Pharmacists Titrate, Counsel, and Clear Barriers in Obesity

At the New England Institute of Ambulatory Care Pharmacists (NEIAP) 2026 Annual Forum in Boston, Massachusetts, Vicki Saengkheune, PharmD, BCACP, and Abimbola (Bola) Olagunju, PharmD, RPh, ambulatory clinical pharmacy specialists at Beth Israel Lahey Health, sat down with Pharmacy Times to describe their work in a pharmacist-led obesity clinic and why pharmacists are central to obesity care.

Saengkheune explained that the clinic works collaboratively with providers to support patients throughout their obesity journey. That work spans titrating and adjusting medications and counseling on nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle modifications, and the keys to achieving positive health outcomes. Olagunju added that the team also addresses the side effect profile and mitigation strategies and that within their collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) program, pharmacists titrate doses up or down based on tolerability, handle the counseling aspects of therapy, and work to provide access and eliminate barriers to medications.

Asked why pharmacists matter so much in obesity care, Saengkheune emphasized optimizing therapy, offering strategies to improve outcomes, and providing accountability through follow-up. She described this as especially impactful given the ebbs and flows inherent to obesity treatment, framing consistent support and close follow-up as instrumental to patient success. Together, the 2 pharmacists positioned their role as combining clinical management—dose titration and side-effect mitigation—with the sustained, relationship-based follow-up that helps patients navigate a long and nonlinear process.

Their account reflects a model in which pharmacists are embedded in collaborative care, extending the reach of the broader provider team while giving patients more frequent touch points. The emphasis throughout was on accessibility, tolerability, and continuity rather than any single medication or short-term result.