Veritas Collaborative Rallies Eating Disorder Experts to Address Issues Facing Patients, Industry
Veritas Collaborative, a specialty healthcare system for the treatment of eating disorders, kickstarted its seventh annual symposium on eating disorders by curating a collective of eating disorder experts from around the country to address the role community and collaboration play in patient outcomes. Held in Atlanta Sept. 13-15, the panel discussion and symposium were attended by more than 200 medical and mental health professionals from 15 states.
“This milestone event assembled eating disorder experts across multiple fields of study to address real issues that organizations, families, and patients face on the road to recovery from disordered eating,” said Veritas Collaborative founder, president, and CEO Stacie McEntyre. “One of our core values is collaboration. That’s why we are compelled to cultivate thought leadership opportunities like this one that encourages communities of specialists to work hand-in-hand toward the common goal of enhancing access to care – because we know that joint efforts produce positive outcomes.”
The weekend event began with a panel discussion moderated by McEntyre. Panelists discussed myths and misconceptions that surround eating disorders, changes seen in patient population over recent years, challenges the industry faces as it provides resources, as well as ways to increase awareness, education, and access for eating disorder treatment. Panelists were Dr. Linda Craighead, professor at Emory University; Dr. Linda Buchanan, certified eating disorder specialist and the center director at Walden Behavioral Care; Joy Ssebikindu, licensed professional counselor and program director at the Center for Discovery; Dr. Dina Zeckhausen, psychologist and founder of the Eating Disorder Information Network; Dr. Laura Minch McLain, Site Director of The Renfrew Center of Georgia; and Dr. Genie Burnett, psychologist and founder of Manna Treatment and Counseling.
The panel discussion created an environment of anticipation for what symposium attendees could expect across a spectrum of sessions that rallied the industry’s brightest minds. Thought leaders with distinguished backgrounds in nutrition, psychology, pediatrics, higher education, and behavioral health exchanged insights and expertise during the two-day symposium to break down barriers and advance access to care for all persons affected by eating disorders.
Symposium attendees engaged with speakers to define the role of biology in the development of eating disorders; promote evidence-based identification, diagnosis, and treatment of eating disorders for all persons, including those with complex presentations; and emphasize key components for eating disorder recovery. Symposium speakers included:
Kamryn T. Eddy, PhD
Co-Director, Eating Disorders Center and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital | Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Kelly Klump, PhD
MSU Foundation Endowed Professor, Michigan State University
William Sharp, PhD
Director of Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program, The Marcus Autism Center | Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
Kyle Simmons, PhD
Director, Mood Disorders Biomarkers Program, Janssen Research & Development, of Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
Lucene Wisniewski, PhD, FAED
Chief Executive Officer, Center for Evidence-Based Treatment: Ohio
Tim Brewerton, MD, DFAPA, FAED, DFAACAP, CEDS
Center Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina
Leslie Cox, MS, RD, CSP, LD, CEDRD
Center Nutritionist, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Laura Doerr, MD, FAAP
Pediatric Hospitalist, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Leah Graves, RD, LD, CEDRD, FAED
Senior Director of Nutrition Services, Veritas Collaborative
Laura Hill, PhD
President & CEO, The Center for Balanced Living | Assistant Center Faculty at The Ohio State University, Department of Psychiatry
Maryann Jacob, MD, MS
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Page Love, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD
President and Founder of, Nutrifit, Sport, Therapy, Inc.
Anna Tanner, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, CEDS
Vice President, Medical Services, Veritas Collaborative
Steven Tsao, PhD
Co-Founder, Center for Anxiety & Behavior Therapy
“This symposium is a prime example of collaborative work that creates positive patient outcomes,” said McEntyre. “When we work together as providers and advocates to share our knowledge, insights, and expertise, we lean in to research and science-based thinking that will make a long-term impact in improving treatment options for the 30 million Americans devastated by eating disorder illnesses.”
The theme for the Veritas Collaborative Symposium on Eating Disorders was Advancing Collaboration: Integrating research into eating disorders treatment. Last month, Veritas Collaborative opened the Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hospital in Atlanta to provide multidisciplinary care for children, adolescents, and young adults up to age 21 impacted by eating disorder illnesses. It is the first facility of its kind in Georgia and surrounding states. Individuals interested in receiving care should contact Veritas Collaborative’s Center Intake Team at 855-875-5812 or admissions(at)veritascollaborative.com.
About Veritas Collaborative
Veritas Collaborative is a specialty healthcare system for the treatment of eating disorders. Veritas provides a range of individualized, evidence-based services for ages 8 and older, including inpatient, acute residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels of care in a gender-diverse and inclusive environment. Veritas envisions a world in which all persons with eating disorders and their families have access to best-practice care and hold hope for a cure. Our multidisciplinary team of treatment professionals include physicians, psychiatrists, dietitians, therapists, nurses, teachers, culinary team members, and therapeutic assistants.