Juliana Simonetti, MD ‘09
The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award
Juliana Simonetti, MD ‘09
Presented annually to a graduate of the School of Medicine who exemplifies the practice of medicine through excellence in clinical practice, academic activities, and research accomplishments
When Juliana Simonetti, MD ‘09, emigrated from Brazil to the United States at age 15, she carried with her little more than a spirit of determination. With limited English and few resources, she and her family encountered numerous hardships in their new home.
“We faced many obstacles, especially in accessing education and health care,” she says. “These experiences motivated me to make a difference, to help impact others’ lives that were like my own.”
Simonetti’s early resolve proved instrumental in her future career. After working as a nurse for six years, Simonetti was accepted to the University of Utah School of Medicine, graduating with her medical degree in 2009. She completed a residency at Beth Israel Deacon-ess Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in clinical nutrition and obesity medicine at Boston University.
“Nursing was a wonderful field, and I loved caring for patients,” she says. “But I felt like I could make a bigger impact by going to medical school, and it took me a very long time to achieve my goal.”
“I remember feeling an immediate connection with the mission of the School of Medicine and its commitment to caring for the community, especially those from underserved populations.”
Simonetti had planned to specialize in primary care, but a defining moment came when she worked in a community health center in Boston, where she primarily cared for immigrants from Central and South America. Many of her patients presented similar metabolic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity; and Simonetti grew frustrated by only treating their symptoms, not addressing the root causes of their health problems. She decided to pursue additional training in obesity medicine, a field in which she has worked for more than a decade.
“I feel that caring for those with obesity is about so much more than helping them lose weight,” she says. “It’s really about helping to improve someone’s overall health and quality of life.”
Now an associate professor of internal medicine at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, Simonetti is a recognized leader in obesity care and medical education. She founded and co-directs University of Utah Health’s Comprehensive Weight Management Center, as well as PROMIS2U, a pipeline program addressing physician shortages in rural and tribal communities.
“Dr. Simonetti is incredibly effective in all her endeavors, particularly those in leadership,” says Molly Conroy, MD, chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine. “It takes a lot of persistence to achieve what she has accomplished—starting a medical clinic and multiple educational programs—but her enthusiasm and vision have proven key to her success.”
Now the 2025 recipient of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award, Simonetti reflects on her journey to becoming a physician, one that began with an in-person interview more than 20 years ago.
“I remember feeling an immediate connection with the mission of the School of Medicine and its commitment to caring for the community, especially those from underserved populations,” she says. “I knew at that moment I was in a place where I belonged, where I would finally realize my dream.”