WOC 2026

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Russell Rising

D & S Consulting Services Inc, United States

Biography:

Russell Rrising obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, Tucson. He started his career by inventing the world’s first Whole Room Indirect Calorimeter (WRIC) for infants at Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. He then created several types of animal WRIC’s, including one for non-human primates. Finally, he has created nine human WRIC laboratories worldwide comprising of 25 metabolic rooms. He has over 60 publications, been featured on television broadcasts, as well as previously holding a full adjunct professorship at China’s largest medical school. Currently, he is president of research and development of D & S Consulting Services Inc.

Scott Isaacs

Emory University School of Medicine, United States

Biography:

Scott Isaacs, MD, FACP, FACE, is an endocrinologist and obesity medicine expert at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He is Past President of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology and is internationally recognized for his work in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and MASLD/MASH, contributing to major clinical guidance and educational initiatives in metabolic liver disease and cardiometabolic care.

Hassan Massoud Heshmati

Endocrinology Metabolism Consulting, LLC, Hassan Heshmati and Valerie Shaw Endocrine Research, United States

Biography:

Hassan M. Heshmati, Medical Doctor, Endocrinologist, has 50 years of experience in clinical research in Academia (University-Affiliated Hospitals, Paris, France and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA), Pharmaceutical/Biotech Companies (Sanofi, Malvern, PA, USA, Essentialis, Carlsbad, CA, USA, and Gelesis, Boston, MA, USA), and personal Company (Endocrinology Metabolism Consulting, LLC, Hassan Heshmati and Valerie Shaw Endocrine Research, Anthem, AZ, USA). His research activity has been related to pituitary tumor, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, and obesity. He has extensive knowledge in the development of anti-obesity products. He is the author of 370 abstracts, articles, book chapters, and book related to Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Bob Esquerre

Esquerre Fitness Group International, United States

Biography:

Before joining the Health & Fitness Sector, Bob spent over 13 years in Corporate America specializing in Business Planning, Project and Operations Management. With 38 years in the Sector, he has become a Trainer of Trainers, Instructor of Instructors, and Manager of Managers. His expertise covers Group Exercise, Personal Training, and Operations Management. As a global lecturer, Bob offers Business Growth Strategies and Operations Analysis to Club/Studio Owners, Managers, and Fitness Professionals. His focus: (1) developing strategies to create safe, customer-centric communities that effectively engage the 80%+ inactive population and (2) incorporates Emotional Intelligence skills in developing Fitness Professionals.

Ann Gilbert

Purdue University, United States

Biography:

Ann Gilbert is an owner of Fit-Her Health & Fitness for Women. Ann oversees the operations of as many as 10 certified Personal Trainers, 15 Group Fitness professionals, and coordinates fee based group personal training programs for ages 28-98. Ann was awarded ACE / IHRSA Personal Trainer of the Year. in 2001 and has been a popular speaker at ICAA, IDEA, SCW MANIA, AFC, SUCCEED, and HFA Conventions since 2002. Ann is the creator of S.E.A.T. Supported Exercise for Ageless Training and “My Future Me” a program especially for the AOM customer. Ann is a member of the IDEA Fitness Mentor Network 2025. Ann is known for innovative aquatic choreography and was the choreographer for Waterinmotion Platinum for over four years.

Tracy Norfleet

Weight Liberation®, United States

Biography:

Dr. Tracy Norfleet is a triple board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine, with over 24 years of clinical experience in St. Louis, Missouri. She is the founder of Weight Liberation®, empowering patients through education, coaching, and health advocacy. A passionate advocate for weight bias awareness and health equity, Dr. Norfleet delivered her TEDxUF talk, “Breaking Weight Bias in Healthcare and Society.” She is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association, The Obesity Society, and The Obesity Action Coalition, and a GoodRx Health contributor whose work bridges lived experience, clinical expertise, and systems-level thinking.

Daryle Wane

Nurse Consultant, United States

Biography:

Dr. Wane has a PhD in Nursing Science as well as a master’s degree from the University of South Florida and is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with undergraduate degrees in Nutrition and Nursing from Brooklyn College and Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing. After 32 years, Dr. Wane has retired from academia and is a Nurse Consultant. She has published numerous supplements in textbooks as well as journal articles, serves as an editorial board member and peer reviewer for several journal publications. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and a CCNE evaluator.

Andrzej Bissinger

Medical University of Lodz, Poland

Biography:

Andrzej Bissinger is a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. He graduated Medical University in Lodz, Poland in 1993, received his PhD degree in 1997 at the same institution. He is certified cardiologist since 2003 and cardiac device specialist of European heart rhythm association since 2007. He is a member of international society of halter & non-invasive electro cardiology,polish cardiac society,European society of cardiology,European heart rhythm association. He has published more than 76 research articles in sci(e) journals. He was an investigator in several clinical studies. At present, he works as a head of cardiac electrophysiology lab in department of cardiology, kopernik hospital, Lodz, Poland. His fields of work are general cardiology, non-invasive and invasive treatment of arrhythmias and treatment patients with heart failure.