Dr. Celine Gisbert, a family medicine physician at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, has earned the highest distinction in obesity medicine as a Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association.

According to a news release she is the first physician in Pensacola to receive the honor and only the 102nd nationwide to achieve the recognition.

The Obesity Medicine Association is the largest organization of health care professionals dedicated to obesity treatment, including physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The organization promotes evidence-based, personalized approaches to help patients manage and overcome obesity.

"As a Fellow of OMA, I am able to act as an expert in my community and demonstrate my passion about the field as my team and I at Sacred Heart continue to seek new ways to treat obesity successfully," Gisbert said in the release. "I am blessed to be able to help my patients overcome this chronic disease and become healthier by using an evidence-based clinical approach."

Gisbert sees patients at her downtown Pensacola clinic on West Main Street and at the Comprehensive Wellness Center on Summit Boulevard. She specializes in holistic, individualized care, tailoring treatment plans to each patient's unique needs.

Sacred Heart Medical Group Vice President Justin Labrato praised Gisbert's work, calling her an invaluable asset to the community.

"The work Dr. Gisbert provides to her patients is unmatched, and we are incredibly honored to have her caring for this community," Labrato said.

Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola is home to the region's leading bariatric surgery program and a specialized bariatrics care team. Located at the Summit Boulevard center, the team includes dietitians, psychologists, an obesity medicine specialist and a fellowship-trained surgeon specializing in metabolic and bariatric surgery. The program offers personalized weight loss plans and procedures, including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and surgical revisions of previous bariatric surgeries.

Gisbert's achievement underscores Ascension Sacred Heart's commitment to advancing obesity medicine and providing high-quality weight loss care. The hospital system, which operates five hospitals and more than 100 care sites in Northwest Florida, provided more than $193 million in community benefit and care for vulnerable populations in fiscal year 2024.

For more information about Ascension Sacred Heart's obesity medicine and bariatric surgery services, visit https://healthcare.ascension.org.