Jefferson Staff

Combined, the Jefferson Weight Management team has more than 20 years of experience in weight management. Their expert training and clinical knowledge, combined with energy, enthusiasm and commitment, contribute to the amazing success of our program.

Cheryl Marco, RD, LDN, CDE - Director of Education

Cheryl Marco works with you during every phase of the program. A registered dietician, she’s been with Jefferson since 1982 and with the Optifast program since 1997. A Certified Diabetes Educator, Cheryl has been providing individual and medical nutrition therapy to patients with chronic health issues related to obesity for more than two decades.

A specialist in her field, Cheryl has co-published several articles on obesity-related topics in noted journals, including The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diabetes, and The New England Journal of Medicine. She has also written and developed 100 recipes for Gastrointestinal Health. Additionally, she is a member of several professional societies, including the American Dietetic Association, Pennsylvania Dietetic Association, Philadelphia Dietetic Association, Diabetes Care and Education Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association, and the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

A graduate of St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford, CT, Cheryl has a BS in foods and nutrition. She completed her internship at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals in Richmond.

Serge Jabbour, MD, FACP, FACE - Medical Director

A critical component of your entry into the Jefferson program is a consultation with Serge Jabbour, MD, who oversees each participant’s liquid fast. Dr. Jabbour is Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases in the Department of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College/Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Jabbour is a specialist in obesity and other related disorders such as high cholesterol and diabetes. He has been working with the Jefferson Weight Management Program since 1999. He has published many articles on obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders and is invited to lecture around the country on these topics.

Named “Top Doc in Endocrinology” by Philadelphia Magazine in 2002, Dr. Jabbour is also a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, The Endocrine Society, American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and American Thyroid Association. Dr. Jabbour is also the Director of the Endocrinology Fellowship Program at Jefferson Medical College and serves on the writing committee for the American Board of Endocrinology.

Dr. Jabbour completed his training in Endocrinology at Jefferson in 1999.

Elizabeth Bates, MEd - Administrator

Elizabeth is one of the first people you’ll meet with when you start the program. She runs many of the orientation, education, and maintenance sessions and manages the day-to-day details of the program. A Jefferson employee since 1996, Elizabeth has worked with the Weight Management Program since 2001 and has spearheaded its growth into one of the largest programs in the area.

Trained as a therapist, Elizabeth has extensive experience counseling individuals with suffering from addiction and teaching behavior modification. As someone who has struggled with weight her entire life, she has a personal insight into the issues people in the program face every day. See her statement on the Testimonials page.

Elizabeth completed her master’s degree in Education at West Chester University. She has a BS in Social Sciences from Drexel University and training in addictions therapy.

Lon Barbour, Fitness Coordinator

During the initial phase of the program, participants get to know fitness coordinator Lon Barbour, who teaches the benefits of exercise as it relates to weight management. Lon is a certified personal trainer and strength and conditioning specialist who has been with the program since 2003.

Having worked extensively with people needing to lose weight, Lon knows that getting started on an exercise program is one of the greatest struggles of any weight loss and maintenance program. His goal is to help people unlearn the misinformation about fitness they’ve learned over the years and to become more educated about exercise and activity in a way that will help them to achieve and maintain their goals.

In his sessions with core participants, Lon teaches about the health benefits of exercise, from the reduced effects of diabetes and other metabolic illnesses to increased energy and cardiovascular health.

Lon has a BS from Penn State in Kinesiology.

Jennifer P. Lin, MS, CRNP, BC - Nurse Practitioner and Nutritionist

Jennifer is a board-certified nurse practitioner in Adult Medicine. Since 2002, she has helped participants at Jefferson Endocrinology to oversee and integrate medical management issues and necessary lifestyle changes. She also assists patients in identifying and problem solving any specific barriers they may be experiencing.

Jennifer earned a BS in Nursing at Georgetown University and a MS at Columbia University.

OTHER STAFF:

Angela Baggio Program Assistant Angela will often be your first line of contact with the program.

Dora Posey Medical Assistant

Veronica Durham Program Assistant