Skip to main content
Donna Ryan, MD, Oncology, New Orleans, LA

Donna Ryan MD

Oncology•New Orleans, LA

President, World Obesity Federation

Join to view full profile

  • 625 St Charles Avenue#10BNew Orleans, LA 70130

  • Phone+1 225-229-3909

  • Fax+1 225-763-3193

Dr. Ryan is on Doximity

As a Doximity member, you’ll join more than three million U.S. healthcare professionals—including 85+% of physicians, and 2/3 of all NPs and PAs—in a private, secure network.

  • Gain access to free telehealth tools, such as our “call shielding” and one-way patient texting.
  • Connect with colleagues in the same hospital or clinic.
  • Read the latest clinical news, personalized to your specialty.
See Dr. Ryan's full profileAlready have an account?

Summary

  • Donna Ryan, MD, FTOS is Professor Emerita at Pennington Biomedical in Baton Rouge, LA, and current President of World Obesity Federation. Her research focuses on nutrition, obesity and obesity comorbidities, with a special focus on primary care approaches to obesity management. She has been an investigator for various US National Institutes of Health-sponsored studies, including Pounds Lost, DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), DPP (Diabetes Prevention Program) and the Look AHEAD study. Dr. Ryan’s continuing interests focus on translation of effective weight management into primary care practices.
    Dr. Ryan is Associate Editor-in-Chief of the journal Obesity and has authored more than 200 publications, primarily on obesity. She served as Co-Chair on the expert panel for the ACC/AHA/TOS evidence-based Guidelines on the Evaluation and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults and was a panel member of the 2015 Endocrine Society Systematic Evidence Review and Guidelines for Medications that Affect Body Weight.
    For the past five years Dr. Ryan has been active in continuing education for practitioners in obesity management. She has served as a consultant and advisor to industry and has been a scientific advisor to many companies, and as a member of Data Safety Monitoring Committees. She is Co-Chair of the Steering Committee SELECT, a cardiovascular outcome trial of semaglutide.

Education & Training

  • University of Southwestern Louisiana
    University of Southwestern LouisianaBS, Cum Laude, 1985
  • Louisiana State University School of Medicine
    Louisiana State University School of MedicineFellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 1976 - 1978
  • Louisiana State University School of Medicine
    Louisiana State University School of MedicineResidency, Internal Medicine, 1973 - 1975
  • Louisiana State University School of Medicine
    Louisiana State University School of MedicineInternship, Transitional Year, 1970 - 1971
  • Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
    Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New OrleansClass of 1970

Certifications & Licensure

  • LA State Medical License
    LA State Medical License 1970 - 2026
  • Internal Medicine
    American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
  • Medical Oncology
    American Board of Internal Medicine Medical Oncology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • George Blackburn Award The Obesity Society, 2019
  • Master of Obesity Medicine American Board of Obesity Medicine, 2014
  • George Bray Founder�s Award The Obesity Society, 2013

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Markers of dietary protein intake are associated with successful weight loss in the POUNDS Lost trial  
    Bray GA, Ryan DH, Johnson W, Champagne CM, Johnson CM, Rood J, Williamson DA, Sacks FM, Clin Obes., 1/1/2017
  • Weight-loss diets and 2-y changes in circulating amino acids in 2 randomized intervention trials  
    Zheng Y, Ceglarek U, Huang T, Li L, Rood J, Ryan DH, Bray GA, Sacks FM, Schwarzfuchs D, Thiery J, Shai I, Qi L., Am J Clin Nutr., 1/1/2016
  • 2015, A year in review for readers of obesity  
    Ryan DH, Ravussin E, Obesity, 1/1/2016

Books/Book Chapters

  • Obesity Surgery: Patient Safety and Best Practices. 
    Chapter: Pharmacotherapy Pipeline 
    Ryan DH, Bray GAEditors: Jones SB, Jones DB.Cine-Med, Inc, Woodbury, Connecticut2008
  • Handbook of Obesity: Clinical Applications 
    Chapter: Sibutramine in the management of obesity. 
    Ryan DHEditors: Bray BA, Bouchard C.Informa Healthcare, New York, New YorkEdition Thir,2008
  • A Clinical Guide for Management of Overweight and Obese Children and Adults 
    Chapter: Follow-up strategies for the treatment of obesity in primary care settings. 
    Myers VH, Ryan DH.Editors: Apovian CM, Lenders CM.CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, New York, New York2007

Press Mentions

  • Daily Oral GLP-1 Pill Exhibits Promising Results in Treatment Options for Adults with Diabetes and Obesity in Trial Led by UTHealth Houston Researcher
    Daily Oral GLP-1 Pill Exhibits Promising Results in Treatment Options for Adults with Diabetes and Obesity in Trial Led by UTHealth Houston ResearcherNovember 20th, 2025
  • New Obesity Definition Raises the Number Who Have It
    New Obesity Definition Raises the Number Who Have ItJuly 8th, 2025
  • Are You Taking a Patient-Centered Approach to Obesity Management?
    Are You Taking a Patient-Centered Approach to Obesity Management?June 30th, 2025

Viewing the full profile is available to verified healthcare professionals only.

Find your profile and take control of your online presence:

Dr. Donna Ryan, Dr. Donna Ryan, MD, Dr. D Ryan