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Our team of caring professionals brings a wealth of experience from diverse industry backgrounds. We hope you’ll read on and get to know the people behind our vision.
Administrative Staff
Dietitians
Medical
Support Staff
Therapists
Sue Babcock, Psy.D, L.P.
Director of Training
Sue has provided services to people struggling with eating disorders since 1995 in a variety of both inpatient and outpatient settings. She is interested in exploring the cultural influences regarding both prevention of and recovery from eating disorders. While Sue greatly values working with clients in a therapeutic relationship, she also enjoys public speaking on the topic of eating disorders and providing training and supervision. Prior to coming to the Emily Program, Sue was in private practice, and has been faculty at both graduate and undergraduate psychology programs.
Denise Bloczynski
Administrative Assistant/St. Paul
Denise’s responsibilities include assisting clients when they arrive at the St. Paul office, answering the phone and providing administrative support to the other staff. She gained extensive customer service experience while a student working in the University of Minnesota’s U Card Office – one of the busiest places on campus. Denise was drawn to The Emily Program out of a desire to help children and families. She also has a special interest in adoption and interned with the Ethiopia Adoption Program at the Children’s Home Society and Family Services. She earned her bachelor’s in family social sciences from the U of M.
Lindsay Brown
Director of Business Development
Lindsay began working with the Emily Program during her senior year of high school. She became a full-time member of the administrative staff after receiving her bachelor’s in business administration (concentrating on international business) from George Washington University in the District of Columbia. Lindsay helps support the clinical staff and manages the front of house operations. She works on financial and marketing projects including insurance and vendor contracts, advertising, property and space needs, among other assignments. Her special interests include mental health policy and organizational change.
Meg Brissenden
Human Resources Coordinator
Meg manages the human resources department of the Emily Program, and payroll. She has a master’s degree in education from the University of Michigan in Teaching English as a Second Language. She has worked in the human resources field for many years, most recently at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts and then in private industry at a local biotechnology company. She brings experience in many areas of human resources, including recruiting and staffing, benefits administration, and employee relations.
Keri Clifton
Administrative Assistant/St. Paul
Keri’s responsibilities at the front desk are to support staff and ensure clients make a comfortable transition into The Emily Program – beginning with that first phone call. Keri has a background in advocacy for women’s issues, and was drawn to The Emily Program because of the opportunity to help women (and men) lead healthier lives. Keri also is passionate about political advocacy. During the 2008 election year she was assistant canvass director for Grassroots Campaigns in Boston, traveling a three-state area to oversee political campaigns. Keri has a bachelor’s in sociology (women’s studies certificate) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Brenda Cornelius
Executive Assistant/St. Paul
Brenda joined the Emily Program after a long career in journalism in Nebraska, Iowa and mostly recently as managing editor for a group of community newspapers in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities. While her vocation has been the newspaper industry, her long-time interest has been supporting girls and women to be empowered and self-confident. Her primary responsibility is to provide support to the St. Paul administrative staff to enable them to focus on the vision and growth of the Emily Program.
Jillian Croll, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., L.D.
Director, Education, Research and Program Development
Jillian brings expansive experience to the Emily Program’s clinical, research, education and program development areas. She also provides nutrition education and counseling. Jillian is on the board of the Academy for Eating Disorders, an international professional organization of clinicians and researchers, and co-chairs its Nutrition Special Interest Group. She has authored numerous book chapters and articles on nutritional treatment of eating disorders, body image, sports participation and adolescent health. She completed her doctorate in nutrition and epidemiology, master’s of public health and dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota and a master’s in nutrition at the University of Vermont.
Susan Fleming
Scheduler
Susan has an extensive background in the promotion of quality health care and customer service. She was a clinic administrator for Southern Metro Medical Clinics for more than a decade. Prior to that, she was clinic operations manager for Fairview Hospital and a clinic supervisor for Allina Health System. Most recently, she was clinic practice manager for ADPI-Metro Dentalcare. Susan is working toward certification in advanced health care management from the University of St. Thomas. She believes all staff members are interdependent on one another to ensure a quality experience for each client – an experience which begins with their first phone call to The Emily Program.
Kari Fuchs
Executive Assistant and Office Manager/St. Louis Park
Kari joined the Emily Program following several years of administrative experience in health care and media. Her longtime goal has been to work in health services, focusing on healthy lifestyles. Kari’s responsibilities include executive support to Dirk Miller, office management and helping to support the front desk and other administrative staff in St. Louis Park.
Patricia Genereux
Scheduler
Patricia brings a wealth of experience in health care delivery to her role as a scheduler for The Emily Program. She started her career as a registered nurse, then moved into a variety of health-care related positions including research, public health services, management and consulting. Most recently, she was senior manager of consulting services for General Electric: Healthcare Division in Waukesha, Wis. After taking a break from the workforce, she decided to search for new opportunities, leading to an administrative support role with The Emily Program. Patricia has a nursing degree from The College of St. Catherine; a bachelor's in public health and a master's in business administration from the University of Minnesota.
Shirley Gottwalt
Executive Assistant
Shirley has provided support to The Emily Program and its staff in a wide range of roles since October 1999. In the early stages of The Emily Program’s growth, Shirley was responsible for many administrative tasks including accounting, tracking and invoicing vendors, payroll, etc. Shirley now focuses primarily on transcription.
Lynnette Hiltunen, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator/Anna Westin House
Before joining the Anna Westin House and the Intensive Day Program, Lynnette’s experience included working in residential treatment centers for eating disorders in San Diego. She received her master’s in clinical health psychology from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in San Diego, where she also completed her doctoral degree. Her internship included working in the Weight and Wellness Clinic at Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where she counseled children and families struggling with obesity.
Lynette Johnston
Benefits Coordinator
Lynette acts as a liaison between clients, payers and The Emily Program. As Benefits Coordinator, she works with clients, case managers, families, health insurance providers, and The Emily Program staff to facilitate payment for services, maximization of insurance benefits and movement between programs. Lynette also manages the authorization tracking at the program. Lynette was the long-time office manager of a psychiatry practice in the north metro before joining The Emily Program and has a wide range of experience in health care administration.
Kelsy Karrigan
Administrative Lead/St. Paul
Kelsy oversees administrative staff and activity at the front desk in St. Paul. As the first point of contact with The Emily Program clients, her primary role is to make certain they feel welcome and get the information they need about their visit. Kelsy also often represents The Emily Program at health fairs on college campuses and other sites. She received her bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She was a member service representative at an Eau Claire credit union before joining The Emily Program. Her goal is to pursue a master’s in business administration in the near future.
