Donna is a Physician Assistant who has specialized in primary care for several years with an emphasis on obesity and preventative care. She is passionate about patient education and encouraging patients to be proactive in regards to their health. Donna is highly motivated in helping patients to prevent and eliminate obesity as she suffered the loss of a close family member to this disease. She has since vowed that she will invest her energy and efforts to prevent other families from experiencing this same pain and loss.

Donna completed the Physician Assistant Program at Howard University and received certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She received her Master of Science in Health Care Administration from the University of Maryland University College. She is a member of the Obesity Society and the Academy of Physician Assistants.

Her Message to Patients

Dear Patient:

The human body is exceptionally proficient, yet obesity is disrupting the physical and mental health we all deserve. Think of the many tasks your body performs, yet we often neglect to provide it with the necessary support due in part to our fast pace high stress society. How often do you eat properly, get adequate sleep (7-8hrs) and stop to de-stress? All of these items as well as others impact obesity. So, if you answered not often, then how long do you feel the body will continue to function without disease and/or complications? The answer is not for long or at suboptimal levels which can ultimately impact your work, dreams and relationships. Our body, as efficient as it is, can only compensate for so long until even it will succumb.

We have the capacity to function optimally for a lifetime if we are willing to invest time, energy and effort to promoting our health as we do in other aspects of our life. Stop and think about what you are or have been successful at in your life? What did it take to get there? Utilize that same approach in your health as you strive to eliminate obesity and manage your weight. Many of your successes did not come overnight and so remember that during the weight loss process. It is often the journey, not just the final reward that helps us to learn, change, appreciate and maintain the success we achieve. I encourage that you to come to MWD and allow us to identify the causes of your weight gain and create a plan that will help you achieve the health you deserve.

Best Wishes,

Donna Fleshman, P.A.