By: Sarah Summer

With thousands of Ontarians struggling to access family doctors and weight management medications dominating headlines, a Toronto-based physician is working to change the conversation around obesity and care.

Dr. Mayank Ohri, MD, ABOM, is an Internal & Obesity Medicine Specialist and the founder of Metabolite Clinic, a fully virtual, OHIP-covered program that gives patients access to physicians, registered dietitians, and licensed psychotherapists.

“Obesity management requires more than just a prescription. It’s about understanding each patient’s unique biology. Pharmacotherapy, when combined with nutrition and psychotherapy, provides lasting and sustainable results,” he explains.

A Calling Sparked by Family Tragedy

“I am the first physician in my family, and my inspiration began at a young age when my grandfather developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following knee surgery,” Dr. Ohri recalls. “He later went into cardiac arrest, and I vividly remember being struck by the skill and dedication of the physicians working tirelessly to resuscitate him. That moment sparked my commitment to medicine.”

Years later, after training and practicing across the U.S. and Canada, he realized a common theme ran through countless patient stories. “Time and again, I witnessed the devastating complications of poorly controlled hypertension, diabetes, and sleep disorders. What became clear to me was that the root cause often traced back to obesity, a condition long overlooked in traditional medical training and clinical practice.”

That realization ultimately pushed him to launch Metabolite Clinic. “Our mission is to address the root causes of chronic disease, empower patients with accessible care, and bring forward a more proactive, patient-centered model of medicine.”

Taking the Leap

Leaving his full-time hospital role was daunting. “My biggest fear was whether I would be able to see enough patients to sustain this new venture. To my surprise, the response was overwhelming. Family physicians and specialists across Ontario immediately embraced the idea, grateful to finally have dedicated support for managing obesity.”

Today, the challenge is no longer finding patients but keeping up with demand. “Our biggest challenge is not finding patients. It’s expanding our team of specialists quickly enough to meet the growing demand and support the many individuals still waiting for care.”

Learning From Mistakes

Moving from in-person visits to fully virtual care came with lessons. “Like many physicians, I tend to go deep when explaining a treatment plan, covering mechanisms, side effects, and next steps. In person, you can tell when a patient is zoning out. But online, it’s trickier. More than once, I’ve been mid-explanation only to find out later, thanks to my assistant, that the patient’s screen had actually frozen and they were desperately trying to reconnect.”

“It turns out, if a patient’s face hasn’t budged and one eye is closed while the other is open, that’s not concentration, it’s Wi-Fi. The takeaway? In virtual care, checking in frequently isn’t optional; it’s essential.”

Traits That Fuel Success

Dr. Ohri emphasizes discipline, hard work, and an innate sense of urgency. “It’s not something I practiced or forced. It comes naturally to me. These traits have shaped everything I’ve done, from becoming a physician to starting our telemedicine practice.”

He admits there were sleepless nights in the transition, but persistence carried him forward. “Each step was filled with excitement and problem-solving. There were times I felt discouraged, but I leaned on that natural urgency of working harder, acting immediately, and pushing forward day after day without hesitation.”

Building Projects for the Future

At Metabolite, innovation is constant. “We’re building our menopause program to care for women who have long suffered without proper support. Despite years of negative press around hormone replacement therapy, evidence is now clear. HRT can dramatically improve quality of life.”

The clinic is also expanding access to psychotherapy. “We’re growing services for emotional eating, anxiety, and depression, as well as virtual dietitian services. These are especially vital for patients on GLP-1 medications to help preserve muscle mass.”

The most ambitious project is Healix, an AI-powered platform designed to fill gaps in patient care. “It will give patients a safe space to ask the questions they may not have time to raise in a busy clinic and help curate individualized treatment plans for both obesity and menopause. By leveraging technology, we’re not just making care more accessible. We’re working to transform outcomes.”

What Digital Transformation Really Means

Asked to define digital transformation, Dr. Ohri is clear. “It’s about leveraging technology to redefine how we connect with patients. At Metabolite, it allows us to expand access through our cloud-based EMR and secure telemedicine platform, built to meet both HIPAA and PIPEDA standards for patient safety and confidentiality.”

“Most importantly, digital transformation makes healthcare more accessible, more convenient, and more patient-centered.”

On a practical level, this includes online booking, automated reminders, digital intake forms, and secure messaging. “Virtual appointments are designed to feel as seamless as in-person visits. Our next major leap is Healix, an AI personal assistant that will allow patients to co-design individualized treatment plans using their health data and ongoing communication.”

Why It Matters

Over 2 million Ontarians don’t have access to a family doctor. “With the help of our nurse practitioners, we are screening patients at our clinic who don’t have a family physician or primary care provider to ensure they get the support they need for managing this disease,” Dr. Ohri emphasizes. “Our clinic is completely virtual and offered at no cost to the patient.”

One patient’s story underscores the impact. A patient from a remote community told me, ‘If this weren’t virtual, I would never have been able to lose the weight I did.’ For her, attending frequent in-person appointments would have required taking time off work for travel, which she simply couldn’t afford. Through regular online visits, she remained fully engaged in her care. She not only achieved meaningful weight loss but also reported better energy, improved sleep, and greater confidence.”

Inspiring a Movement

Ultimately, Dr. Ohri aims to shift healthcare toward a focus on prevention. “Too often, I witnessed patients suffering from debilitating conditions such as stroke or cardiovascular events, conditions that might have been avoided if we had been able to intervene earlier. This was the driving force behind creating Metabolite Clinic, to help patients address obesity early, treating it as the medical condition it is, and most importantly, preventing the long-term consequences it can have on the body.”

Follow His Work  https://www.metaboliteclinic.ca/ 

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, nor does it replace professional medical expertise or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.