WELCOME
Meet the TOS TEAM
Everyone who works at The Obesity Society (TOS) is dedicated to helping you, our members. In fact, that is our mission. Whether you want information regarding the Society, memberships, collaborations, awards or grants, our journal Obesity or our annual meeting at ObesityWeek®, we are here to assist you.
Sherlyn Celone-Arnold, MS
Chief Executive Officer
Primary role: Executive Leadership and Governance, Strategic Alliance and Direction, Organizational Growth, Professional Development
Sherlyn is a transformative leader with 20+ years of experience helping organizations become industry pacesetters by pioneering innovative business strategies that drive organizational growth. As an international thought leader, she is recognized for designing award-winning business and educational solutions for health systems, providers, and patients, and for conducting outcomes-oriented, quality-improvement initiatives that significantly enhanced the quality of care and patient health.
Sherlyn has worked in the field of cardio-renal-metabolic disease for more than two decades and served as a strategic partner to TOS for many years before assuming the role of CEO. As a strategic partner, Sherlyn pioneered the first Obesity Management in Primary Care Certificate and Training Program in the US, and possesses a successful track record of leading multiple organizational collaboratives and building high-functioning teams.
Angela Golden, DNP, FAANP, FOMA, FTOS
Vice President, Clinical Affairs
Primary role: Scientific and Clinical Educational Strategy, Organizational Strategy
Dr. Angela Golden is a forward-thinking leader in clinical practice with over four decades of association leadership. She is the owner of two medical practices and earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a focus on health policy and evidence-based practice from Arizona State University. Her doctoral research explored how health policymakers respond to evidence-based literature in the legislative decision-making process.
Dr. Golden retired as an Assistant Professor from Northern Arizona University and has been an active member of TOS, where she served as Chair of the Clinical Practice Section and contributed to both the Clinical Practice and Education Committees. She previously served as President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), reflecting her longstanding commitment to professional advocacy.
A Fellow of AANP, the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), and TOS, Dr. Golden is recognized nationally as an award-winning clinician, author, speaker, and researcher. Her recent honors include the 2024 AANP Sharp Cutting Edge Award and the 2023 America’s Top NP Award.
Lindsey Shaw, MBA, PMP
Vice President, Operations and Corporate Affairs
Primary role: Operations, Communications, Public Affairs and Advocacy, Marketing, Member Engagement
Lindsey Shaw is a dynamic leader with over 20 years of experience in operational improvement, business modernization, strategic communications, policy outreach, and project management. She is responsible for overseeing, integrating, and improving the organization’s operational strategies, communication efforts, public affairs outreach, marketing campaigns, and membership engagement initiatives. She has a proven record of driving business transformation initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness, spearheading high-profile communications projects that bolster organizational reputation, and improving member experience.
Before joining TOS, Lindsey held several leadership positions at the American Institutes for Research (AIR). There, she led internal communications efforts that engaged AIR’s global workforce, directed policy outreach initiatives supporting evidence-based policymaking, and managed communications campaigns for federal and state health and human services agency clients that disseminated information and drove behavior change.
Lindsey’s extensive experience also includes roles in the government sector. She has served as a Press Secretary on Capitol Hill, a senior public affairs advisor at the U.S. General Services Administration, a press aide for a former Governor of Maryland, and a public affairs officer at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Chris Blagden, PhD
Deputy Director, Scientific and Clinical Education
Primary role: Scientific & Clinical Education Strategy, Medical Education Program Development, STEM & Outreach Initiatives
Chris Blagden, PhD, is the Deputy Director of Scientific and Clinical Education at TOS. In this role, Chris will lead and advance the Society’s scientific and clinical education initiatives, drawing on deep expertise in medical education and strategic program development for metabolic disease to support all stakeholders in the Society’s vision. Chris graduated from King’s College London with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and also subsequently obtained his PhD at King’s. He spent 7 years at the NYU School of Medicine in New York as a postdoctoral research scholar in molecular neuroscience before leaving academic life and spending the next 20 years in medical education and communications. With a 30-year background spanning academic research, nonprofit governance, and medical education leadership, he will play a key role in strengthening evidence-based education and supporting excellence across obesity research and clinical care.
