Jody A. Underwood, MD
Psychiatrist-in-Chief
Lifespan Physician Group
Danielle Fagan
Director of Practice Operations

Dear Dr. Underwood:

The history of the Warren Alpert Medical School created under the leadership of Dean Aronson, with Dean Greer (at the time the Associate Dean), was based on Rhode Island’s need for holistic health care that rivaled the medical care that persons could receive in Boston. The Center for Weight and Wellness for the last 35 years has exemplified the vision of Deans Aronson and Greer.

It is disappointing to hear of Lifespan’s decision to close this successful thirty-five year-old program that has provided holistic care addressing an important public health concern. We are writing today not only of concerns regarding closure, but important concerns with how this closure is being implemented.

First, a key to success of this program is not just the fast itself, but multidisciplinary support provided after the fast. As part of signed agreement, our expectation was that persons would have the support of the Master’s program for one year after conclusion of the FAST. The letter as written is confusing as whether this will be honored. The letter is poorly written without
either a clear explanation on how Lifespan will honor the intent of RI state law that ensures continuity and a coordination of care plan or the rationale for closing a successful program that has saved the lives of so many. Lifespan should be the premier medical center in RI, but clearly has fallen short.

Second, Lifespan (per RI Department of Health) has an obligation to assist persons with continuity of care. The current instructions in the letter to go to www.lifespan.org/weightloss On this page, the program featured is the Center for Bariatric Surgery. The optics are poor to say the least, suggesting that procedures with high reimbursement are the main focus of Lifespan.

RI is great state. We need Lifespan to provide competent, coordinated, and holistic care. Unfortunately, this initial experience with the closure of the CWW falls short of the goals of high-quality care.