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Professional Staff:
Domenica Rubino, MD
— the Director, is board-certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and Internal Medicine. As the former Assistant Medical Director at the GWU Weight Management Program, she has extensive experience in the care of the overweight patient as well as clinical research for the development of pharmaco-therapeutic agents in the management of obesity. She is very interested in both the physiological and psychological factors that are intricately involved in the management of obesity. Her approach for weight management combines a sound scientific understanding of obesity as a disease with a keen understanding of the psychological and physiologic issues involved in weight loss and weight maintenance. Clinically, Dr. Rubino believes that chronic conditions such as obesity are ideally treated with team-based approach.
Dr. Rubino is non-judgmental, compassionate and respectful of the struggle to lose and maintain weight. She focuses on the practical day-to-day applications of the science of the overweight condition. She carefully reviews patients' medical issues addressing both individual medical conditions as well as those impacted by the overweight state.
Dr. Rubino received her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. She received training in both clinical and molecular biological research at the National Institutes of Health during her endocrinology fellowship.
Dr. Rubino worked for three years at the Uniformed University of the Health Sciences as an independently funded research assistant professor. She has been the recipient of several investigator awards, has written articles in several peer-reviewed publications (including Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Oncogene, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology) and abstracts and was an invited speaker to the Endocrine Society. She is also the recipient of an NIH grant designed to examine the potential role of cortisol and stress on weight. She continues to work closely with her colleagues at the NIH.
Dr. Rubino currently has staff privileges at the Virginia Hospital Center and George Washington University Medical Center. She is a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, Endocrine Society and the North American Association for the Study of Obesity.
Jessica Donze Black, MPH, RD, LD
— is a registered and licensed nutritionist working in weight management for over almost fifteen years. She started her clinical career working with families at DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE and has since been seeing patients in the greater DC area since 2002. When not working at the Center, Jessica is the National Director of the Healthy Schools Program for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation - a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation. As such, Jessica leads a team of over sixty people in thirty-seven states that are helping schools make healthy and sustainable changes in their environments, curriculums, and programs. Prior to coming to the Alliance, Jessica served as the first Executive Director for the Campaign to End Obesity - a non-profit organization focused on bringing together key stakeholders in order to drive national policy toward reversing the obesity epidemic. Jessica's other past work includes directing obesity initiatives for the American Heart Association, managing national nutrition policy for the American Dietetic Association, and serving as a health policy fellow for Senator Jeff Bingaman. Jessica is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a Master's Degree in Public Health from the University of Maryland - College Park. She lives in Arlington with her husband, two young boys, and two crazy hounds.
Jan Gagen, NP, CDE
— is a nurse practitioner, certified diabetes educator and study coordinator with more than 20 years experience working with patients with chronic disease. She completed her Master Degree in Nursing from the Univ. Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She received her post-master's nurse practitioner certification from the George Washington University.
She became a certified diabetes educator in 1986 and has been working with patients with diabetes since 1977. Her experience includes running the diabetes program at a large hospital in San Antonio, and has managed the certification program with the American Diabetes Association.
She currently volunteers at the Arlington Free Clinic where she works with patients with diabetes. Ms. Gagen works collaboratively with patients encouraging them to be active participants in their health care.
Deanie Jennings, MSW
— is licensed clinical social worker in Virginia, Washington, DC and Maryland. She has extensive experience working with people on the psychological aspects of health and weight problems. During her years of professional practice she has inspired others to grow and heal in the specialized areas of weight management, stress management, chronic medical illness and mind/body medicine, as well as through general psychotherapy. She enjoys working collaboratively to build on an individual's strengths to generate change. Her modalities include individual, couples, and group treatment. Deanie has been particularly involved in utilizing group therapy and classes as powerful change agents. She draws on a broad range of therapies, including insight, interpersonal and cognitive/behavioral practices.
