New location marks clinic’s growth
Bucks Wellness clinic treats obesity in underserved populations
The Milwaukee Bucks Health and Wellness clinic in Milwaukee offers a free medical program to prevent and treat obesity in underserved populations of Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Bucks opened a new 4,000-square-foot health and wellness clinic in Schlitz Park focused on obesity management.The clinic, founded by Bucks co-owner Wes Edens and Dr. Elizabeth Sharp, has grown to serve nearly 900 patients.The program offers personalized treatment plans, including fitness and nutrition regimens developed by the Bucks performance staff.Patients have averaged 38 pounds of weight loss in a year using the program.
The Milwaukee Bucks‘ free health and wellness clinic − with a focus on obesity − is showing off its new location.
The 4,000-square-foot clinic at the Schlitz Park business park had an opening ceremony on Aug. 6.
Dr. Elizabeth Sharp, Bucks health and wellness director, along with her husband and Bucks co-owner Wes Edens, founded the program through the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation in summer 2024.
The clinic, 1543 N. Second St., is part of a long-range plan in helping Milwaukee’s underserved populations manage obesity.
“We always wanted to have a practice, but this is definitely above and beyond our initial expectations,” Sharp said. “Things went well in terms of getting buy-in from the community and getting support from everyone and we were able to grow.”
The clinic shares the same building as the Bucks organizational offices. It’s a major change for the program, which initially began with 15 patients using space at Gee’s Clippers, 2200 N. King Drive, and then in a different office space in Schlitz Park.
Sharp said 14 people have been hired to staff Bucks Health and Wellness.
“This is a big part of giving back to the community,” said Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
That includes “the aspect of people getting training to go into the medical field, which is just a growing industry here in Milwaukee,” Johnson said.
The program, which features personalized obesity management treatment, as well as fitness and nutrition regimens, has grown to 859 patients − nearly reaching Sharp’s goal of 1,000 in each year of operation.
The new office has five patient rooms, two labs and spaces for physician and dietitian consultations.
Patients are evaluated with a non-invasive body composition analyzer. That 45-second process measures fat mass, muscle mass and body water.
The clinic’s goals include creating a lasting community impact, Sharp said.
Also, “we really want to remove weight bias and to make people feel comfortable and at ease from the moment they walk in the door, so having a bright, happy, open, warm, welcoming space is significant,” she said.
The exercise and nutrition program was developed by Troy Flanagan, Bucks senior performance advisor, and the basketball team’s performance staff.
Sharp said that direct connection with the organization’s basketball operation has helped the program’s patients retain more muscle mass than through a typical weight-loss process that includes medications.
Patients have averaged about 38 pounds of weight loss in a year – an important part of a person’s overall wellness.
A mobile app has also been created for patients which offer personalized meal plans and exercise programs.
“It’s already an incredible impact and so much more is going to happen over the course of the next number of years with this,” Johnson said.
To qualify for the program, patients must live in an underserved community of Milwaukee and have a BMI of 30 or higher.
Those interested in enrolling can visit www.buckshealthandwellness.com.