Kelly King
Development Coordinator
The Emily Program Foundation
Kelly King oversees fund-raising activities for The Emily Program Foundation to help support the foundation board of directors in its mission of actively working to eliminate eating disorders. Funds raised help the foundation focus on its goals of community support, advocacy, research and education. Kelly has a business background in sales management and team leadership, with experience in marketing, relationship building and coaching. She has bachelor's from Lake Forest College, where she earned a double major in psychology and communication.
Nicole Munger
Client Relations Coordinator
Nicole is responsible for matching client needs with appropriate Emily Program resources. She advocates for clients’ needs within the Emily Program as well as outside agencies. She also assists clients and families with maximizing their insurance benefits and participates in intensive programs as a health educator. Nicole received her bachelor of arts in sociology from the College of St. Benedict, and is attending the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas to complete a master’s degree in clinical social work.
Lakshmi Logendran
Administrative Assistant/St. Louis Park
Lakshmi shares responsibilities for the front desk at the St. Louis Park office with Angela Segner. Her responsibilities include answering the phones, greeting and assisting clients and other administrative duties. She has a degree in business management from Colorado Technical University and is pursuing a master’s in business administration human resource development. Before joining the Emily Program, she managed four coffee stores, worked in customer service and coached freshman volleyball at Maple Grove Senior High.
Dirk Miller, Ph.D., L.P.
Executive Director & Founder
Dirk has been dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders for over 20 years. He started the Emily Program in 1993, which continues to see tremendous growth under his leadership. Dirk oversees all clinical and administrative activities in addition to working directly with clients. He completed his doctorate in psychology at the University of Minnesota. His dissertation was in the area of eating disorders treatment. He developed and administered an inpatient/outpatient eating disorders program at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, which was the first such program in Indiana. In addition to his work with individuals struggling with eating disorders, Dirk also has been involved in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse.
Lynn Nathanson
Administrative Coordinator/Anna Westin House
Lynn oversees administrative operations at The Anna Westin House. Her role is to manage the office and provide administrative support so clinical staff can devote themselves to helping clients regain their health and focus on recovery. Lynn has an extensive background in executive support roles, most recently with a St. Paul-based investment and development company. She came to The Emily Program in search of new challenges, and most importantly, a place where people care about the work they do, and go home each day feeling as if they have made a difference.
Shannon O’Donnell, Psy.D., L.P.
Director, Intensive Programs (St. Paul) and Residential Services
Shannon has worked in the eating disorders field since 1990 conducting research, providing clinical care and developing treatment programs. She returned to Minnesota to open the state’s first residential treatment facility, the Anna Westin House. Prior to that, she had been creating and managing treatment programs in Spokane, Wash., and Mountain View, Calif., as well as maintaining a private practice. Shannon received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology.
Melissa Oliveraz
Billing Manager
Melissa oversees the billing department at The Emily Program. Her previous experience was as a senior billing specialist with Meridian Behavioral Health where she worked with medical insurance billing for residential rehabilitation facilities and outpatient clinics. Melissa works closely with clients as well as The Emily Program’s billing company, ProSource, to identify and resolve issues related to client accounts, insurance payment and other billing functions.
Kristen Sekenski
Client Care Coordinator/St. Paul
A former administrative assistant with The Emily Program, Kristen recently moved into this new role. She works with our Benefits Coordinator, as well as therapists, dietitians and medical staff to ensure clients receive the best possible experience. She’s also your connection to our constantly expanding program schedule and can help you find and navigate outside resources that may offer additional support. Her job is to eliminate barriers that keep clients from getting the help they need. Kristen is finishing her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Minnesota. She plans to continue her education with a master’s program in a psychology-related area.
Angela Segner
Administrative Assistant/St. Louis Park
Angela shares responsibilities for the front desk at the St. Louis Park office with Lakshmi Logendran. Her duties include assisting clients both on the phone and when they arrive at the office. She also provides administrative support to the St. Louis Park staff. Angela received her bachelor’s in communications and Spanish from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. During college, she interned as a public relations assistant at the Tweed Museum of Art and was a copy editor for the University of Minnesota Statesman.
Deborah Schermann, M.A., L.P.
Director Intensive Programs (St. Louis Park)
Deborah has worked in the area of eating disorder treatment since 1987 as an individual, family and group therapist. She helped develop and administer an outpatient eating disorders clinic at Allina. She is committed to providing education to health professionals and the public regarding eating disorders prevention and treatment. Most recently, she has participated in research and has developed expertise in the area of obesity treatments.
Monique Silver, M.A., L.P.
Clinical Manager/Anna Westin House
Monique enjoys working with young women in a residential setting to address underlying issues contributing to the eating disorder as part of a dedicated therapeutic relationship. She has worked with adolescent and adult women struggling with eating disorders and co-occurring disorders in a variety of settings including residential, inpatient, partial and outpatient at Laureate in Tulsa, Okla., and Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorder Institute. She received her master’s in counseling and psychological services from St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis.
Hilmar Wagner, M.P.H., R.D., L.N.
Lead Dietitian
Hilmar received his bachelor’s degree in Nutrition/Dietetics and Master’s Public Health Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. He completed his dietetic internship at Methodist Hospital. Hilmar has extensive experience in a wide variety of nutrition settings including outpatient clinics and health/fitness facilities. His special areas of interest are in physical activity and complementary/alternative medicine. Hilmar enjoys working with all clients to help develop a healthy, balanced way of eating.
Kim Wesolowski
Accountant
Kim brought extensive experience in the financial aspects of health care to her position with The Emily Program. She formerly worked at Meridian Behavioral Health as assistant controller/billing manager where, among other duties, she managed the work of the medical billing staff, assisted in financial audits, and prepared financial statements. Kim has bachelor’s degrees in accounting and in finance from Moorhead State University. At The Emily Program, Kim manages accounting and financial duties such as accounts payable/receivable, taxes and audits.
John Williams
Office & Technology Support Assistant
John has both a passion for cooking and computers, though his IT role at The Emily Program focuses primarily on his technical skills and interests. John was an executive chef for D’Amico and Sons Restaurants at various Twin Cities locations before changing careers. He has an associate of arts degree from Century College in White Bear Lake, where he studied computer science, and a bachelor’s in applied economics from Carlson School of Management. John provides support for phones, email, computers and other technical systems at all Emily Program locations.
Jillian Croll, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Jillian brings expansive experience to the Emily Program’s clinical, research, education and program development areas. She also provides nutrition education and counseling. Jillian is on the board of the Academy for Eating Disorders, an international professional organization of clinicians and researchers, and co-chairs its Nutrition Special Interest Group. She has authored numerous book chapters and articles on nutritional treatment of eating disorders, body image, sports participation and adolescent health. She completed her doctorate in nutrition and epidemiology, master’s of public health and dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota and a master’s in nutrition at the University of Vermont.
Lisa Diers, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Lisa has experience in providing client-tailored nutrition education and nutrition counseling to people of all ages and demographics. She promotes a balanced and healthy relationship with food, body and mind. She received her degree in food/nutrition and dietetics from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview and the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview in Minneapolis. Lisa also is a yoga instructor, earning her certification at Core Power Yoga in Minneapolis.
Georgianna Elliott, M.A., R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
George’s interests are working with adolescents and young adults to promote overall health and well-being by developing a healthy attitude toward eating and body image. She received her degree in home economics with an emphasis in foods and nutrition from Western Illinois University. George completed her dietetic internship at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill. After working in clinical settings, she found that the relationship between emotions and food was an integral part of her practice, and completed a master’s in guidance and counseling from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
Barb Freeman, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Barb has spent her entire career specializing in eating disorders and eating disturbances. She has worked in outpatient, inpatient and residential settings with individuals of all ages, and remains passionate about partnering with individuals and families as they journey the path toward recovery. Barb received her degree in general and clinical dietetics at Iowa State University in Ames. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Janelle Fuchs, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Janelle’s wide range of experiences includes working on eating disorders units at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc, Wis. She helped develop wellness policy while an intern at Franklin School District in Franklin, Wis., and also was an intern and graduate assistant with the City of Milwaukee Health Department. She studied natural healing practices in Kathmandu, Nepal, and promoted fresh, local food in the low-income community while assistant manager of a Milwaukee farmer’s market. Janelle received her bachelor’s in dietetics (psychology minor) from the University of Wisconsin, Stout. She completed her dietetic internship and graduate program at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee.
Joan Giampaoli, M.S., L.D., R.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Joan formerly was an associate professor in the foods and nutrition programs at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., and San Jose State University in California. Working with college students brought awareness of the prevalence of eating disorders. As a result, her research and professional interests shifted toward the psychology of food. She also has provided nutrition education in public education settings, including working with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to develop food technology curriculum for high school students. Joan received her bachelor’s and master’s in nutritional science from San Jose State. She also has worked as a professional chef.
Laura Gutierrez, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Laura came to the Emily Program from Scripps Clinic in San Diego, Calif. where she was the primary dietitian and nutrition resource for the nationally-recognized nutrition research organization. Her extensive professional experience with eating disorders includes specialized treatment of athletes. She has presented to both local and national organizations on topics related to eating disorders and was an R.D. and health educator at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorder Institute. Laura received her bachelor’s in dietetics, food and nutrition from Mankato State University in Minnesota.
Abby Ludwig, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Abby has extensive experience in a wide variety of nutrition settings including health/fitness facilities, inpatient hospital settings working with a variety of clientele, and in research with work that included studies with eating disorder participants. Abby enjoys working with a variety of clients to help develop a healthy relationship with food, and a healthy attitude toward body and fitness. She received her degree in food, nutrition and dietetics with a minor in psychology from Concordia College in Moorhead, and completed her dietetic internship at St. Mary’s Hospital/Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Janelle Melgeorge-Anderson, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Janelle has experience as a clinical dietitian at Fairview Health Services and as a consulting dietitian for Water's Edge Counseling and Healing Center. She has developed programs and worked collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, and has worked with both eating disorder clients and has provided bariatric nutrition education for clients and their families. Janelle is a Minnesota Distance Running Association Board member and a contributing writer for RunMinnesota. She received her bachelor's in dietetics from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph and her master of adult education from the University of Minnesota.
Sara Murkowski, R.D., C.S.P., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Sara has experience in providing nutrition therapy to a diverse group of both children and adult clients. Prior to joining The Emily Program, Sara worked at The Children's Hospital of Wisconsin where her role focused on children with feeding disorders and gastrointestinal conditions. She also has specialized in providing client-tailored nutrition counseling and education to adults. Sara enjoys helping clients of all ages develop healthy eating patterns on their path to recovery and wellness. Sara received her bachelor's in dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and completed her internship at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Kirsten Nielsen, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian/Duluth
Kirsten has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds and particularly enjoys working with children and adolescents to restore healthy and normal nutrition and eating. She received her degree in food, nutrition and dietetics from Concordia College in Moorhead. She completed her dietetic internship at St. Mary’s Hospital/Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She previously worked at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorders Institute in the outpatient clinic and coordinated the Intensive Outpatient Program and was involved in the Emily Program’s first IOP.
Amy Patefield, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Amy’s particular interests include obesity and compulsive overeating. She enjoys working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds on weight management and healthy eating. Amy received her degree in dietetics and completed the coordinated internship program from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. She previously provided nutrition evaluations for surgery candidates and one-on-one nutritional counseling for individuals, both pre- and post-surgery, at the HCMC Bariatric Center. Amy is certified in adolescent and adult weight management.
Val Schonberg, M.S., R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Val has a passion for helping individuals make nutrition and lifestyle changes despite the overwhelming and confusing information consumers receive about their health. She specializes in child and adolescent nutrition, including eating disorders, weight management and diabetes. Prior to earning her master’s degree in nutrition, Val earned a bachelor’s in speech communication from the University of Nebraska and worked for IBM as a corporate marketing representative in the Twin Cities. Additional experience working with children, teen and women’s church ministry groups has equipped Val to counsel and motivate people to achieve balance with mind, body and spirit.
Jennifer Smith, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Jennifer recently returned to The Emily Program after a taking a break to focus full-time on her young family. She was on staff from the fall of 2002 until May 2006, and was involved in the development of The Emily Program’s first Intensive Outpatient Program. Jennifer’s experience includes counseling eating disorder clients at Fairview Riverside Hospital. She also worked with the team at the STAR Eating Disorder Clinic to provide adolescent treatment. She received her bachelor’s from North Dakota State University, where she majored in food and nutrition and minored in psychology. She completed her dietetic internship at Fairview-University Medical Center.
Kristen Smith, Ph.D, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Kristen has a varied background in diet and nutrition coupled with a broad interest in the treatment of eating disorders. Her experience includes wellness program development. She has been a speaker, instructor and trainer on the topic of wellness, as well as sole proprietor of an independent nutrition business which focused on corporate education and disease prevention. She received her bachelor’s in dietetics from the University of Kentucky in Lexington and her doctorate in nutrition from the University of Minnesota. She has extensive research experience and has authored journal and non-journal publications on a wide range of nutrition-related topics.
Angela Staples, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Prior to joining the Emily Program, Angela worked at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorders Institute and Fairview Hospital, in both partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. She has a strong interest in intensive programs, working with clients struggling with anorexia, bulimia and eating disorder not otherwise specified. She has experience working with clients of all ages and in a variety of settings. Angela received her degree in dietetics and food and nutrition from Minnesota State University in Mankato. She completed her internship at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill.
Rasa Troup, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Rasa has a personal and professional background in athletics and sports nutrition. She is a dietitian for the University of Minnesota women's track and field and cross country teams and also worked at Methodist Hospital as a clinical dietitian providing nutrition education and counseling before joining The Emily Program. She has facilitated numerous sports nutrition presentations and seminars. Rasa was an All-American cross-country runner while attending the University of Minnesota on athletic scholarship. In 2008, she competed for her native Lithuania in the steeplechase at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Rasa received her bachelor's in physiology and master's in nutrition from the U of M.
Michelle Trumpy, M.P.H., R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Michelle has broad experience with child and adolescent nutrition services and therapy. While a clinical dietitian specialist at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee she assessed and monitored the nutritional status of a diverse pediatric population. She also worked with adolescents at the University of Minnesota’s STAR Center for Family Health, and created nutrition education materials for the university’s Bright Start Research Project. She has presented extensively on healthy eating for children, including those with special health care needs. Michelle received her bachelor’s in dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her master of public health nutrition from the U of M.
Maggie Vertalino, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Maggie’s interests are eating disorders, sports nutrition and working with children and adolescents. She has previous experience with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. She received her degree in dietetics and completed the Coordinated Internship Program at the University of Kentucky. She received her master’s in public health from the University of Minnesota. Maggie worked as a dietitian as part of a Leadership Education in Adolescent Health fellow in the STAR clinic at the University of Minnesota, working with eating disorders and weight management.
Hilmar Wagner, M.P.H., R.D., L.N.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Hilmar received his Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition/Dietetics and Master’s Public Health Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. He completed his dietetic internship at Methodist Hospital. Hilmar has extensive experience in a wide variety of nutrition settings including outpatient clinics and health/fitness facilities. His special areas of interest are in physical activity and complementary/alternative medicine. Hilmar enjoys working with all clients to help develop a healthy, balanced way of eating.
Lisa Winter, R.D., L.D.
Registered Licensed Dietitian
Lisa created the nutrition program at the state’s first residential treatment facility, the Anna Westin House, and facilitated the start-up of the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program at the Emily Program. She received her degrees in nutrition science and dietetics from North Dakota State University in Fargo. She completed her dietetic internship through the dietetic internship program for graduate students at the University of Minnesota, where she is pursuing a master’s in nutrition.
Trudde Baumann, R.N.
Trudde brings a long background in home health care to her role at The Anna Westin House. Most recently she worked with Communities of Care Pediatric Home Health Care where she worked collaboratively with other team members to provide patient care, as well as patient and family education. Trudde received her associate degree in nursing from Chippewa Valley Technical College in River Falls, Wis.
Joan Benner, M.D.
Family Practice Physician
Joan’s special interests are patient education, preventative medicine and women’s health. Before she began providing medical care for the Emily Program, she practiced for 10 years in a clinic setting in Stillwater. Most recently, she was an emergency department physician in Stillwater for seven years. Joan completed her medical education at Michigan State University and her residency at the University of Minnesota. She is board certified in family practice.
Tracie Daum, LPN
Tracy chose a nursing career after a decade in marketing. (She anticipates a fall 2009 graduation date for her RN). Most recently, she was director of resident services and interim director of nursing at a residential assisted living facility in Minnetonka. Prior to that she worked with psychiatric patients at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she gained experience with eating disorder clients. Tracie was drawn to The Emily Program’s comprehensive team approach to healing and recovery, and its focus on the “whole person,” as well as the opportunity to see changes in clients as they recognize unhealthy behaviors and find healthier ways of coping.
Michael Donndelinger, M.D.
Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist
Michael has done extensive work with eating disorders, anxiety, OCD and mood disorders, as well as behavioral issues. He received a bachelor’s in biology and genetics/cell biology (minoring in psychology) from the University of Minnesota. He received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota Medical School and was a resident in psychiatry, and child and adolescent fellow, at the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry.
Patricia Glidden, R.N.
Patricia was a care manager/mental health specialist with Cigna in Eden Prairie before joining the staff at the Anna Westin House. Her role there was to lead crisis intervention therapy for participants and families and educate and empower participants to make healthy lifestyle decisions to promote a positive self-image for long-term health and wellness. Patricia received her R.N. from St. Anthony College of Nursing in Rockford, Ill.
Peter Gobar, M.D.
Adult Psychiatrist
Peter has broad experience in the area of outpatient and inpatient psychiatric care for clients with eating disorders. He is a former staff psychiatrist at Remuda Ranch Centers in Arizona, where his primary role was psycho-pharmacological treatment and psycho-education of adult clients in treatment for severe anorexia nervosa. Peter received his bachelor’s in biology, with a minor in psychology, from Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., and his M.D. from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He completed his internship and residency at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.
Kristen Johnson, R.N.
Kristen brings a background in counseling to her role as a nurse at Anna Westin House. She formerly was a master’s level therapist in Hudson, Wis. She also worked as a clinical nurse specialist for Minnesota Perinatal Physicians at United Hospital in St. Paul and was a labor and delivery nurse. Kristen received her R.N. through Victor Valley Community College in California. She earned a bachelor’s in ministries from Northwestern College and a master’s in clinical pastoral counseling from the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology in St. Paul. She also received a master’s in marriage and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Linda Krantz, R.N.
In addition to broad clinical experience, Linda is a Stephen Minister (good listener). She enjoys working with people of all ages and backgrounds. Before joining Anna Westin House, she was with MVNA (Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency) as the Registrar Coordinator/Nurse Supervisor for the Influenza Program. She graduated from Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing and has worked at St. John’s Hospital in med/surg, HCMC dialysis ICU, home health care and Good Samaritan Nursing Home.
