Your Care Team
Jeffrey Sicat, MD, FACE, FOMA (Endocrinology, Obesity Medicine)
Dr. Sicat grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey and attended Williams College in the beautiful Berkshire mountains of Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he studied both the sciences (Biology) and the arts (Studio Art) and played and ran for varsity soccer, winter, and spring track teams. He attended medical school at the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University (MCV-VCU) and remained there to complete his Internal Medicine residency in 2002.
His great interest in metabolic conditions led him to pursue and complete his subspecialty fellowship training in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Sicat co-founded the Virginia Endocrinology and Osteoporosis Center in 2004.
During the early part of his initial seven years as a practicing endocrinologist, Dr. Sicat developed an interest in helping his patients achieve weight loss to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pains, and infertility. He witnessed the dramatic improvements in these conditions as his patients were often able to reduce or discontinue multiple medications previously required to treat these conditions. But more than anything, he witnessed the dramatic improvement in overall well-being and personal health in each of his patients. Thus sprouted his passion for the field of medical weight loss (obesity medicine).
In pursuit of more comprehensive subspecialty training in weight loss medicine, Dr. Sicat trained extensively with the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) and regularly attends comprehensive programs and courses through the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), Harvard University, The Endocrine Society, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).
Dr. Sicat is among a small number of physicians in the country board certified in bariatric medicine by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) as well as the American Board of Bariatric Medicine (ABBM). He was also board certified in Internal Medicine (2002) and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (2004). He is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) / American Society of Bariatric Physicians, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Endocrine Society, the American Medical Association, and the Medical Society of Virginia. Dr. Sicat has lectured extensively on medical weight loss and has been recognized by his peers in Richmond Magazine’s “Top Docs” and was recognized by his patients in the "2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Best Bedside Manner Awards." He is an active member and regularly teaches and presents at the national Obesity Medicine Association where he recently served the society on the Board of Trustees. In 2018 he was recognized as one of a select few distinguished Fellows of the Obesity Medicine Association (FOMA). In 2021 he was selected to the Editorial Board for Obesity Pillars, the official journal of the Obesity Medicine Association, with the journal being devoted to clinical and evidence-based research for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other health care clinicians in the field of obesity medicine.
“I personally appreciate how difficult it is to lose and maintain a healthy weight. In previous years, I was extremely active in competitive sports, exercising at least 2-3 hours per day through high school, college, and even medical school. As a result, I was able to eat without limitation and thus did not need to learn healthy eating habits. However, with the extensive time commitments of medical training, building and growing a medical practice, and devoting (wonderful) time to my family -- I gradually gained more than 40 pounds over the years. With the strategies and techniques that I have learned over the years through my professional training, I have personally lost most of this weight. However, on a daily basis I continue to appreciate the struggles, temptations, and triggers that cause weight gain and weight regain. At Virginia Weight and Wellness, we develop and implement individualized treatment plans, we set realistic goals, and we help you reach these goals." ---- Jeffrey Sicat, MD, FACE, FOMA
Erin Schrinel, PA-C (Physician Assistant) (Formally "Poston")
Erin Schrinel grew up in the Central Virginia area before obtaining her BS in Biology from Mary Washington College and later receiving her Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies from DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Since then she has been helping patients achieve their health goals in her family medicine practice in the Richmond area for over 10 years until she found her niche in the specialty of Obesity Medicine in 2014.
She has enjoyed great satisfaction in her career knowing that she is impacting patients' lives for the better and has formed trusting comfortable relationships with her patients over the years. She works side by side with her patients to help them achieve their goals for successful long term weight loss and overall improved health and well being. She has a passion for the complexity of weight gain, weight loss, and weight maintenance as it related to both the environmental, behavioral, and metabolic factors for each individual. She loves to see her patients succeed in feeling better, adopting healthier lifestyles, feeling their best, and often reversing their cholesterol numbers, blood pressure, or diabetes.
In April 2017, she was featured in the NCCPA's newsletter as "One of the 50 PA's making a difference" in the country for the 50th anniversary of the PA profession (click here for the link to the written profile).
Erin is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), and the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants (VAPA).
She has served on the Advanced Practitioner Committee for the Obesity Medicine Association. She has presented as a speaker on nutrition in the corporate community and church communities over the years. She taught a community exercise program in 2015 and helped implement "Team Wellness" within her local church and community to do regular blood pressure screenings, coordinate speaker forums, and organize community health fairs. Most recently, Erin earned the National Obesity Medicine Association Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine, an added certificate demonstrating her extensive knowledge of evidence-based obesity treatment approaches and ongoing commitment to the advancing field of obesity medicine.
