About Us
Our Story
The Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) was formally announced during ObesityWeek® 2015. Our founding members formed an advocacy network to change how we perceive and approach obesity in the U.S.
OCAN works to increase access to evidence-based obesity treatments by uniting key stakeholders and the broader obesity community around significant education, policy and legislative efforts.
What We Do
Mission
OCAN’s mission is to change how the nation perceives and approaches obesity in the United States. We seek to elevate obesity on the national agenda by uniting and aligning obesity stakeholders and the community around key obesity-related efforts.
Who We Are
OCAN is a diverse group of organizations that have come together to change how we perceive and approach the problem of obesity in this nation.
Working Groups
Legislative
The Congressional Advocacy Priorities and Strategies (CAPS) Workgroup advocates for policymakers to pass legislation, including the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), that supports coverage of and access to obesity treatment, prevention and care.
Our Leadership
Joe Nadglowski, co-chair
Joseph Nadglowski is President and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), a 75,000+ member organization dedicated to elevating and empowering those affected by obesity through education, advocacy, and support.
A frequent speaker, author, and award winner, Joe has more than 25 years of experience in patient advocacy, public policy, research and education. His focus is improving access to evidence-based obesity treatments and limiting weight bias and discrimination. Joe earned his Bachelor of Science in microbiology and cell science from the University of Florida.
Hannah Martin, MPH, RDN, co-chair
Hannah Martin is Director of Legislative and Government Affairs at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Her focus on health care and public health includes federal advocacy, writing regulatory comments, helping to develop Academy policy, and representing the Academy in advocacy coalitions, including OCAN.
Previously, Hannah was a senior policy analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), focusing on federal public health and nutrition policy. She received her MPH and BSPH in nutrition from UNC Chapel Hill and is currently a DrPH candidate in health policy at the George Washington University.
Rob Goldsmith, MEd, co-chair
Rob Goldsmith is the Director of Advocacy and Policy at the Endocrine Society where he oversees legislative and regulatory issues pertaining to diabetes, obesity, and physician practice issues. He oversees the Clinical Affairs Core Committee and represents the Society as a co-chair of the Obesity Care Advocacy Network. Rob worked on obesity issues as a congressional staffer on Capitol Hill. He developed legislation aimed at lowering childhood obesity, and also worked on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act which reauthorized federal school meal and child nutrition programs.
Rob has a B.A. in history and secondary education from Carthage College and a master’s degree in education with a focus on public policy from The University of Virginia.