Carmen Larson, M.M.S., PA-C, B.S.M.T.
Physician Assistant
Carmen’s range of care has included infants to adults.She has worked in the Minneapolis area as a physician assistant in the field of internal medicine/infectious diseases for the last five years. She has broad experience as a medical technologist in the areas of lab management and clinical lab practice. She received her master’s of medical science and physician assistant certificate from Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo.
Tierni McGinn, R.N.
Tierni brings experience in mental health and social work to her role as a nurse at The Anna Westin House. She completed her social work senior practicum in the Acute Behavioral Health Unit at Abbott Northwestern, and was lead behavioral therapist for The Lazurus Project, a program for children with autism. Tierni received her bachelor’s in social work with a minor in psychology from Minnesota State University in Mankato. More recently, she received her bachelor’s in nursing from Metropolitan State University and was an RN at Fairview Southdale Hospital, providing care for newborns and postpartum patients.
Patti A. Peterson, CMA
Patti is a medical assistant at the St. Paul Office where she provides medical and administrative support to Dr. Joan Benner. Patti was a certified medical assistant with Midwest ENT and the Stillwater Medical Group before joining The Emily Program. She also is a licensed massage therapist.
Vanessa Sanders, LPN
Vanessa has been with the Anna Westin House since 2005. Previously, her work included working in psychiatric and detoxification programs in the metro area. She completed her nursing education at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
Susan Swigart, M.D.
Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist
Susan’s areas of interest include working with adolescents and young adults with co-morbid anxiety and mood disorders, as well as with athletes with eating disorders. She has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Susan received her medical degree from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. She then completed a general adult psychiatric residency followed by a fellowship training program in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Minnesota. During residency and fellowship, her primary area of research was in the area of eating disorders.
Lindsay Brinkman
ED Tech
Lindsay has had a special interest in media and body image through her undergraduate psychology studies and earned a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Minnesota-Morris in 2006. Prior to joining the Anna Westin House, she completed an internship in the Research, Education and Outreach division of the Eating Disorders Institute at Methodist Hospital. Lindsay’s previous health care experience includes working for seven years at a long-term care center in Glencoe.
Elizabeth Kelly, L.Ac, Dipl. Ac., M.Om.
Acupuncturist
Elizabeth has been treating residents of the Anna Westin House with Oriental medicine/acupuncture since the inception of the program. She received her degree in Oriental Medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington. For over 10 years, she has maintained a private practice in Eden Prairie.
Sondra Lemmon
ED Tech
Sondra has experience as a staff member at Minnesota Teen Challenge residential treatment facility where she worked with teenage girls who struggled with the challenges of drug and alcohol recovery. Sondra received her bachelor’s in psychology from Bethel University and is pursuing a master’s in marriage and family therapy at Bethel Theological Seminary. She is inspired to be part of the Anna Westin House which offers the opportunity to enrich lives and empower people to make positive changes.
MC Kunz, CMT
Massage and Yoga Therapist
MC has been in practice more than 10 years and is experienced working with people with eating disorders. She is sensitive to the vulnerabilities clients may feel in receiving bodywork and uses a variety of modalities to bring ease to the body, mind and spirit. MC molds sessions to specific client needs and is creative about helping clients to feel most comfortable. She is dedicated to helping clients access and develop a deep relationship with the wisdom inherent in their bodies. She believes it is this wisdom, beneath the chatter in our minds, which can direct us to our inner truth, and lead us to harmony with our lives and the world around us.
Amy Liesmaki, M.A.
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Amy is working on her Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Argosy University/Minnesota School of Professional Psychology, where she also received her master’s in clinical psychology. She has a bachelor’s in biology with a concentration in biomedical studies from St. Olaf. She completed a diagnostic/assessment practicum at Mental Health Systems in Woodbury and Edina and is currently doing a practicum at St. Cloud State Counseling and Psychological Services. Before joining the Emily Program, Amy’s experience included providing office support at an OBGYN clinic; working as a certified nursing assistant; and as a health caretaker at a Minneapolis child and family center.
Meghan Murray
Chef
Originally from Alaska, Meghan completed her bachelor’s in finance from the University of Wyoming. She then returned to Alaska, working in the banking industry for a few years. Switching gears, she moved to Minnesota and completed Culinary Arts School at Le Cordon Bleu.
Susan Opperman
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Susan’s responsibilities include supportive eating, charting, taking residents on outings and being available for support. She received her bachelor’s in psychology from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. She plans to return to school for a master’s of social work.
Elizabeth Paulson
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Elizabeth has a background as an educator. She was a lead teacher and KinderCare Training Coordinator at the Knowledge Learning Corporation for two years and was a parent child interaction therapy intern at Genesis II for Families. She is seeking her master’s in marriage and family therapy at St. Mary’s University, and received her bachelor’s in child psychology, with a minor in family social sciences from the University of Minnesota.
Andrea Purvis
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In addition to her commitment to Anna Westin House clients, Andrea has a strong commitment to community service. She has volunteered at Northwest Youth and Family Services; provided academic assistance to elementary students, including the Inner City after-school program; worked with Teen Challenge; and volunteered as a violinist. She was a Dakota Community Home Health Aide/Senior Advocate before joining The Emily Program. Andrea has a bachelor’s in family social science from the University of Minnesota and is enrolled in the marriage and family therapy masters program at St. Mary’s University.
Molly Regan
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Molly has been with the Anna Westin House since October 2006. She is pursuing her master’s in marriage and family therapy from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and hopes to specialize in working with women on issues including eating disorders, depression, anxiety and stress management. Molly received her bachelor’s in women’s studies and psychology with a sociology minor from Hamline University. She has worked for the University of Minnesota, Fairview, in inpatient psychiatry and chemical dependency treatment. She also has worked with specialties such as schizophrenia, adolescent chemical dependency, and severe and persistent mental illness at both Park Nicollet and People Incorporated.
Chelsea Schildt
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Chelsea is a nursing student, with a special interest in adolescents and eating disorders. After moving to Minnesota from Pennsylvania, Chelsea began regularly checking The Emily Program website, looking for an opportunity to join the staff. Chelsea was seeking a working environment where there were high expectations — both as individuals and a facility — and where the focus was on client care. Most recently Chelsea was a CNA with North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale. She is attending Anoka Ramsey Community College.
Brian Smith
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Before joining the Anna Westin House four years ago, Brian worked in a direct-care capacity for Mount Olivet Rolling Acres for 17 years. He enjoys his interaction with residents at the Anna Westin House and finds his role challenging and rewarding.
Carey Velenchenko, L.Ac, Dipl. Ac., M.Om.
Acupuncturist
In addition to the Anna Westin House, Carey has provided acupuncture in private practice, as well as Solimar Wellness Spa in Eagan. Her clinical experience includes treating patients with a wide variety of physical and psychoemotional issues including insomnia, pain, menopausal symptoms, headaches, migraines, PMS, fatigue, digestive complaints, depression and anxiety. She received a master’s in Oriental Medicine from The Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington.
Sue Babcock, Psy.D
Licensed Psychologist
Sue has provided services to people dealing with eating disorders since 1995 in a variety of both inpatient and outpatient settings. She is interested in exploring the cultural influences regarding both prevention of and recovery from eating disorders. While Sue greatly values working with clients in a therapeutic relationship, she also enjoys public speaking on the topic of eating disorders and providing training and supervision. Prior to coming to the Emily Program, Sue was in private practice, and has been faculty at both graduate and undergraduate psychology programs.
Kathleen Bernhoft, M.S.W.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Kathleen’s broad social work background includes group work, family intervention, case management, cross-cultural communication, as well as program and community development. She has worked with adults with mental illness and chemical dependency, and has provided psychotherapy to survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Kathleen served with the Peace Corps in Thailand where she taught English and worked in leadership development for girls and women. She received her bachelor’s in art education from the University of Minnesota and her master’s of social work from the University of St. Thomas.
Laurie Braunshausen, M.S.W.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Laurie has broad clinical experience working with children and adolescents struggling with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, physical and sexual abuse, attachment issues and family issues. Before joining the Emily Program, she was a child and adolescent therapist at a day treatment program in the Twin Cities where she provided individual, group and family therapy. Laurie received her master’s in clinical social work from the College of St. Catherine and the University of St. Thomas and completed her clinical internship at Hennepin County Mental Health Center.
Catherine Byrne-Zinkel, M.S.W.
Therapist Trainee
Cate provided outpatient psychotherapy in the Women’s Mental Health Program during her psychiatric social work internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center. As an intern with the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders in Highland Park, Ill., she provided support and referral services to individuals and families affected by eating disorders, including leading a weekly support group. Cate received her bachelor’s in social work from the University of St. Thomas and her master’s of social work from the Dominican University Graduate School of Social Work in River Forest, Ill.
Hoinu Thirumalai Bunce, M.S. Ed., Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Hoinu has experience working with adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety, chronic medical illness, eating disorders and chemical dependency. Her interests include cognitive and personality assessment, chemical dependency assessment and treatment, and eating disorders. Hoinu received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Argosy University at the Twin Cities Campus. She completed her internship at Hazelden in Center City, Minn.
Joan Caillier, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Joan’s special interests include obesity treatment, trauma recovery and management of chronic medical illness and related psychological adjustment. Her diverse clinical experience includes various cultural and economic issues and clients of all ages. Joan received her doctoral degree from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. She interned at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Kansas City and formerly practiced locally at Allina Medical Clinic in Farmington and at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Katy Christensen, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Katy’s interests are in the areas of clinical and health psychology, including eating disorders. She has experience working with adolescents and adults with a variety of mood and anxiety disorders, chemical dependency, personality disorders and chronic mental illness. She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology where she minored in health psychology. She completed her internship at the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston. She has a master’s in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Rachel Cleveland, M.S.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Before joining the Emily Program, Rachel most recently worked primarily with children and adolescents in a home-based family therapy setting in the Twin Cities. She received her master’s in marriage and family therapy at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She has a post graduate certification in medical family therapy. Her internship was completed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha where she worked with individuals, families and couples dealing with a broad range of medical issues.
Anne Delmont, M.S.W.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Anne formerly was an inpatient behavioral health social worker at Regions Hospital in St. Paul where she provided counseling for a wide range of issues including eating disorders, mood and thought disorders, chemical dependency, childhood trauma and gender identity. She also offered legal coordination for civil commitments, health care directives and mandated reporting. Anne also was an HIV case manager for the Minnesota AIDS Project, and volunteered with the Walk-In Counseling Center in Minneapolis. She earned a bachelor’s (double major) in behavioral science and law, and sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master of social work from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Erica M. Falconer, M.S.
Therapist Trainee
Erica was a student marital and family therapist at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a behavioral health intern at Red Cedar Medical Center, Mayo Health System, both in Menomonie, before accepting a position with The Emily Program. She also was a domestic violence family advocate at The Women’s Center Domestic Violence Shelter in Red Wing. Erica received her bachelor’s in family studies in psychology from St. Olaf College and her master’s in marital and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Victoria ‘Tori’ Frye, M.S.
Therapist/Duluth
Tori is working toward licensure as a marriage and family therapist and professional counselor. She received her master’s in clinical counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. She worked with children, adolescents, couples and families during internships with St. Mary’s Duluth Clinic Health System’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program as well its Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Partial Hospitalization Program. She also interned with the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault in Duluth. Assisting clients’ mindfulness-based skills building has informed Tori’s work with stress reduction, anxiety management, depression and trauma recovery. Tori received her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Kimberly Gerads, M.S.W.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Kim provides individual and family counseling in the area of eating disorders and facilitates the daytime Intensive Outpatient Program for people with anorexia and bulimia. She has broad clinical experience assessing and treating a range of mental health issues. Kim received a master’s in clinical social work from the University of Houston. She completed an internship on a psychiatric unit at Memorial Hospital Southwest and worked for Family Services of Houston for 10 years.
Missy Grindahl, M.S. Ed
Therapist/Duluth
Melissa “Missy” Grindahl became passionate about issues surrounding food, body image and self esteem during nearly a decade as a counselor, and later director of student support services at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. Missy served on the Eating Disorder Task Force, helping develop a protocol to identify students needing support versus those needing formal treatment. She also helped develop eating issue prevention strategies on campus. Missy has a master’s in education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, with a concentration in community counseling. She is finalizing requirements to be a licensed professional counselor. Her experience also includes working with issues surrounding depression, anxiety and adjustment.
Alison Hawkinson, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Alison has experience working with children, adolescents and adults with a variety of mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, autism, chemical dependency, personality disorders and chronic mental illness. Her interests include cognitive and personality assessment and treatment of eating disorders. Alison received her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University — Twin Cities. She completed her internship at the Metropolitan Community Mental Health Center in St. Paul.
