Deborah Pillarella, DHSc MEd

Debi has over 30 years’ experience in the health, fitness, and wellness industries as a nationally certified Health Coach and Medical Exercise Specialist from the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She has served as Director of Bariatric Services for the Community Healthcare System in Northwest Indiana since 2016. She has developed an electronic bariatric sugical patient portal to assist patients with their educational needs during the pre-surgical process. In addition, she has developed a 16 week e-learning module and at-home weight monitoring for post surgical patients who are regaining weight and need to get back on track and increase accountability. Debi completed her doctoral degree and was awarded Quantitative Dissertation of the Year by the University of Indianapolis for her research entitled "Physical Literacy and Motivation to Engage in Physical Activity after Bariatric Surgery". In addition, she is a Master Trainer for The American Council on Exercise as well as Item Writer/Item Reviewer/Mentor for A.C.E. Health Coach and A.C.E. Medical Exercise Specialist Exams. Debi is an adjunct faculty member at Purdue University Northwest in the Undergraduate Fitness Management Program. She is an A.C.E. certified Health Coach, Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Medical Exercise Specialist. Debi has received the Program Director of the Year Award from both IDEA and ACE, as well as the Indiana Health Achievement Award, Indiana’s premier health achievement accolade from the Indiana Public Health Foundation, Inc.