Meet Your Weight Loss Doctor and Team

A dynamic and friendly team will welcome you here at Center for Metabolic Health in Virginia. Our Physician, Program Manager, Registered Nurse, Certified Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultants, Certified Personal Trainers, Dietician, Psychologist, and various personnel are working together, creating an atmosphere motivating you to healthy choices and life-time weight loss success.

Thomas W. Clark, MS, MD, FACS
Dr. Thomas W. Clark graduated from Davidson College and The Bowman Gray School of Medicine in North Carolina. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has also passed his written and oral boards in bariatric medicine and is a highly skilled bariatric surgeon in Virginia. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, American Society of Bariatric Physicians, the American Medical Association, and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity.

Since 1994, Dr. Clark has performed over 2,000 weight loss surgery procedures and he finds this surgical sub-specialty to be very rewarding. Just as he truly enjoys working with his surgical patients to assist them in meeting or exceeding their health goals, he also feels committed to patients who struggle with weight-related issues and who are interesting in pursuing non-surgical weight loss options.

Everyone has different dreams and there is nothing more satisfying than helping people live their dreams--that gives true meaning to what I am doing.  Dr. Clark

Dr. Clark chosen to dedicate his career to weight loss surgery and medical weight loss programs. He believes in a comprehensive continuum of services in order to best help individuals successfully lose weight and keep it off.

Claire Behrens, LWMC, Program Manager

Claire Behrens is the Program Manager at CMH.  Prior to this position, Claire worked as a Fitness Specialist for Whole Health Management in Atlantic City, NJ.  In addition, Claire worked as Fitness Program Manager at Randolph AFB, TX.  Claire also taught aerobics in a hospital wellness center, owned and managed an Aerobics and Instructor Training Center and was a YMCA Fitness Director.  Claire was a leader for Weight Watchers and a Trainer for counselors in seven LA Weight Loss Centers.  She also worked as an adjunct professor for Physical Fitness and Conditioning, Aerobic Dance and Music History courses.  Claire is also certified with the American Council on Exercise as a Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer and Lifestyle Weight Management Consultant.  Claire is also a graduate of Cardiff University in Wales, UK (B. Music with Honors) and the Royal College of Music in London (A.R.C.M. in piano teaching).  She maintains more than thirty years combined teaching experience in music and fitness.  Her enthusiasm for weight loss and fitness is contagious. You will get to know her well as you progress through our program.

Penny Burns, BSN

Penny Burns, BSN graduated from Loretto Heights College, Denver, Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1975.  She has over 33 years experience in patient care as well as extensive leadership, management and wellness education experience.  After graduating from college, she entered the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant and spent 12 years on active duty and 12 years in the Reserves.  She served her country in multiple places throughout her military career, including ten years overseas.  Her many job responsibilities included Health Promotions Coordinator for three Air Force bases, over five years of hospital and clinic Staff Education and Development, as well as over two decades in Women's Health. 

Following her military career, Penny focused on helping others achieve their wellness and fitness goals while working with a community based program, as a consultant at a local fitness center, and in patient care at a local hospital.  We are proud to say that Penny joined our team here in December of 2008.

Sybille Baumeler, LWMC, CPT

Sybille graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2008.  She is currently in school to obtain her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics.  Sybille is a Lifestyle Behavior Modification Class Instructor here at CMH.  As an ACE certified Personal Trainer and certified Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant, she also works with patients during their individualized nutritional counseling sessions.  Sybille has lots of entergy and shares her passion for a healthy lifestyle with patients here at CMH.

Tamaicka Wilbourn, Certified Personal Trainer and Medical Receptionist

Tamaicka is an organized and caring individual you will get to know as you progress through our program. She keeps everything running smoothly with regard to scheduling, ordering products, meeting or exceeding patient requests, and just about anything related to keeping CMH operating at its peak performance.

Tamaicka cares about the patients and also serves as a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor at CMH.  She is a bundle of energy and will keep you moving with a smile on your face.

Carla McKeag, Certified Health Fitness Specialist

Carla earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology and her Master’s Degree in Exercise Science, both from the University of West Florida.  While attending college in Florida, she taught group fitness classes and also was a Graduate Assistant for the Exercise Science department.  Carla interned at Hilton Head Health, a premier weight loss spa and resort for adults.  She has experience teaching and training a wide variety of individuals, ranging from ages 17 up to over 80 years old. 

Starkisha Fox, Medical Receptionist

Starkisha is another helpful person you will meet at  CMH or talk to on the phone.  She assists in all aspects of keeping CMH operating smoothly. She is caring and supportive as she answers the phone, greets patients, schedules appointments, and prepares records for the clinicians and trainers. Starkisha and Tamaicka manage our product inventory, e-store and storefront. Please let either one of them know if you have any suggestions or are in need of additional products.

Jennifer Wilson, Medical Receptionist

 Jennifer joined our team in April, 2009.  She adds enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to our patients and her co-workers.  She has jumped in with both feet and her dedication to excellence is appreciated.  Jennifer has a medical background as a certified occupational therapy assistant and strives to positively impact the lives of those she serves.  Jennifer and her positive "can do" attitude is there to help you as you navigate through the many services at CMH.  She can assist you with scheduling, product information or whatever other question you may have. 

Walter Terry, Certified Personal Trainer

Walter Terry is a certified personal trainer through the YMCA and is also certified in Healthy Lifestyle Principles.  He has been a personal trainer for over 5 years and has trained various athletes, and seniors to attain their maximum degree of flexibility, agility, physical fitness and cardiovascular health.  He also teaches group fitness classes each week at CMH and is very well received by our patients.

Additional Experts Affiliated with the CMH Program:

Dawn Reese, PhD

Dr. Reese earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the Ohio State University. She completed her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and her Doctorate of Physiology in Clinical Psychology at the University of Mississippi. Dr Reese assists with the behavior modification portion of our program by providing clinical and practical expertise. She is also available for individual consultation.

Becky Eason, RD

Becky graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2002 with a Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Sciences. She became a registered dietician after completing a one year internship in management, clinical and community dietetics. She has experience counseling medical and surgical weight loss patients. Becky is available for patient consultations and her common-sense advice is always well received.

For more information on weight loss in Virginia, please schedule your FREE individualized consultation.