Patient Rights & Responsibilities

• Welcome
• MIT Medical/Lexington

• News & Events

  • News Archive
  • Schedule of Events
• Forms and Publications
• Jobs
• Patient Online
• Patient Rights & Privacy
• Accreditation
• Contact Us

MIT conference helps raise awareness of eating disorders

May 1, 2009

Attendees and participants in the third annual College Eating Disorders Conference hosted by MIT Medical lauded the event for effectively raising awareness of eating disorders and helping those who treat them.

“Collaborative Ways to Address Disordered Eating on Campus: It Takes A Village” brought college health professionals from around the country to Le Meridien Hotel in Cambridge on April 17-18. The event was sponsored by a consortium of New England colleges and universities and directed by MIT Medical’s Zan Barry of the Center for Health Promotion and Wellness and Audra Bartz, L.I.C.S.W., of the Mental Health Service, as well as Margaret McKenna, M.D., of Harvard University Health Services.

“It really educated us in helping young people with eating disorders. Presentations from different schools, providers, a health care lawyer and even recovering students highlighted successful approaches, a range of options, and best practices,” said David Shein, M.D., a primary care provider at MIT Medical.

“The most moving presentation was a panel of students with eating disorders who shared their personal stories. Each one was incredibly heroic, insightful, and inspiring,” said Evelyn Picker, M.D., another MIT Medical primary care provider.

Added Betsy Fisher, M.D., of the Mental Health Service, “I was struck by how comprehensive it was in discussing not only helpful therapeutic interventions, but also the therapeutic relationship, the legal perspective, the role of athletic departments, men with eating concerns, and the perspective of university students struggling with issues around eating.”

MIT speakers in addition to Barry and Bartz included Shawn Ferullo, M.D., of the Orthopedics Service, and Jessica Rooney-Gallagher, an athletic trainer in the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, who were the leader and a panelist, respectively, for a session on “Collaborating with Athletes, Sports Nutrition, and Sports Medicine.” Haleh Rokni, M.D., of the Mental Health Service served on the conference advisory committee along with Rooney-Gallagher and the Eating Concerns Care Team at MIT Medical. Alan Siegel, Ed.D., chief of the Mental Health Service, gave the conference welcome.