Weight Management Providers & Dietitians

Bio

For more than two years, Tobi Agbelusi has been working as a nurse practitioner at CalvertHealth, helping patients achieve their weight and health goals. “Obesity is a complex disease that can increase the risk of many health problems such as heart disease and diabetes, if untreated,” she said.

Her role is to teach and assist patients to manage their weight and improve their health by making positive lifestyle changes with or without pharmacotherapy.

Agbelusi obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ and went on to earn her master’s degree in nursing/ family nurse practitioner degree from Lehman College in New York. She has worked in a wide array of healthcare settings such as home care, long-term care, medical surgical/pre- and post-operative care, hospice and pain management. “The family is very important for care and support,” stresses Agbelusi. “As a family nurse practitioner, I am trained to care for all ages. I believe my versatile background equips me to uniquely cater to my patients and their families.” Her philosophy of care combines a holistic approach with individualized care. “Each patient and situation is unique. I want my patients to feel valued by listening and fostering open communication, and creating a friendly, nonjudgmental environment that promotes wellness.

“I aim to treat, educate and provide compassionate and high-quality care to my patients and their family.” Agbelusi is married with three children, two boys and a girl.

Bio

As nurse practitioner in this team approach to weight management, Chelsi Cox’s role is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based care plan, taking patient’s preferences, barriers, medical conditions, medications and goals into account.

“I believe education is one of the most important tools in health promotion,” said Cox, “and vital to anyone’s weight management journey.” For that reason, she collaborates with other specialty providers, such as registered dietitians, to individualize care plans.

Cox started her nursing career in bariatric surgical medicine over a decade ago. She transitioned into emergency medicine, where she treated numerous chronic conditions often associated with obesity in both adult and pediatric patients. Cox eventually made her way back to the weight management specialty, now in Southern Maryland, as a nurse practitioner.

She stressed, “By practicing in the specialty of obesity, I have the time and dedication truly required by this complicated and multi-factorial disease that primary care providers often cannot accommodate.” Cox is currently working toward obtaining her Obesity Medicine Certification to stay up to date with the latest evidence-based approaches to care.

Compassion is at the heart of Cox’s philosophy of care. “This should be a safe place to discuss weight and chronic conditions without stigma,” she said. “I value close patient relationships and want to understand your story as I believe this is the best approach to get to the root causes, identify barriers, and initiate practical and sustainable changes.”

As part of a blended family with children ranging from toddler to teen, Cox understands the struggles busy lives present. “I too have gone through my own weight management journeys and though we are all far from the same, this is what fuels my passion in this area of medicine.”

Bio

“I am excited to step into the role of nurse practitioner, where I will be working alongside our weight management team to support our patients in achieving healthier lifestyles,” said Kia Elliott, APRN, FNP-C.

Elliott graduated from Howard University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. “I have dedicated over 10 years to the field of nursing,” she said. “During this time, I have gained invaluable experience working closely with patients, honing my skills and deepening my commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care.”

Elliott said the majority of her career has focused on women’s health, and added “I am passionate about delivering care that meets the unique needs of women.”

She went on to add, “My philosophy of care is to treat every patient as if they were family, truly investing in their well-being. I believe in taking a holistic approach that addresses specific health concerns while also promoting longterm wellness and quality of life. I look forward to continuing this journey and making a meaningful impact within our community.”

Bio

As a nurse practitioner with the CalvertHealth weight management team, Jessica Erisman helps patients to obtain a healthier weight and improve chronic conditions through dietary counseling, lifestyle coaching and medication management.

Erisman describes her philosophy of care as a partnership with her patients. “I want my patients to feel empowered and motivated to improve their health after their first visit with me,” she said. “In follow-up visits I hope patients see me as not only their provider but their partner in their journey to better health.” She went on to add, “I want patients to feel excited to come weigh in, talk about their struggles and successes and feel comfortable to ask questions and report any concerns with their plan of care.”

Erisman obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore. She then worked five years as a registered across many specialties including cardiology, acute rehabilitation, school health and public health. It was there she found her passion for preventive care and patient education. This inspired her to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner so she could directly help patients lead healthier lives and better control their chronic conditions.

Although she completed eight years of higher education, Erisman said she considers herself a lifelong learner. “I enjoy learning the latest and greatest about obesity medicine to make sure I am providing the highest quality, evidence-based care to my patients.”

She has a special interest in type 2 diabetes management in both adults and children. “Many aspects of managing obesity also positively impact diabetes management. I am also interested in women’s health with a particular interest in weight management among women who are postpartum or postmenopausal, and those with PCOS, all of which are especially susceptible to weight gain during hormonal changes.”

Bio

“Nutrition is not ‘one-size-fits-all’,” said registered dietitian Hilary Baughman. “I believe in approaching each counseling session with compassion, meeting my patients where they are at and providing an individualized approach.”

Her role with the CalvertHealth weight management team is to provide nutrition counseling for patients pursuing weight management and overall healthier lifestyles.

Baughman completed the concurrent diet and exercise program (bachelor’s and master’s degree) at Iowa State University and dietetic internship through the Minneapolis Health Care System. Early in her career, she worked with veterans providing medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for a variety of conditions including diabetes, heart disease, weight management, women’s health and more. Over the past year, she has transitioned to focusing on providing nutrition counseling specifically for weight management.

Baughman said, “I want my patients to know and trust they will receive high quality, safe and helpful care when they come to see me.” She is especially passionate about serving women that are experiencing weight changes amid perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Baughman said she enjoys spending her free time with her husband and Frenchie pup, Chadwick

Bio

“I very much enjoy providing individualized, engaging nutrition education,” said CalvertHealth registered dietitian Kelly Green. “My role is to help our patients feel comfortable and confident in their choices as they take this journey into improving their health/weight management.”

She explained nutrition education (learning about such topics as meal planning, portion sizes and label reading) is the foundation for nutrition counseling, which involves setting goals and building a personalized healthy eating plan. Patient education is at the core of her philosophy of care. “It’s like the old fable: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” She added, “I want my patients to feel encouraged to take the next step in their journey whether it is a goal discussed in our session or something they decide to do on their own.”

Green obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland’s School of Food Science and Nutrition Dietetic Program. She went on to complete her dietetic internship with Wellness Workdays Distance Dietetic Internship.

Her previous positions include experience in a broad array of clinical settings including skilled nursing, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities. She went on to add, “My goal is to ensure those with cognitive disabilities maintain their dignity and feel comfortable in improving their eating habits and health.” She is also skilled in working with people who have difficulty swallowing.

Green has a special interest in culture nutrition (which affects food availability and preferences) as well as food allergies and intolerances and behavioral health.