WendelinMargaretSlusserMD, MS

Pediatrics • Los Angeles, CA

Pediatric Nutrition, Obesity and Eating Disorders

Associate Vice Provost Ucla Healthy Campus Initiative HS Clinical Professor, UCLA Schools of Medicine and Public Health

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Office
2231 Murphy
Mail Code 140501
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Phone+1 310-825-6575

Fax+1 310-825-6575

Summary

Dr. Wendelin Slusser is Associate Vice Provost (AVP) for the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center at UCLA, HS Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the UCLA Schools of Medicine and Public Health, and Co-Founder and Academic Director of the UCLA Fit for Healthy Weight program. She joined the UCLA faculty in 1996 and since then has been a leader in community, school, clinic, and family and community based programs related to promotion of physical, social and emotional wellbeing. She is the Principal Investigator (PI) on the UCLA Upstream Obesity Solutions program focused on building the capacity of UCLA health professional students and residents in training to successfully prevent and manage pediatric obesity in diverse primary care settings. Previous research included positions as PI on the Fruit and Vegetable Bar Intervention study to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income elementary school children in LAUSD that inspired national legislation and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Salad Bar to Schools. She produced Our Food Chain Documentary in collaboration with LAUSD to engage parents, policy makers and children in advocating for healthy school food. She is currently the producer and host of the UCLA LiveWell pod cast. Dr. Slusser practiced and taught General Pediatrics and health promotion at the Venice Family Clinic for 19 years (formerly the largest free clinic in the country and now a Federally Qualified Health Center). She was selected to be a member of the Institute of Medicine committee called Obesity Prevention Policies for Young Children. She is one of three UC faculty honored in 2015 by President Janet Napolitano for outstanding leadership on the UC Global Food Initiative; in 2010 she received the Robert F. Allen Symbol of H.O.P.E. Award presented by the American Journal of Health Promotion to an individual who makes an outstanding contribution to serving the health promotion needs of underserved populations.

Education & Training

New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus)Residency, Pediatrics, 1987 - 1989
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus)Internship, Pediatrics, 1986 - 1987
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsClass of 1986
Columbia University, Institute of Human NutritionMS, Nutrition, 1986
Princeton UniversityBA, Biology, Cum Laude, 1981

Certifications & Licensure

CA State Medical License 1991 - 2027
American Board of Pediatrics Pediatrics
American Board of Obesity Medicine Obesity Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

President’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Leadership in Presidential Initiatives University of California Office of the President, 2015
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2013
Top Doctors:LA Area Castle Connolly, 2013
Top Doctors:Southern California Castle Connolly, 2012
Graduation speaker Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 2011
Keynote speaker 2011 CDC California and Beyond Conference, REACHing for Health Equity, 2011
Keynote speaker Antelope Valley Partners for Health Annual Gala to raise funds for the Wellness Homes, 2011
Awarded the Robert F. Allen Symbol of H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People through Empowerment) Award The American Journal of Health Promotion, 2010
Nominated and selected to be a member of Obesity Prevention Policies for Young Children Institute of Medicine, 2010
Invited member of the Scientific Council Dannon Institute, 2009
Awarded a place to participate in the "Focus on a Fitter Future" National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI), 2009
Awarded the Beverllee Myers Award of Excellence California Department of Public Health and Department of Health Care Services, 2008
Appointed by First Lady Maria Shriver State of California Minerva Award, 2006
Outstanding Teaching Award American Pediatrics Association, 2005
Elected for membership Society for Pediatric Research, 2004
Elected for membership Delta Omega, the Public Health Honorary Society, 2003
C. Everett Koop Award National Health, 2000
Award Recipient of the Public Health Ambulatory Care Award College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University's Medical School Commencement Exercises, 1986
Reader's Digest DeWitt Wallace Fellow Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1980
Fellow (FAAP) American Academy of Pediatrics
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Anchor universities as leaders in the well-being movement: lessons learned from the University of California Healthy Campus Network & pandemic.
Wendelin Slusser, L Schmidt, C Imbery, T Watson, T Moin
Journal of American College Health. 2024-06-07
3 citations
Nutrition Education in Medical Schools: What do Medical Students Think?
Shanika Boyce, Huan V Dong, Alma Guerrero, Christine Thang, Cambria Garell
Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development. 2023-10-16
2 citations
Impact of a Teaching Kitchen Curriculum for Health Professional Trainees in Nutrition Knowledge, Confidence, and Skills to Advance Obesity Prevention and Management in...
Christine K Thang, Alma D Guerrero, Cambria L Garell, Janet K Leader, Erica Lee
Nutrients. 2023-09-30

