Dr. Michelle Cao, MD

FAAPP, Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine

Bio:

Dr. Michelle Cao is a Family Medicine Physician and obesity medicine specialist who is passionate about helping her patients achieve their weight and health goals. She decided to pursue a career in obesity medicine because of her background as a primary care physician. She saw first-hand the importance of treating the cause and not just symptoms of disease and providing evidence-based care to improve overall health.

She completed her undergraduate degree with honors at the University of California Davis and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She went on to attend medical school at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dr. Cao completed her residency training in Family Medicine at the University of California San Diego. After years of practicing in Family Medicine, Dr. Cao pursued further training in a fellowship in Clinical Obesity Medicine and Metabolism at the Center for Obesity Medicine and Metabolic Performance at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas. After completing her fellowship, Dr. Cao moved back to San Diego to work as an Obesity Medicine consultant and joined FORM™ where she practices obesity medicine via telemedicine. Dr. Cao is board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. 

Dr. Cao lives in California and enjoys karaoke and caring for her plant collection. 

More about Dr. Cao

What do you love most about your job?

I’m here to help – regardless of how challenging circumstances are. The field of obesity is complex and evolving. I want to empower our patients – help them take control of their health and have the support to do so – with evidence-based knowledge, lifestyle, and medication tools.

How do you go about making your treatment plans for FORM patients?

Every patient is an individual with their own unique weight journey. Treatment plans are not a one size fits all approach. At FORM, we take this to heart. I individualize based off multiple aspects including weight history, prior attempts, current response to treatment and lifestyle modifications. At every visit we re-evaluate to see what is working and what is not. We collaborate as a team – patient, dietitian, physician. The more support a patient has the easier it is and the better outcomes we see.

Why do you love working with FORM patients?

Every patient is an individual with their own unique weight journey. Treatment plans are not a one size fits all approach. At FORM, we take this to heart. I individualize based off multiple aspects including weight history, prior attempts, current response to treatment and lifestyle modifications. At every visit we re-evaluate to see what is working and what is not. We collaborate as a team – patient, dietitian, physician. The more support a patient has the easier it is and the better outcomes we see.

Specializations:

  • Family Medicine
  • Obesity Medicine

Education:

  • Undergraduate: University of California, Davis
  • Medical School: University of Nevada School of Medicine
  • Internship/Residency: Family Medicine, University of California, San DiegoSchool
  • Fellowship: Clinical Obesity Medicine and Metabolism, University of Texas McGovern Medical

Board Certifications:

  • Fellow of American Academy of Family Physicians
  • American Board of Family Medicine
  • Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity

Awards:

  • Guardian Angel Recipient (2012-2019)
  • Outstanding Provider Award, San Diego State University Flying Samaritans (2017)
  • Behavioral Science Resident Award (2012)

Publications: