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There’s Help. There’s Hope! The Emily Program is a warm and welcoming place where individuals and their families can find comprehensive treatment for eating disorders and related issues. This blog is a place for us to share the latest happenings at The Emily Program, as well as helpful tidbits from the broader eating disorder community. Subscribe via RSS to receive automatic updates. We want to hear your story. Email us (blog@emilyprogram.com) and ask how you can become a contributor!

September 16, 2018

Mark Warren, MD, MPH, FAED

Mark Warren headshot

Mark Warren

MD, MPH, FAED

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Mark Warren (he/him) is the Chief Medical Officer of Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program, and Veritas Collaborative, and Gather Behavioral Health. His primary focus enhancing patient safety and providing comprehensive treatment that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of eating disorders. Working alongside our executive team and our medical staff, Dr. Warren is dedicated to helping all of our patients embark on a path toward a meaningful and joyful life.

Dr. Warren is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders, where he co-founded the special interest group (SIG) for Professionals and Recovery and the SIG for Males and Eating Disorders. He is a two-time recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and a winner of the Woodruff Award. He has published and spoken extensively on males and eating disorders, professionals and recovery, and DBT and FBT in the treatment of eating disorders.

Dr. Warren is a founding member and former co-chair of the Academy of Eating Disorders Medical Care Standards Committee and serves on the FEAST Medical Advisory Board and The Visiting Committee of the Case Western Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing.

Having personally experienced an eating disorder as a young man, Mark feels privileged to be working in the field of eating disorders for over two decades.

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September 16, 2018

Dirk Miller, PhD, LP

Dirk Miller

Dirk Miller

PhD, LP

Executive Chair | Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer | Founder, The Emily Program

Dirk Miller (he/him) is the Founder of The Emily Program and the Executive Chair and Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer of Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program, Veritas Collaborative, and Gather Behavioral Health. In this role, Dirk is responsible for defining the organization’s clinical vision and overseeing its growth strategy.

Dirk has over 35 years of experience in the treatment of eating disorders, substance use disorders, and other mental and behavioral health issues. He founded and formerly ran the Memorial Hospital’s HOPE program for eating disorders and the Renaissance Intensive Outpatient alcohol and drug treatment program in Elkhart General Hospital. Dirk is a founding member of REDC, as well as a current member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Ethics Committee. He is also actively involved as a Board member of the Retreat in Wayzata, MN, a Founder and Board Member Emeritus of WithAll, and a former member of the Governing Council of the MN Psychological Association. Additionally, Dirk is a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Minnesota and recipient of the Larry Johnson Award. He has spoken nationally on a variety of mental health treatment topics and consults with many healthcare organizations.

Both Dirk and his sister Emily experienced eating disorders but lacked access to appropriate treatment programs. Building The Emily Program, joining with Veritas Collaborative, and observing the growth of Accanto Health have been a dream come true for him.

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September 16, 2018

Jillian Lampert, PhD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED

Jillian Lampert headshot

Jillian Lampert

PhD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED

Chief Strategy Officer

Dr. Jillian Lampert (she/her) is the Chief Strategy Officer of Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program, Veritas Collaborative, and Gather Behavioral Health. She oversees the communications, outreach, marketing, and public relations teams and activities, including coordination with eating disorders industry groups, clinical and community partners, advocacy groups, and policymakers. Through this work Jillian focuses on increasing access to care in Accanto’s existing and new markets through strategic growth and expansion.

Dr. Lampert is Co-Founder and President of the REDC, the national consortium representing eating disorders care focused on treatment standards, best practices, access to care, and collaborative research. She is also Treasurer of the Eating Disorders Coalition, a DC-based national organization for eating disorders policy and advocacy, and a Board Member of WithAll, a Minnesota-based organization that empowers eating disorder prevention and strengthens support for recovery. She holds an adjunct graduate faculty position in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Lampert completed her doctorate degree in Nutrition and Epidemiology and Master of Public Health degree in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. She earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition at the University of Vermont and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. She has an expansive range of policy, clinical, research, education, teaching, and program development experience in the area of eating disorders.

