Dr. Laura Davisson

Laura Davisson received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Northwestern University in 1994, and both her MD in Medicine and MPH in Biostatistics/Epidemiology from West Virginia University in 1999 and 2008, respectively.

As Chief of Obesity Medicine and Director of Medical Weight Management at WVU Medicine, Laura was involved in the creation and development of a Medical Weight Management program fueled her passion for advocacy. was elected as WV Chapter Governor of the American College of Physicians. This group was instrumental in the selection of former WVU Health Commissioner, Dr. Rahul Gupta’s selection to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Dr. Davisson’s four main takeaways were: (1)While over 40% of Americans have obesity, West Virginia and Kentucky have the highest obesity rate at 41%; (2) treating obesity can prevent many of the 60+ related conditions; (3) the bias that obesity is a lifestyle choice or cosmetic hinders access to obesity care; and (4) media portrayal of obesity is the last acceptable prejudice.