Deanie served for several years as a staff member and psychotherapist at the Medical Illness Counseling Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland where she offered specialized therapy for medical crisis, chronic medical illness, terminal illness, and disabilities. Subsequently she led psychotherapy groups and classes at the George Washington University Weight Management Program for ten years, where she focused on psychological issues related to obesity. She has maintained a private psychotherapy practice throughout her career. She is a graduate of Catholic University's School of Social Service, earning a MSW in Clinical Social Work. She has received extensive certificate training from The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine, as well certificate training from the Harvard University Mind/Body Institute. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, and Washington Society for the Study of Eating Disorders and Obesity.
Kathy McFalls, MS, RD, LD
— is a registered and licensed nutritionist, has been counseling on healthy eating & medical nutrition therapy for over 25 years. "The science and facts have changed over the years, but one essential component of my work has not changed and that is - building relationships. Each person comes with their own unique history and individual needs that are central to helping them acquire healthy behaviors." Kathy provides nutrition and behavioral counseling to our clinical and research patients both individually and in groups. She has specialized in weight management for the past 12 years, initially working for private industry in both developing work site nutrition programs and conducting weight management groups. As well, Kathy was employed by the George Washington University Weight Management Program for 10 years and was Director of Nutrition for one year prior to coming to work for us at Washington Center for Weight Management & Research.
While her recent focus has been weight management, Kathy's had the opportunity to counsel patients with diverse needs. Kathy was the pioneer nutritionist for the Ambulatory Center at Georgetown University Medical Center. What originated as a grant-funded position, blossomed into an 18-year tenure at Georgetown. She developed the Nutrition Services within the Department of Medicine which involved the development of individual and group nutrition programs, counseling patients, and conducting staff teaching to nurses, physicians, medical residents and students. She headed a NIH Preventive Cardiology grant that was charged with educating Georgetown University Medical School students on preventive cardiology & cardiac rehabilitative nutrition. As well as a broad counseling & teaching experience in cardiology, she's had counseling experience in lipid disorders, diabetes, hypertension, and GI disorders to name the more common. "Each of my professional experiences has helped me to broaden my skills & mature as a dietitian and counselor, I feel so fortunate to have been able to progress through my career & take advantage of the varied opportunities that opened before me."
Kathy earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Maryland in Food and Nutrition. She completed her nutrition internship at St. Mary's Hospital and the Mayo Clinic in 1980. Kathy has special interest, actually a passion, for the role of nutrition in disease prevention and nutrition epidemiology. "Good health is about prevention and nutrition is the heart & soul of prevention. When a patient grasps this truth-works towards healthy eating, I feel my purpose fulfilled."
Sheila Ramsey, PhD, MSW
— the Center's Assistant Director has spent most of her professional career working with patients with eating issues, obesity, binge eating and eating disorders. Prior to joining the Center, she was Program Director at GWU Weight Management Program and Director of Georgetown University Diet Management and Eating Disorders Program. She has been on the faculty of Georgetown University Medical School and the University of Maryland.
She earned a Ph.D. in Health Counseling (1993) and a MSW in Clinical Social Work (2003) from the University of Maryland. She served as Director of Research at GWU Weight Management Program where her efforts garnered over 30 research studies being awarded to the Program. Her Ph.D. dissertation compared overweight women who binge eat, with non-binge eaters on a number of psychological parameters including body image distortion and cognitive distortions regarding eating.
She works with patients using multiple modalities including cognitive behavioral interventions and emotionally focused therapy. She draws frequently from insights gained through years of clinical work with her patients and from current research findings.
She served for many years on the Board of the Washington Society for the Study of Eating Disorders and Obesity (WSSEDO). She is a member of NASW and the Washington Society for Clinical Social Work.
Michelle Vaughan, MBA
— is the Center's Practice Administrator and is responsible for the business operations of the practice including staff administration and financial management. She holds a graduate degree in Business Management from George Washington University and has spent most of her 20+ year career working in and with national health related organizations. She is committed to providing outstanding patient service as well creating an environment that is inviting for all.