Karli Burridge, DMSc, PA-C, MMS, MFOMA, FTOS

Hello, and Welcome to Gaining Health!

I founded Gaining Health to make a larger impact on the field of obesity care because I truly believe that we can Revolutionize Healthcare with Obesity Medicine!

When we treat obesity with compassion and evidence-based tools, we can prevent, improve, and even reverse numerous complications of excess adiposity AND help our patients live better, fuller, longer lives. Isn’t this why we all went into medicine? 

Unfortunately, obesity care is often excluded from medical education, and even when clinicians seek out education in obesity medicine, they are often unsure how to implement what they have learned into clinical practice. They also often lack the time to develop the resources needed for a comprehensive obesity care program.  Using my 13+ years of experience working in, and developing, numerous obesity care programs in a variety of healthcare settings, I created Gaining Health to bridge that gap. 

We have developed numerous helpful, colorful, and evidence-based resources so that you can spend your time doing what you do best – taking care of your patients!

Work with an Expert in Obesity Medicine

Karli Burridge is a Board-Certified Physician Associate, a Master Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association, a Fellow of The Obesity Society, and an internationally-recognized leader in obesity care. She is the Past President and Co-Founder of PAs in Obesity Medicine, as well as a Board member of the Obesity Medicine Association and the Illinois Obesity Society. She has been a regular speaker and moderator at  prestigious medical conferences and has taught obesity courses for several medical programs including the Yale PA program.  Karli has been featured in medical journals, podcasts, and on WGN9 News Chicago and Fox 32 Chicago. She has authored  numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, including several Clinical Practice Statements in the Obesity Pillars Journal, and has been a regular co-author of the Obesity Medicine Association’s Obesity Algorithm.

Honors and Awards

  • Practitioner of the Year, 2025 (The Obesity Society)
  • America’s Top PA, 2023
  • Raymond E. Dietz Meritorious Service Award 2020 (Obesity Medicine Association)
  • Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association (FOMA) designation (November 2019)
  • Vernon B. Astler Award 2018 for the Advancement of the Obesity Medicine Association’s place and purpose to the media, government, and medical community (Obesity Medicine Association)
  • Committee Leadership Award for ongoing commitment to OMA through committee leadership and involvement (September 2017, Obesity Medicine Association)

Media & Publications