Meet Our Team

Cody Baxter and Stephanie Severson, both physician assistants, of the fargo moorhead area in north dakota and minnesota are smiling for a Progress Weight Management company headshot together.

Our Story

Progress is founded by two medical providers, Cody Baxter and Stephanie Severson, who have a passion for providing the best possible care for obesity and excess weight. Traditional medical education provides very little time or information about treating the disease of obesity. This can lead to inadequate treatment, poor guidance, and obesity bias — all of which can leave patients feeling frustrated and hopeless.

Progress Weight Management is our dream come to life. We can’t wait to accompany you on your weight management journey and offer the absolute best care necessary to succeed. We are honored for this opportunity and thank you for trusting us with your healthcare.

Medical Providers

Cody Baxter, PA-C smiling man with light brown hair and a beard, wearing a light gray zip-up jacket, standing indoors with natural light.

Obesity Specialist/Men’s Health

  • Co-Founder

    Cody is a physician assistant specializing in obesity medicine with a particular passion for addressing all factors directly or indirectly affecting a patient’s weight and health. He started his career as a primary care provider. This broad-based experience allows him to manage not just weight loss, but any other medical issues contributing to or affected by a patient’s weight.

    Cody has advanced certification through the Obesity Medicine Association and avidly seeks to learn more about research and treatment developments in the field of obesity. 

    Beyond weight management, his treatment interests include diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol management, polycystic ovarian  syndrome (PCOS), and mental health.

Obesity Specialist / Women’s Health

  • Co-Founder

    Stephanie Severson, PA-C, is a co-founder of Progress Weight Management who specializes in obesity medicine and women’s health. She is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) and holds advanced certification through the Obesity Medicine Association.

    Before becoming a PA, Stephanie practiced as a registered dietitian.

    She began her PA career in gastroenterology and hepatology, where she developed a special interest in fatty liver disease.

    She builds treatment plans around each patient’s health, lifestyle, and goals, with a focus on weight management, PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, and hormone therapy.

Chelsea Reich, PA-C, medical weight loss and obesity medicine provider in Fargo, ND at Progress Weight Management smiling for a headshot.

Obesity Specialist

  • Chelsea is passionate about helping patients address the root causes of chronic conditions like obesity.

    After years of watching her patients struggle without lasting solutions, and then facing her own health challenges, she knew she needed to do more. That experience shifted her perspective and fueled her commitment to learning evidence-based approaches to long-term health.

    She is proud to be part of a team that focuses on patient-centered, compassionate care. She loves being a steady support for her patients and cheering them on every step of the way.

    Outside of clinic life, Chelsea finds joy in creativity, travel, nature, and quality time with people she loves. Her personal motto? Always choose kindness.

Sarah Hansen, APRN, CNP, medical weight loss, pediatric obesity and obesity medicine provider in Fargo, ND at Progress Weight Management smiling for a headshot.

Pediatric Obesity Specialist

  • Sarah is a certified nurse practitioner specializing in obesity medicine. She started her career as a primary care provider which has allowed her to recognize and manage many different medical issues.

    She feels strongly that each person should be treated with a comprehensive & individualized approach as the treatment plan needs to align with each individuals’ lifestyle and goals.

    Sarah has advanced certification through the Obesity Medicine Association.

    Beyond weight management, her treatment interests include all chronic diseases, PCOS, women’s health, and children.

    Sarah feels she can connect with those struggling with obesity because she has personal experience with her own struggles with weight throughout her life. She is passionate to put a stop to weight bias.

Registered Dietitian

  • For most of the last five years, I've worked with patients in a medical weight loss program. Metabolic health is my favorite part of the job. The people are the best part.

    I'm not pushy. I'll meet you where you are, help you build a plan that fits your life, and cheer you on. Tough love is available on request.

    I also get it on a personal level. I've struggled with my weight since having kids, and as a dietitian, that came with a lot of shame. Working with patients taught me that obesity is a disease, not a character flaw.

    I've been on a GLP-1 medication for over a year, and I also live with multiple sclerosis. Both have shaped how I care for people.

Obesity Specialist

  • In family practice, I treated high blood pressure, diabetes, and liver and heart disease, and I kept seeing them in younger patients. I wanted to treat obesity itself, not just the conditions that come with it. So I trained in obesity medicine and became certified through the Obesity Medicine Association.

    My family practice background means I look at your whole health, not just the scale. I still see kids and family practice patients too.

    I want you to leave every visit feeling heard and confident about what's next. We can't always fix everything, but we can almost always make things better.

    Outside of work, I love crafting, decorating for the holidays, and hosting friends and family. I also golf, bike, and travel. And I'm a tea person, not a coffee person.

Book Appointment

Clinical Staff

Lacy Majerus, medical weight loss and obesity medicine nurse in Fargo, ND at Progress Weight Management smiling for a headshot.

Lacy, LPN

Tonia Conner, RN in a navy blazer and white blouse, smiling in a professional studio setting with neutral background.

Tonia, RN

Alyssa with long blonde hair, blue eyes, smiling, wearing a black blazer over a white top, and a gold necklace, standing against a neutral background.

Alyssa, RN

Patient Care Coordinators

Alayna Gilsrud, medical weight loss and obesity medicine patient coordinator in Fargo, ND at Progress Weight Management smiling for a headshot.

Alayna

Quinn E, medical weight loss and obesity medicine patient coordinator in Fargo, ND at Progress Weight Management smiling for a headshot.

Quinn

Maddie

Administration Staff

Allie woman with long red hair smiling in a black blazer and white top

Allie
Care Operations Manager

Danielle Olson, MBA medical weight loss and obesity medicine nurse in Fargo, ND at Progress Weight Management smiling for a headshot.

Danielle
Clinic Manager

Richelle Avers, medical weight loss and obesity billing coordinator provider in Fargo, ND at Progress Weight Management smiling for a headshot.

Richelle
Billing Specialist

A woman with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair, blue eyes, and a bright smile, wearing a black sweater over a white collared shirt, standing indoors against a neutral background.

Teila
Marketing Director