Dr. Lampert has served on the Board of Directors of the Academy for Eating Disorders as the Electronic Media Portfolio Director and co-chair of the Academy for Eating Disorders Nutrition Special Interest Group. She is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (FAED) and a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), and BHN (Behavioral Health Nutrition) dietetic practice group. Dr. Lampert is the author of numerous book chapters and articles addressing the nutritional treatment of eating disorders, body image, sports participation, adolescent health, and disordered eating and she regularly speaks regionally and nationally on numerous eating disorder-related topics.

As someone with a personal experience with an eating disorder, Jillian strives to bring more care to more people and help people recover from an eating disorder. One of her primary goals in life is to have the kids in her house (and everywhere!) have confident, loving relationships with their bodies and themselves.

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September 13, 2018

Lindsay Drebenstedt, MBA

Lindsay Drebenstedt headshot

Lindsay Drebenstedt

MBA

Vice President of Corporate Operations

Lindsay Drebenstedt (she/her) is the Vice President of Corporate Operations at Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program, Veritas Collaborative, and Gather Behavioral Health. Lindsay leads a network of teams dedicated to providing exceptional service to all clients seeking care – from their first phone call to inquire about treatment services to ensuring a warm and welcoming environment in which to heal. These key teams include admissions, office managers, utilization reviewers, client accounts, scheduling, and property management. Lindsay also plays a central role in expanding treatment access to new markets, with a focus on site expansion execution.

Lindsay began working at the front desk of The Emily Program during her senior year of high school, providing a unique opportunity to observe both the clinical and business sides of eating disorder treatment. She joined the administrative staff full-time after receiving her bachelor’s degree in business administration (concentrating on international business) from George Washington University in the District of Columbia. She earned her master’s in business administration from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.

Lindsay finds that collaborating with Accanto Health’s incredibly talented teams is the most rewarding part of her work. She’s continually inspired by their dedication to finding new and better ways to welcome people into our care.

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September 12, 2018

Scott Crow, MD

Scott Crow

Scott Crow

MD

Vice President for the Department of Psychiatry

Dr. Scott Crow (he/him) is the Vice President for the Department of Psychiatry at Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program, Veritas Collaborative, and Gather Behavioral Health. Scott oversees research that the organization conducts in partnership with the University of Minnesota. He also provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management for a small caseload of individual clients.

Scott earned his medical degree and completed his psychiatric residency at the University of Minnesota, where he is now a professor. He has been active in national and international eating disorders groups and is Past President of the Academy of Eating Disorders.

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September 12, 2018

Testimonials

Testimonials

The Emily Program has earned a reputation for exceptional client satisfaction. Survey data shows that 90% of individuals who had previously received eating disorder treatment elsewhere preferred The Emily Program. 

The Client Experience: In Their Own Words

  • #BesideMeWhen

    #BesideMeWhen

    The Emily Program’s #BesideMeWhen campaign showcases stories of hope and healing. Former Emily Program clients describe how The Emily Program supported them through an eating disorder.

  • Recovery Story: Stephanie

    Recovery Story: Stephanie

    Stephanie Maiwurm, a former Emily Program client, shares her story of treatment, healing, and recovery.

  • Recovery Story: Jeana

    Recovery Story: Jeana

    Jeana Bisek, a former Emily Program client, describes her experience with an eating disorder and how she approached recovery.

  • One of the most powerful things that I am able to see today is that my team worked tirelessly and held that hope for me when I couldn’t hold it for myself. The team held out hope that I would overcome ED—they believed even when I no longer did, and they were absolutely relentless in their attempts to help me heal myself.”

  • My relationship to food now—it’s just there to fuel me. It’s not my protector anymore, because now I’ve got that; now I’ve got people. There’s no hold on me with it anymore, which is awesome.”

  • I LOVE The Emily Program and becoming a ‘part’ of it has helped me grow, develop, heal, and become a better person.”

  • I love The Emily Program for the hope, respect, support, and wonderful care they bring to all who are affected by eating disorders.”

  • The beautiful thing about this place is that they are teaching us how to take our lives back, empowering us to empower ourselves.”