In addition to medical communications, Chris has worked on volunteer initiatives for STEM education at all levels. As part of the Institute for Schools of the Future, Chris worked with support from the National Science Foundation for science education programs for K-12 students, partnering with local Police Athletic Leagues to use forensics to generate interest in science learning. Chris also has board-level nonprofit governance experience with AAAS and the National Postdoctoral Association, serving on the board for two years and overseeing and managing outreach and oversight committees.
Marina Freedman, MS, CMP
Senior Manager, Educational Programs
Primary role: Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Professional Development Initiatives
Marina Freedman is a seasoned meeting and program manager specializing in continuing medical education (CME) activities, including meeting management, accreditation, budget management, program planning, grants, exhibits, and sponsorship management. She previously worked at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she managed national, regional, and international conferences. Marina has extensive experience in logistics, contracting, vendor relations, and grant and budget reconciliation.
Anita Wiler, CMP
Senior Director of Education and Meetings
Primary role: ObesityWeek®, Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Anita is a 20+ year veteran medical/scientific conference planner, having previously worked at the American Nurses Association. She has coordinated national and international conferences with up to 10,000 attendees. Anita has extensive experience in logistics, abstract management, contracting, and conference marketing. She coordinates all aspects of the Society’s annual meeting at ObesityWeek®. Anita is the staff liaison to the Annual Program Committee and Continuing Medical Education Oversight Committee.
Regina Williams
Director of Governance and Administration
Primary role: Governance, Administration, Human Resources, Grants and Awards
Regina has more than 20 years of non-profit experience working in human resources and office administration. She works closely with the CEO, overseeing the Society’s governance, and serves as the staff liaison to the Governing Board and Executive Committee. Regina’s varied responsibilities include human resources, office administration, and information technology. She also manages the Society’s awards and grants programs. Regina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management and is a Maryland Notary Public.
Darnella Parks, CMP
Manager of Scientific Meetings
Primary role: TOS Review Course, Abstracts, ObesityWeek®
Darnella brings 15 years of non-profit meeting and event planning experience to TOS, having worked at the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs and the International Dyslexia Association. Darnella oversees the TOS Review Course for the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) Certification Exam. She coordinates the abstract management process for ObesityWeek®. Darnella also supports the senior director of education and meetings in all aspects of the logistical planning for the Society’s annual meeting at ObesityWeek®.
Allison Templet
Managing Editor, Obesity
Primary role: Journal Management and Production
Allison has been an editor and publications coordinator for more than 20 years. As the managing editor of the Society’s flagship journal, Obesity, Allison oversees all aspects of the submission, peer review, and publication processes, including coordination between TOS staff, the Publications Board, journal editors, authors, and our publisher, Wiley. Allison also develops and implements strategies for obtaining high-quality research, improves author guidelines and procedures, and facilitates member engagement.
Shameeka Green
Senior Manager, Membership and Sections
Primary role: Memberships, Staff Liaison to Sections, Special Interest Groups, and Committees
Shameeka has more than 17 years of experience working in database management, meetings and conferences, and other areas of association management. She is the key contact person for memberships and our Association Management System (AMS) MemberSuite. She also serves as the staff liaison to Sections for the Society (Basic Science, Clinical Science, Behavioral Science, Bariatric Surgery and Devices, Clinical Practice, Pediatric Obesity, Population Science and Public Health, and Neuroscience). In addition, Shameeka is also the liaison to seven committees (Membership, Early-Career Professional Sub-Committee, Diversity, Fellowship Subcommittee, Education, Policy & Advocacy, and Clinical Practice). Shameeka holds an associate of applied science degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in Meeting, Conference, and Event Planning, as well as a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration.
Stephanie Garcia
Sponsorship and Exhibits Manager
Primary role: ObesityWeek® Exhibits and Sponsors
Stephanie has nearly 23 years of exhibition experience working on association and for-profit events. She is responsible for ObesityWeek sponsorships, exhibit sales and service, corporate-supported symposia, and TOS traffic builder areas on the exhibit hall floor. Stephanie credits some very good mentors for training her in sponsorship programs. She is excited to bring this experience to ObesityWeek to help exhibitors expand their presence in the industry. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and two professional certifications: IAEE’s Certified in Exhibitions Management and PMI’s Project Management Professional.