bariatric procedures.". Dr. Schweitzer is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Obesity in Children, Hernia, Gastrectomy, and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Selvi Rajagopal, MD, MPH is a diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She specializes in medical weight management to prevent and treat chronic disease beginning in late adolescence through adulthood. In her clinical practice at the Johns Hopkins Healthful Eating, Activity and Weight Program, she works with individuals to implement a holistic approach to achieve their health goals through sustainable weight loss and weight maintenance, incorporating key elements of nutrition, exercise, mental health and medication management. Beyond her clinical role, Dr. Rajagopal is engaged in medical student and resident education within Obesity Medicine. Her research and public health interests include the improvement of health and nutrition literacy and food environment policy reform as strategies to reduce chronic disease burden among low-income populations across the age spectrum. Dr. Rajagopal received her Doctor of Medicine degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. She completed a combined training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Following residency, she worked as a Medicine-Pediatrics hospitalist prior to joining the combined General Preventive Medicine Residency-Masters in Public Health Program at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2018 to pursue her interests in population health and chronic disease prevention. She pursued additional clinical training in weight management at the Johns Hopkins Digestive Weight Loss Center during her Preventive Medicine residency and has since joined clinical faculty within the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Rajagopal is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity, Sepsis, Neurotoxicity Syndromes, and Balloon Sinuplasty.

Arun Rai, M.D., M.B.A., M.S., is a urologist who specializes in minimally invasive surgery and endourology and has extensive training to treat patients with adrenal cancer, kidney cancer, ureteral cancer and prostate cancer. In addition, he also specializes in treating patients with BPH, kidney stones and bladder stones. Dr. Rai earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees through the highly selective seven-year accelerated medical education program at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Rai went on to complete a general surgery internship at Baylor College of Medicine, where he then also completed his urology residency. Dr. Rai continued his training at the Northwell Health’s Smith Institute for Urology by completing a fellowship in Endourology and Minimally Invasive Surgery. During this time, he also received a dual MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Cornell University. In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Rai serves as Clinical Director for the Brady Urological Institute's Quantitative Data Sciences division. His research focuses on developing the next generation of surgical technology, focusing on artificial intelligence and machine learning for optimizing clinical care. He strongly believes that surgeons should have an active role in the development of the next generation of tools for the optimal treatment of patients. He has authored several publications, with topics including patient safety in the operating room, long-term outcomes of subcapsular renal hematoma, pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction and featured in journals such as Urology and the Journal of Endourology. Dr. Rai is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Kidney Stones, Horseshoe Kidney, Boils, Ureteroscopy, and Lithotripsy.

Yuval Pinto, MD, is a family physician specializing in weight management and the prevention and treatment of obesity-related chronic medical conditions. His daily clinical practice at the Johns Hopkins Healthful Eating, Activity, and Weight Program includes providing comprehensive weight management care, patient education, and the implementation of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice. Dr. Pinto received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Sackler School of Medicine, New York State Program. He completed a Family Medicine residency at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, MD, where he was trained in full-spectrum family medicine, treating patients of all ages. During his last year of residency, his primary focus was Obesity Medicine; as part of his primary care work, Dr. Pinto established a weight management clinic within the residency clinic and was awarded the Community Advocacy Award upon graduation. Prior to his medical training, Dr. Pinto worked as a researcher at the National Institutes of Health in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, MD, and at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, MD. He also gained educational experience as a high school science teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools and as an instructor for the Princeton Review. Dr. Pinto is passionate about promoting healthy longevity through lifestyle changes. As an obesity specialist, he emphasizes a holistic approach centered on the five pillars of health: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, mood, and stress management. Dr. Pinto tailors individualized solutions that go beyond weight loss, addressing each patient's unique needs, lifestyle, and emotional well-being for sustained health. Dr. Pinto is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top area of expertise is Obesity.

Lisa Carey is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Towson, Maryland. Dr. Carey is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity, High Cholesterol, Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia Type 1, and Hypercalcemia. Dr. Carey is currently accepting new patients.

Kenneth Lindyberg is a General Surgeon in Towson, Maryland. Dr. Lindyberg is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Osteomyelitis, Peripheral Artery Disease, Arterial Insufficiency, and Obesity in Children.

Hui Peng is an Endocrinologist in Lutherville Timonium, Maryland. Dr. Peng is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. Her top areas of expertise are Juvenile Primary Osteoporosis, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Thyroid Nodule, and Vitamin D Deficiency.

Franco Vallejo is an Endocrinologist in Parkville, Maryland. Dr. Vallejo has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Protein Deficiency, Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcemia.

Rani Kulkarni is an Endocrinologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kulkarni is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. Her top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), and Thyroid Nodule.

Michael Randolph is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Randolph is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Hypertensive Heart Disease, Enlarged Liver, and Pediatric Myocarditis.

Issam Cheikh is an Endocrinologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Cheikh is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Thyroid Storm, and Obesity in Children.

Anthony Kalloo is a professor of medicine with special interests in natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery, therapeutic endoscopy and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. After receiving his medical degree at the University of the West Indies Medical School, Dr. Kalloo interned at Port of Spain General Hospital in Trinidad and performed his internal medicine residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he was also chief resident. He completed fellowship training at the combined Georgetown University, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and National Institutes of Health program. Dr. Kalloo was an instructor of medicine at Georgetown University prior to joining the Johns Hopkins faculty in 1988. He was director of the Johns Hopkins Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology from 2005–2020, and was an associate editor of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. In 2009, Dr. Kalloo was recognized by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy as the Distinguished Educator of the Year. In 2014, he received the Endoscopy Award from the German Society for Endoscopy for outstanding research and contribution in the field of endoscopy. In 2015, he received the BJ Vakil Oration from the Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India, which is bestowed on an international expert for his contribution to the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and has more than 100 patents, including the use of botulinum toxin in the gastrointestinal tract, endoscopic cryotherapy and the winged biliary/pancreatic stent, as well as others related to natural orifice surgery. He is the pioneer of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery, a technique that will enable abdominal surgery without the use of incisions. In 2015, he became a member of the inaugural chapter of the National Academy of Inventors at The Johns Hopkins University. This group represents the top 3% of all faculty inventors since 1969, and the top 1.5% of active Johns Hopkins faculty. Dr. Kalloo is a past panel chair for gastroenterology and urology devices with the United States Food and Drug Administration. He aims to advance the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal and liver disease through patient care, education and research. Dr. Kalloo is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Hereditary Pancreatitis, Acute Pancreatitis, Achalasia, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Gastroenterologist Mouen Khashab specializes in therapeutic endoscopy, and he oversees this group of practitioners across the Johns Hopkins enterprise. Nationally and internationally known in the field of interventional endoscopy, Dr. Khashab has contributed immensely to the field’s advancement as a minimally invasive means to treat gastrointestinal and pancreaticobiliary disorders. Dr. Khashab earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, and subsequently completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology at Indiana University. He then completed a two-year fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital before joining the faculty in 2011. A busy researcher, Dr. Khashab has published more than 600 papers in peer-reviewed journals. In 2013, he described the procedure called gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (known as G-POEM) and was able to disseminate and teach it all over the world. Other procedures that he expanded include peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), peroral endoscopic myotomy with fundoplication (POEM-F), Zenker’s peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM) and full thickness resection. In 2022, he received the Master Endoscopist Award from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) for his numerous contributions to the field. His procedural expertise includes endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), interventional EUS, submucosal endoscopy, POEM/achalasia, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, luminal stenting, large polyp resection and Barrett’s therapy, among others. Dr. Khashab is involved with multiple gastrointestinal societies and has served on many committees, including the ASGE Standards of Practice Committee, which is in charge of formulating guidelines for the practice of endoscopy. He has also served as an associate editor for the journal Endoscopy, a premier journal in the field. Khashab is a highly sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, and he has participated in multiple live endoscopy conferences. Outside of academic medicine, Dr. Khashab is an entrepreneur. His major interest is in new technology and medical devices, and his goal is to disrupt the field by introducing technology that makes endoscopic procedures safer, easier, efficient and more scalable. Dr. Khashab is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Obesity. His top areas of expertise are Achalasia, Pancreatic Pseudocyst, Bile Duct Obstruction, Endoscopy, and Gastric Bypass.