Luke Funk

    Professor of Surgery

    Department of Surgery

    Mixed-methods approaches and clinical trials to identify barriers to obesity care and test interventions designed to increase use of obesity treatments

    Office Location

    600 Highland Ave
    MC 7375

    Photo of Luke Funk

    Education

    • MD, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL
    • MPH, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
    • General Surgery Residency, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
    • Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH

     

    Nearly 80% of U.S. adults meet criteria for overweight/obesity. All three evidence-based obesity treatment options – behavioral weight management, obesity medications and bariatric surgery – are significantly underutilized. As a surgeon scientist, my long-term goal is to optimize access and outcomes of obesity care for adults with overweight/obesity. Our group uses quantitative (e.g., database analysis) and qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews and focus groups) and conducts clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes for adults with obesity. We are also focused on addressing socioeconomic disparities pertaining to obesity treatment and are currently conducting a mixed-methods analysis of patients who have undergone bariatric surgery in an effort to understand barriers to optimal outcomes. Our research group is located at both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and William S. Middleton Veterans Memorial Hospital.

    Avant-Garde Health General Surgery Research All-Stars (2024)

    Honorary Fellow, Argentine Surgical Acadamy (2024)

    Academic Surgery Congress 10×10 Career Development Traveling Fellowship (2022)

    Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Award, Department of Surgery, UW-Madison (2021)

    American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Advocacy Award (2019)

    Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Young Researcher Award (2018)

    The Fenstermacher Educator Award, SMPH (2015)