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 it’s present location and has been with the practice through it’s 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 medial 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.
Deb Keye PA-C
Deb attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated in 1996 with a masters/PA degree.
Deb join Advanced Medical Weight Loss in May of 2014, and loves seeing the weight-loss success in her patients. She sees herself as a patient-advocate and cheerleader for patient’s efforts at weight loss.
Deb is married to Dave and has a son. They like to ski, mountain bike, and travel. Deb grew up in Park City, Utah and enjoys the beautiful state of Utah.
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.
VLCD Counselors:
Emily Muse RN-BSN
Emily graduated from Brigham Young University in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She then worked as an RN in Oncology at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, for 2 years and then in Nephrology at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, for 2 years, before retiring from full-time nursing to raise her family. Emily has been working part time at Advanced Medical Weight Loss since 2006.
Emily is married to Dr. Derek Muse and has 7 children. She spends most of her free time being a taxi driver for her younger children. With her precious few spare minutes, she studies French and Spanish, ballroom dances, throws pottery and reads.
Kate Olsen-Danhounsrou MA
Kate has worked for Dr. Muse since about 2002. She worked as Dr. Muse’s Medical Assistant for many years until she took the position as the back-office supervisor. She has since resigned from that position in order to care for her new baby. She is now working in Dr. Muse’s research clinic as a research coordinator and is excited about the new opportunity to become a weight-loss counselor.
Kate is married and has two children. Her children are a delight and are a big motivator in Kate’s desire to lose weight. Kate has struggled with her weight her entire life, and with the tools she is learning as a diet counselor she is having true success for the first time.
In Kate’s own words, “I was quite surprised when Dr. Muse approached me and asked me to become a weight-loss counselor. I looked down at my post-pregnancy tummy and my voluptuous figure and said, “Don’t you have to be thin to be a diet counselor?” I’ve realized that this is one of the most awesome opportunities that I’ve had. I am learning so much about myself and my eating habits. It’s amazing how different my approach to food is. I used to live to eat, and now I eat to live. My whole world is no longer consumed by thoughts of what I can eat next. Coming to the realization that I have a weight problem and will always have a weight problem was a little hard. I, like most of you, have been looking for that fix. But, I finally understand that our bodies are just machines, to quote Dr. Muse, and it is impossible to consume less than we burn and not lose weight. I have given my “machine” a tune up, and it’s working better than it ever has. It’s just purrin’. If I can do this, anyone can! Come join me, and we can continue this journey together!”
Brittany Cameron AAPC
Brittany graduated from Steven Henniger College in 2004 with an Associate’s degree in medical specialties. She started with Advanced Medical Weight Loss in 2006 as a substitute diet counselor.
Brittany is married to Nick Cameron. She has a little girl and two dogs.
Brittany loves to spend time with her nephews and family. She loves to read.