Erin resides in Chesterfield with her family. She enjoys exercise, travelling to the mountains and the beach, volunteering, and her mini-dachshund.
One of Erin's patients posted the following to Facebook, "... I am overjoyed to report as of today's visit, I have ACHIEVED a goal of reaching a significant milestone in my weight loss journey -- 100 POUNDS gone forever!!! Over the last 18 months, it has required a lot of discipline, education, and support. But my greatest resource has been this fabulous lady -- Erin Schrinel."
Heather Sedwick, PA-C (Physician Assistant)
Heather grew up out west in Nevada and Utah. She attended Brigham Young University and earned her Bachelor's degree in Physiology and Developmental Biology. During that time she also worked as a physical therapy aide in spine therapy. After graduating in 2006, she attended JMU's Physician Assistant (PA) program where she earned her Master's degree in Health Sciences with an emphasis in Physician Assistant Studies. She is a board certified PA and practiced Family Medicine for 5 years in the Richmond area. During that time she found a great love and concern for the patients with whom she worked with. After relocating to the Staunton / Fishersville area, she cared for uninsured patients in the Augusta Regional Free Clinic where she became better at looking for options for those who feel unable to overcome barriers to improved health and well-being.
During these years of practicing medicine, she has found a great love for developing a strong patient-provider relationship. She appreciates the chance she has to listen to people, understand what they are experiencing, and find ways to improve their health. Her great joy is getting to see a person over time and catch-up with them on their lives and health from visit to visit. She understands that each person is at a different level and stage in their journey to their best health and has compassion for those who do not feel they are where they want to be. Helping patients set achievable goals that will lead to long term change is a passion for her, and she hopes to make everyone feel comfortable with embracing struggles and setbacks to move forward with each new day.
She loves to cook, try new foods and restaurants, run, ski/waterski, listen to podcasts, and spend time outdoors with her husband and 4 children.
Julie Goodman, MSN, RN, FNP (Nurse Practitioner)
Julie Goodman grew up in Northern Virginia and moved to Richmond to attend Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2008. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2010 and her Master's Degree in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia in 2012.
After completing her Nursing Degree, Julie cared for patients on the Progressive Care Unit at VCU Medical Center and then practiced for over 10 years as a Nurse Practitioner at Bon Secours Ironbridge Family Practice where she provided primary care including caring for complex patients with multiple co-morbidities, women's health, and illness prevention through patient education and empowerment.
Julie is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA).
Julie is passionate about helping patients improve their health, happiness, and longevity by working with patients to develop individualized nutrition, activity, and medication management plans. Her passion for helping others was recognized in 2020 as one of the recipients of the "Hometown Hero Award" by Allen & Allen for giving "selflessly to our communities" in the Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg areas.
In her free time, Julie enjoys spending as much time as she can with her husband and two children. She is an avid dog lover and has two labradors. She enjoys reading all best seller books, regularly practices yoga, and loves to run.
Brigitte, PharmD, BCPS, FNAP (Practice Administrator)
Brigitte grew up in Northern Virginia and attended the University of Virginia for undergraduate studies. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1998 and completed both a general pharmacy practice residency (1999) and a specialized residency in primary ambulatory care (2000) at the Medical University of South Carolina.
From 2000 - 2015, she served on faculty at the VCU School of Pharmacy where she was an Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Services. As Vice Chair, she provided oversight of the department's clinical activities, assisted faculty in developing their clinical practice sites, served as a liaison with the practice partners, and worked with key leaders and stakeholders to develop patient-centered pharmacy services.
She is passionate about providing patient-centered care and has over 17 years of experience providing patient care as a member of interprofessional teams in internal medicine and endocrinology with an emphasis on chronic disease management, medication management, medication reconciliation, medication adherence counseling, and motivational interviewing.
She has received several teaching and mentoring awards and was recently named a Distinguished Practitioner & Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP), a non-profit organization founded in 1981 to advise governmental bodies on our healthcare system.
She enjoys traveling, running, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
She is extremely excited to be a part of this team of health providers recognized in our community for their clinical experience and focus on proactive, individualized care. Most of all, she is excited to partner with our amazing patients in achieving their health and wellness goals