Our Staff
Physicians:
Derek Muse MD, FOMA
Dr. Muse graduated from Brigham Young University in 1981 with a BA in Chemistry. He attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. He then completed a three-year residency in Family Medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona in 1989. He opened Highland Family Practice in 1989 at its present location and has been with the practice through its years of growth.
Dr. Muse has been board certified in Family Practice since 1989 and has been board certified in Obesity Medicine since 2008. He has been a Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association since 2016, which distinguishes him as an expert in the field and shows that he is at the forefront of preventing, treating, and reducing obesity.
Dr. Muse is a certified clinical researcher and has performed over a hundred studies for pharmaceutical companies, some of which were in the area of weight-loss medicine. Dr. Muse has been the Medical Director for Highland Clinical Research since 2008 and was the Medical Director for JBR Research from 2009 to 2018.
Dr. Muse is married to Emily Swallow Muse and has 7 children. He spends most of his free time with his family, but during the few remaining moments left each week, he enjoys cooking, ballroom dancing, hiking, throwing pottery and writing.
A lifetime struggle with his own weight problems has led Dr. Muse to have a special interest in and a lot of empathy for his overweight patients. He has been practicing weight loss medicine since 1991.
Physician Assistants:
Laura Helm PA-C
Laura Helm attended Kearney State in Kearney Nebraska. She received her PA-C certification from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1991.
Laura has been practicing weight-loss medicine with Advanced Medial Weight Loss since 2006. She enjoys helping patients to attain their health and fitness goals.
Laura also practices aesthetic medicine in our affiliated medical spa, Rejuvenate Medical Spa. She excels in laser-hair removal, Botox and dermal fillers, and skin rejuvenation.
Laura is married with 3 children. She also has two cats. In her spare time, Laura likes to spend time with her family and friends. She also likes to scuba dive, go to Jazz games, go camping, travel, do crossword puzzles, and do Sudoku puzzles.
Megan Sandy PA-C
Megan attended Idaho State University in Boise, Idaho. She received her PA certification from Idaho State University in 2012.
Megan joined the practice at Advanced Medical Weight Loss in August of 2015. She recognizes the incredible benefits of weight loss and how it helps people not only with weight loss, but also with their overall health.
Megan has lived in the Salt Lake area for ten years. She enjoys mountain biking, back-country skiing and mountain-trail running in the Wasatch mountains.
Ian Sudbury PA-C
He earned his Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2023, after completing his undergraduate degree at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Ian joined the Advanced Medical Weight Loss team in February of 2025.
Outside of work, Ian is a devoted husband and proud father of two young daughters. He enjoys spending time with his family, running, collecting Legos, playing guitar, gaming, and motor sports at the sand dunes.
Ian is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care, always going the extra mile to make a meaningful difference in his patients’ lives.
Crystal Burtis PA-C
Crystal Burtis joined us at Advanced Medical Weight Loss in July 2025. After working in family medicine for 8 years, she has amassed a wealth of experience.
Crystal received her Physician Assistant certification from Touro University in Nevada in 2017.
When she is not working, she enjoys horse back riding.
