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Did You Know...

Judith Banker, MA, LLP, FAED, Founder and Executive Director

Judith founded the Center for Eating Disorders (CED) in 1983 and has served as Executive Director since that time. With nearly 35 years of professional experience, Judith has an extensive background in the clinical treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with eating, weight, and/or body image issues and in treatment and education program development and administration. Judith is Immediate Past President of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), sits on the Advisory Board of Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (FEAST), and served as Chair of the AED Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Special Interest Group for the past decade. She lectures internationally on a wide range of topics related to eating disorders treatment, prevention, and advocacy. Her publications address the psychotherapeutic treatment of eating disorders and bridging the research-practice gap in the field of eating disorders to improve the quality of treatment, research, education, and prevention.

Amy Pershing, LMSW, ACSW, Clinical Director, Program Director, Bodywise

Amy developed Bodywise in 1993. She also serves as Clinical Director for the Center for Eating Disorders in Ann Arbor, through which Bodywise, and a comprehensive outpatient program for anorexia, bulimia, and related disorders is offered. She has served as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Michigan, as a consultant on BED and weight issues to the University of Michigan's Body Image Task Force, and writes and lectures extensively on the treatment of BED locally and nationally. During her 20 years in the field, Amy has served on a variety of professional boards, including The Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), and the Eating Disorder League of Michigan, and has been featured on both radio and television on BED recovery and as an advocate for eating disorders treatment accessibility. She has written and lectured on "Health at Every Size" and provides training and supervision for clinicians working with BED and related disorders. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), and of the AED Health at Every Size (HAES) Special Interest Group. Amy also maintains a clinical practice through the Center.

LEE MCDONAGH, RD, CDE, Nutritionist

Lee is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Detroit/Mercy and has completed graduate courses at the University of Michigan and Madonna University. With more than 25 years of experience in the field of nutrition and health and nearly 20 years of experience in the field of eating disorders, Lee has extensive background in the team treatment of the full spectrum of eating disorders. In addition to her work at the Center for Eating Disorders, Lee provides nutrition services in area physician and psychology offices. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Nutrition Entrepreneurs of Michigan, the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators and is Past President of the Michigan Dietetic Association.

ROBIN OKUN, MSW, Movement Specialist

Robin earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Robin has been involved in mind-body healing for over 20 years. Her innovative approach to therapeutic movement combines movements and techniques drawn from dance, the Martial Arts, and mindfulness therapy with music and process-oriented work to promote recovery and healing for women in treatment for eating, weight and body image issues. This integrative approach is practical, experiential and focuses on developing and strengthening internal guidance, self-regulation and awareness. Offering both individual and group work, Robin’s therapeutic movement approach is an excellent adjunct to individual and group psychotherapeutic eating disorder treatments.

GRETCHEN ROUSTER, LMSW, ACSW Clinical Staff

Gretchen earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. With over 20 years of experience in the psychological treatment of children, adolescents and adults, Gretchen currently specializes in the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder and related disorders, body image, and weight-related issues in adults. Gretchen is particularly interested in the treatment of these issues in individualswith mood disorders, life transition and adjustment issues, and histories of trauma—including physical and sexual abuse and neglect. Gretchen has advanced trainined in the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which is described in the current treatment guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies as an effective treatment for post traumatic stress.

MELISSA SUNDERMANN, DO, FACOI, Medical Director

Melissa received her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency through Michigan State University as well. In 2006, she was inducted into the American College of Osteopathic Physicians as a Fellow. Melissa has been treating patients with eating disorders for the past decade. Before joining The Center for Eating Disorders, she worked at University Health Services at The University of Michigan. She was a member of the Eating Issues Network, a multi-disciplinary treatment team made up of physicians, clinical therapists, and nutritionists. She completed a Faculty Scholar Program in Integrative Medicine through the University of Michigan and also participated in a Professional Training Program in Mind Body Medicine through the Center for Mind Body Medicine. Melissa’s style of treating her patients emphasizes treating the body as a fully integrated system, incorporating conventional medicine with other modalities of healing.

KRISTINE TIPPEN, PhD, LLP, Clinical Staff

Kristine earned a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Detroit/ Mercy. Kristine specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents and adults experiencing a range of eating and body image concerns including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Kristine has a special interest in working with adolescents and families. She offers a skills-based training program for family members and others affected by a loved one’s eating disorder. Kristine is a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED). She is currently the AED coordinator for the AED/NEDA Michigan Charter Launch, aimed at ensuring comprehensive and quality treatment to individuals suffering from an eating disorder.

AMANDA S. WEISHUHN, MA, LLP, Clinical Staff

Amanda earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006. Amanda has worked in the field of eating disorders over the past five years in both research and treatment capacities. Throughout her training she has attended both national and international conferences, presented at an international conference, given talks on athletes and eating disorders to college students, and is soon to be published in the field. She completed her graduate training experience at the Center for Eating Disorders (CED) and is now continuing her post-graduate work as an outpatient psychotherapist at the CED. Amanda is very interested in eating disorders in athletes and the roles of both identity and self-esteem in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Amanda facilitates the CED Anorexia and Bulimia Support Group. Amanda is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and is heading a work group collecting data on the eating disorder recovery process from individuals and family members from around the world.

ERIN M. ZALESKI, MA, LLP, Clinical Staff

Erin graduated with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan School of Professional Psychology in 2005. She began working at the Center for Eating Disorders as a graduate intern in 2004. With a background in psychoeducational eating disorder group work, and individual and family treatment, Erin has a particular interest in the treatment of children, adolescents and young adults with eating, weight, and/or body image disorders and their families. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). She currently is a member of the AED Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Special Interest Group, the Research-Practice Forum, and serves on the AED Development Committee.