Donna Ryan, MD, graduated from the LSU School of Medicine in 1970. She is a Professor and the Associate Executive Director for Clinical Research at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she focuses on research in obesity prevention and treatment. Her research projects include LOSS (Louisiana Obese Subjects Study), a randomized comparison of obesity surgery and medical approaches for morbid obesity, Look AHEAD, a randomized comparison of an Intensive Lifestyle lntervention or Diabetes Support and Education in obese individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, as well as POUNDS LOST (Preventing Obesity Using Novel Dietary Strategies), a comparison of four diets of differing macronutrient content.