During Dr. Ettinger’s nearly 17 years as a pediatric nephrologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in northern New Jersey, he saw more and more of his patients struggling with obesity. He dove into the medical literature to understand this complicated epidemic. After discovering the benefits of plant-based eating for weight and blood pressure control, he started sharing diet and lifestyle advice with his patients, community groups, medical students, doctors, and nurses.

He earned a certificate in plant-based nutrition from eCornell in November 2016. In 2017, he joined the staff of the hospital’s pediatric weight management program. In May 2019, he became a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. When COVID-19 hit, Dr. Ettinger embraced telemedicine. In 2021, he founded the Doctor Herbivore practice, which offers telemedicine visits for pediatric obesity, as well as a blog for parents to learn more about plant-based eating for their family’s health.