Annie Heiderscheit, Ph.D., MT-BC, FAMI, NMT
Music Therapist
Annie has 17 years of clinical experience in mental health, chemical dependency and eating disorders treatment. She completed her doctoral degree in music/music therapy and received a master’s in counseling. She has advanced training in music psychotherapy from Temple University, is a fellow in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (FAMI) and in Neurological Music Therapy (NMT). Annie also is conducting research and teaching at the University of Minnesota.
Cheryl ‘Chris’ Henley, M.S.
Licensed Psychologist/Duluth
Chris began working with eating disorders while in graduate school . She developed eating disorder treatment at several clinics in Duluth. She also helped develop a community consortium of professionals who worked with eating disordered individuals and was a provider for aftercare for an intensive treatment program. Chris works with adults, adolescents and families. She advocates for victims of sexual abuse by helping to train volunteers with PAVSA and participates in the community SMART team. She received her bachelor’s in social work from the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, and her master’s in clinical psychology from North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. In addition to The Emily Program, Chris is in private practice at Full Circle in Duluth.
Lynnette Hiltunen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Before joining the Anna Westin House and the Intensive Day Program, Lynnette’s experience included working in residential treatment centers for eating disorders in San Diego. She received her master’s in clinical health psychology from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in San Diego, where she also completed her doctoral degree. Her internship included working in the Weight and Wellness Clinic at Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where she counseled children and families struggling with obesity.
Kate Jalma, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Before joining the Emily Program in the fall of 2007, Kate spent a year at the University of Oregon in Eugene as a predoctoral intern at the University Counseling and Testing Center. She has experience in family therapy through Reuben Lindh Family Service in Minneapolis, and has worked with college students dealing with eating disorders and other issues at the University of Minnesota, Carleton College and Metropolitan State University. She received her bachelor’s in child psychology and master’s in educational psychology at the U of M, where she also received her Ph.D. in educational psychology. Her dissertation investigated how women end friendships.
Helene Keery, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Helene has broad clinical experience with children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders as well as with people who have both eating disorders and diabetes. Most recently she has been doing clinical work, conducting research and participating in program development at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorders Institute. Helene received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida and completed her internship at the University of Florida Health Sciences Center. She completed a fellowship in adolescent health at the University of Minnesota.
Colette Kuhn, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Colette has worked in a variety of settings including educational institutions, chemical dependency treatment centers and community mental health agencies. She has extensive individual and group therapy experience working with a wide range of mental health issues. Before joining the Emily Program, Colette worked as a staff psychologist at the University of St. Thomas Counseling Center where she provided counseling to undergraduate and graduate students and trained and supervised doctoral interns and practicum students in the counseling profession. She received her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas
Jennie Laskow, M.A.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Jennie has substantial experience providing mental health services within residential and outpatient settings. She has worked with groups and individuals dealing with a broad range of issues including mood, anxiety and thought disorders, chemical dependency and HIV. Jennie received her master’s in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. She completed her practicum at the Park Nicollet Mental Health Department in Minneapolis.
Amy Lawrence, M.S.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Amy has worked with families and individuals in a variety of settings including internships at The Bridge for Runaway Youth and The Clinical Services Center in Menomonie, Wis. Previously, she worked at Nystrom and Associates, an outpatient clinic, and Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorder Institute both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Amy received her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Jennifer Lees, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Jennifer has a diverse background of clinical experience, most recently working at a community mental health center in Moorhead, Minn. assessing and treating a broad range of adolescents and adults with mental health and behavioral concerns. She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. Jennifer completed a pre-doctoral internship in community mental health with the Southern Arizona Psychology Internship Consortium in Tucson.
Heather Libbey, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Heather has an extensive background as a researcher and presenter on topics which include childhood obesity, weight-related teasing of overweight adolescents and development of healthy, successful adolescents. She was a post-doctoral associate at the University of Minnesota division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health before joining The Emily Program. At the STAR Center for Adolescent Eating Disorders and Weight Management, she provided evaluations and therapy for eating disorders and obesity and also conducted bariatric surgery evaluations. She received her bachelor’s in English from Carleton College; master of education from Harvard; and received a Ph.D. from the U of M Department of Educational Psychology.
Laura McCarthy, M.S.W.
Therapist Trainee
Laura previously was an M.S.W. intern at The Emily Program’s St. Louis Park location where she was involved in both day and evening Intensive Outpatient Programs. She also co-facilitated groups focused on body image issues and DBT skills. Her experience also includes working with the Cranston Public Schools, Cranston, R.I., to provide behavioral and social interventions for students disrupting classroom routines, and one-on-one counseling to achieve IEP goals. Laura received her bachelor’s in social work at Providence College, Providence, R.I., and received her master’s in social work from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Tamar Melmed Marmor, M.P.S.
Art Therapist
Tamar’s experience includes providing individual and group therapy to adults with a history of trauma, mental illness and brain injury while working at Belleview Hospital Center in New York City. She also conducted research examining the connection between creative therapy and cognitive improvement in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury. Tamar received her graduate degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and completed her internships at Incarnation Children’s Center, an inpatient facility for children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS, and at Bellevue Hospital Center.
Dirk Miller, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Dirk has worked in the area of eating disorders since 1982 as an individual therapist, group facilitator and program director. He developed and administered an inpatient/outpatient eating disorders program at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, which was the first such program in the state of Indiana. His doctoral dissertation was in the area of eating disorders treatment. He developed and facilitated eating disorders groups at a variety of locations. Prior to his work in eating disorders he was involved in the area of alcohol and drug abuse treatment.
Sue Nicol, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Sue was a longtime senior clinical psychologist with the Hennepin County Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry prior to joining The Emily Program. Her research interests include behavior genetics, psychoneuroimmunology and health care psychology. She received her bachelor’s in philosophy and religion from Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts and a master’s in development psychology from Columbia University, New York. She earned her Ph.D. in behavioral genetics and neuroscience from the University of Minnesota.
Shannon O’Donnell, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Shannon has worked in the eating disorders field since 1990 conducting research, providing clinical care and developing treatment programs. She returned to Minnesota to open the state’s first residential treatment facility, the Anna Westin House. Prior to that, she created and managed treatment programs in Spokane, Wash., and Mountain View, Calif., as well as maintained a private practice. Shannon received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology.