Journal Articles

Detailed description of the nutrition component of a pediatric overweight prevention program: reply to Anchondo
Slusser W, Child Obes, 2/1/2013
Improving overweight among at-risk minority youth: results of a pilot intervention in after-school programs
Slusser W, Sharif MZ, Tolller Erausquin J, Kinsler JJ, Collin D, Prelip M., J Health Care Poor Underserved, 2013
Improving overweight among at-risk minority youth: results of a pilot intervention in after-school programs
Slusser W, Sharif MZ, Tolller Erausquin J, Kinsler JJ, Collin D, Prelip M, J Health Care Poor Underserved, 1/1/2013
Associations between Obesity and Comorbid Mental Health, Developmental and Physical Health Conditions in a Nationally Representative Sample of US Children Ages 10-17
Halfon N, Larson, K, Slusser W, Academic Pediatrics, 1/1/2013
Pediatric Overweight Prevention through a Parent Training Program for 2-5 year old Latino Children
Slusser WM, Frankel F, Robison K, Fischer H, Cumberland WG, Neumann C, Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 1/1/2012
Nutrition knowledge and behaviours of low-income Latino parents: Associations with nutrition-related parenting practices
Slusser WM, Tolller Erausquin J, Prelip M, Fischer H, Cumberland W, Frankel F and Neumann C, Early Child Development and Care, 1/1/2012
Latina mothers' perceptions of healthcare professionals' weight assessments of preschool-aged children
Guerrero A, Slusser W, Barreto PM, Rosales N, Kuo A, Journal of Maternal and Child Health, 11/1/2011
Treatment of Adolescents with Morbid Obesity with Bariatric Procedures and Anti-Obesity Pharmacological Agents
Um, SS, Slusser W, DeUgarte DA, Open Access Surgery, 1/1/2011
Challenges to parent nutrition education: A qualitative study of parents of urban children attending low-income schools
Slusser WM, Prelip M, Kinsler J, Toller Erausquin J, Thai C, Neumann C, Public Health Nutrition, 1/1/2011
The Effects of A School-based Nutrition Program Diffused throughout A Large Urban Community on Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors Related to Fruit and Vegetable Consump...
Prelip M, Thai Chan Le, Erausquin JT, Slusser W, Journal of School Health, 1/1/2011
A Public Health approach to pediatric residency education: responding to the needs of children in the 21st Century
Kuo AA, Shetgiri R, Barreto PM, Guerrero AD, Perez VH, Fond K, Slusser W, Journal of Graduate Medical Education, Acad Med, 1/1/2011
Improving low-income parents' fruit and vegetable intake and their potential to impact children's nutrition
Prelip M, Slusser W, Thai CL Kinsler J, Erausquin JT, Health Education, 1/1/2011
Payment for obesity services: examples and recommendations for stage 3 comprehensive multidisciplinary intervention programs for children and adolescents
Slusser WM, Staten K, Stephens K, Liu L, Yeh C, Armstrong S, DeUgarte D, Haemer M, Pediatrics, 1/1/2011
Healthcare utilization by adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery
Jen HC, Rickard DG, Shew SB, Maggard MA, Slusser WM, Mehran A, Dutson EP and DeUgarte DA, Pediatrics, 10/1/2010
Adolescent Bariatric Surgery in 2009
DeUgarte DA, Slusser W, Obesity and Weight Management, 1/1/2010
The Role of Bariatric Surgery in Adolescent Morbid Obesity
DeUgarte DA, Slusser W, Mehran A, Bariatric Times, 1/1/2010
Tertiary Car-Surgical Center Perspective
Slusser W, Frankel F, and DeUgarte D, Obesity and Weight Management, 2/1/2009
Response: First, Do Some Good
Kirschenbaum D, Boutelle KN, DeUgarte D, Frankel F, Germann JN, McKnight TL, Nieman P, Sandler RH, Slusser W, Obesity Management, 1/1/2009
Seven Steps to Success: A Handout for Parents of Overweight Children and Adolescents
Kirschenbaum D, DeUgarte D, Frankel F, Germann JN, McKnight TL, Nieman P, Sandler RH, Slusser W, Obesity Management, 1/1/2009
Commentary: Family physicians and the childhood obesity epidemic
Slusser WM, Am Fam Physician, 1/1/2008
A School Salad Bar increases frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption among children living in low-income households
Slusser WM, Cumberland W, Browdy B, Lange L and Neumann C, Public Health Nutrition, 1/1/2007
The Role of Classroom Teachers in Nutrition and Physical Education
Prelip M, Erasuguin JT, Slusser W, Vecchiarelli S, Weightman H, Lange L and Neumann C, Journal of Health Promotion, 1/1/2006
Using Participatory Action Research to Develop a School-Based Environmental Intervention to Support Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
Vecchiarelli S, Prelip M, Slusser W, Weightman H, Neumann CG, American Journal of Health Education, 1/1/2005
Obesity in urban, low income, Los Angeles Elementary School children
Slusser WM, Cumberland W, Winham D,Browdy B, Neumann C, Public Health Nutrition, 1/1/2005
Breast Milk Expression in the Work Place: A Look at Frequency and Time
Slusser WM, Lange L, Dickson V, Hawkes C, Cohen R, J Hum Lact, 5/1/2004
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