Louise Page, M.A.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Before joining the Emily Program, Louise provided individual and group therapy to people with anxiety, depression, substance abuse and addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder during clinical training at the Park Nicollet Clinic. She has additional experience working with individuals with dual diagnoses of serious and persistent mental illness and chemical dependency. Louise received her master’s in counseling and student personnel psychology at the University of Minnesota.
Lori Peiffer, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Lori has broad clinical experience, which includes the treatment of eating disorders, PTSD, anxiety, depression and chemical dependence. She also has significant experience conducting Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to treat clients with impulse control problems such as eating disorders and self-injurious behavior. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and completed her internship at the Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Consortium.
Doug Perry, M.A.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Doug has extensive clinical experience working with individuals, couples and groups in a broad range of mental health issues. Most recently, he worked as a psychotherapist on an acute crisis unit at Fairview University Medical Center where his focus was primarily on depression, anxiety, eating disorders and chemical dependence. Doug also is gay-identified and specializes in working with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. He received his master’s in counseling and psychological services at St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis.
Lisa Rogers, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Lisa has worked in the area of eating disorders since 1992. She has a varied clinical background, which includes working with adolescents and families where there has been sexual abuse, depression and acting-out behaviors. After receiving her doctoral training at the California School of Professional Psychology, she completed a two-year fellowship in Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She went on to work in the Eating Disorders Research Program at the University. Prior to the Emily Program, she worked at Children’s’ Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis with teen-age Medical Services eating disorders program clients.
Diane Rubright, M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Diane formerly was with the STAR Center for Eating Disorders and Weight Management at the University of Minnesota where she served as interim clinic coordinator for the Interdisciplinary Eating Disorders Team and conducted evaluations and provided therapy for clients ages 14 to 25. She received a bachelor’s in international studies from Macalester College; and from the U of M received both a master of education in curriculum and instruction, and master of arts from the Department of Educational Policy and Administration. She also holds a master’s from the University of St. Thomas graduate school of professional psychology and received her doctor of psychology degree from St. Thomas.
Stacy Saindon, M.A.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Stacy is committed to healing the mind, body and spirit. Prior to joining the Emily Program, she was a clinical therapist and youth project supervisor providing individual, group and couples therapy at the Jane Addams Hull House Association in Chicago. Her clinical specialties include trauma, domestic violence, depression/anxiety, life cycle transitions/developmental stages, grief and loss, and substance abuse and addictions. Stacy received her bachelor’s in family social science from the University of Minnesota and her master’s in psychotherapy and counseling, with a focus on marriage and family therapy, from Alfred Adler Graduate School in Hopkins, Minn.
Deborah Schermann, M.A.
Licensed Psychologist
Deborah has worked in the area of eating disorder treatment since 1987 as an individual, family and group therapist. She helped develop and administer an outpatient eating disorders clinic at Allina. She is committed to providing education to health professionals and the public regarding eating disorders prevention and treatment. Most recently, she has participated in research and has developed expertise in the area of obesity treatments.
Angie Scott, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Angie has worked with individuals and groups in various areas including depression, anxiety, relationships, developmental transitions, eating disorders and abuse recovery. She completed her doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology. She interned at the University of St. Thomas Personal Counseling Center in St. Paul. In addition to her extensive experience in university and college settings, her clinical experience encompasses work in a variety of community mental health agencies.
Monique Silver, M.A., L.P.
Licensed Psychologist
Monique enjoys working with young women in a residential setting to address underlying issues contributing to the eating disorder as part of a dedicated therapeutic relationship. She has worked with adolescent and adult women struggling with eating disorders and co-occurring disorders in a variety of settings including residential, inpatient, partial and outpatient at Laureate in Tulsa, Okla., and Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorder Institute. She received her master’s in counseling and psychological services from St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis.
Kandee Kubat Timmerman, M.S.W.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Kandee has worked in the area of eating disorders since 1990. She has broad clinical experience working with individuals, couples, groups, children and families on issues ranging from mental illness and depression to substance abuse and adoption. Before joining the Emily Program, she was a child and family therapist specializing in adolescents and at-risk youth. She received her master’s in social work (emphasis in clinical work with children and families) from Eastern Washington University, Spokane, and completed internships with Group Health NW Behavioral Health and Children’s Home Society of Washington.
Leah Walls, M.A.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Leah has worked with individuals, families, couples and groups in a variety of settings. She is committed to cultural diversity and works from a strength-based approach. Some of Leah’s focus areas include adolescents, couples, trauma, grief depression and anxiety. Leah received her master’s in counseling psychology and certification in marriage and family therapy from St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis.
Kitty Westin, M.A., L.P.
Licensed Psychologist
Kitty has been part of The Emily Program since entrusting operation of the Anna Westin House to The Emily Program in 2007. As a staff member, she has a dual role as both a part-time therapist and doing advocacy work through The Emily Program Foundation. Kitty is the founder and former president of the Anna Westin Foundation which in 2008 closed and transferred its assets to The Emily Program Foundation. She serves on The Emily Program Foundation Board and is president of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Kitty received her bachelor's in psychology from the University of Minnesota in Duluth and her master's in counseling from St. Mary's College of Minnesota.
Tracy Williams, M.S.W.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Prior to joining the Emily Program, Tracy worked in an outpatient setting in Winona for 10 years providing individual, couple and family therapy addressing a broad range of mental health and developmental concerns. As part of the Winona Eating Disorder Collaborative, she provided therapy to those struggling with eating disorders, particularly in the university community. Prior to moving to Winona, Tracy provided therapy for at- risk children and their families with the Yakama Nation in Washington. She received her master’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago.
Marta Wilson, M.A.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Marta has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents as a therapist, coach and teacher. Prior to joining the Emily Program, she was a clinical psychotherapist at FamilyMeans in Stillwater where she worked with individuals, couples and families, as well as at-risk high school students. She received her bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master’s in psychology from the University of St. Thomas. She also received a post-master’s certificate in family psychology from St. Thomas.
Christy Zender, M.S.W.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Christy formerly was a clinical therapist with Face to Face Health and Counseling services in St. Paul. She completed a dual-degree program for graduate studies in social work and theology from the College of Saint Catherine/University of St. Thomas. She holds a bachelor’s in religion from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., with a concentration in youth ministry, Judeo-Christian history and Modern/Biblical Hebrew. Her Ph.D. studies have included spirituality and social work and inter-religious dialogue. Christy also was a clinical supervisor at Hearthstone of Minnesota; and a senior youth worker at Lutheran Social Services, Nord House, in Golden Valley.
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