  • In my specific experience, The Emily Program has been life-saving. Actually, more so, it was life ‘giving’ in that through my 5 months of working with The Emily Program, I’ve had glimpses into what life COULD be like. They are helping me learn to ‘live’ my life. At age 42, I’m finally able to admit to myself that yes, this is long overdue, and yes, I do actually deserve it :)”

  • Thank God for The Emily Program. My heart is filled with gratitude and love. I’m starting to find me and it feels so good.  I’ve been lost for so long. Symptoms have subsided to a bare minimum. Progress!!”

  • The Emily Program means freedom from a lifelong obsession for me. For most of my life, I thought more about eating or not eating than anything else, and I couldn’t stop. When my problem got so bad – difficulty functioning at work and in my relationships – I turned to The Emily Program. After a year in treatment, I can honestly say that I am free. Food is just food and I am able to live for the first time in many years.”

  • The staff at The Emily Program made me feel safe and genuinely cared for. And I know they will help me out of this difficult time and will continue to do so years and years after being symptom-free.”

  • Finding The Emily Program was like finding a second home and family. This is a support network that will never give up on me and tries to help everyone, no matter what stage or eating disorder they may or may not be suffering from.”

  • The Emily Program is truly a holistic program and I can’t emphasize enough how amazing they are.”

  • At first, I was angry at the help that my counselors and nutritionists were giving me; however, that sense of genuine care and concern—as well as a sense of belonging to a community—kept me coming back. I could not be here today without the help I received from The Emily Program.”

  • The Emily Program has truly helped me heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I have a new lease on life after years of misery. Call today—you will be amazed that it took you as long as it did.”

  • Recovery is hard work, but my therapist, dietitian, and psychiatrist have made it the most rewarding experience of my life! There is always help. I am recovering after 15 years with bulimia. If I can do this, you can, too.”

  • Three years ago I was at the Anna Westin House. Today, I’m in a yoga teacher training program. Things are happening in my life now that I couldn’t have even imagined then. Words don’t do justice to the gratitude I have in my heart for your support–as well as all of the support I received from The Emily Program as a whole. If you see any other EP employees today I had worked with, can you share with them how grateful I am?”

  • The Emily Program staff never gave up and one day I was able to see a glimpse of what they saw. I started to trust. I opened up and felt the pain I was running away from. Now I can live. I can live a life without my eating disorder.”

Adolescent & Family Services Testimonials

  • The emotional connections I have with my support people have been vital in helping me recover.”

  • Our family is more open — not just about food, but with feelings. It’s amazing to see how much everything has changed and how willing they are to say how they feel.”

  • Our daughter was in desperate need of expert care, and The Emily Program was where we landed. We are grateful for all of the help and support she received in both PHP and residential treatment. She did indeed receive expert care for which we will forever be grateful.

  • Sometimes, you feel like you’re doing the battle alone. Being with the other parents definitely made me feel more supported. There’s a whole bunch of other people going through the same thing with their kids.”

  • The Emily Program wrapped around my child and our family, supporting her as a whole person.

  • The Emily Program has helped me a lot mostly because I am a kid and usually these don’t make a whole lot of sense. Thank you again.”

  • Now I feel surrounded and protected and held – something I didn’t have for many years. It’s nice to have that, finally.”

Group/Intensive Program Testimonials

Today I need nothing more than a hug. Not your everyday kind of a hug, but an ‘I know your pain, love you, care and want to take your pain kind of hug.’ I fell off the train… but today in group you loved me… now I know I’m worth the hug.”

Binge Eating/Compulsive Overeating Program Testimonials

  • I’ve suffered from an eating disorder all my life. The program gives me the opportunity to own the disease without shame, guilt, and self-loathing. I had those feelings when I came into the program a few years ago. I believe compulsive overeating is a disease of the mind as well as the body. The Emily Program works foremost on the mind, and physical recovery follows the change in the emotional and thought patterns. For me, it has been very slow. They are teaching me how to be patient and kind to myself. It took a lifetime for me to hit bottom. The healing journey will continue for the rest of my life, and for that I’m grateful.”

  • I would recommend The Emily Program. It is very holistic. It is very sound. It offers support in so many areas of life. My eating disorder has permeated all areas and I’ve been learning to do things that I never thought possible. For example, as a very large woman, I began taking a yoga and body image class, and it has opened doors for me to become more comfortable in my own body and interested in doing more self-care, because of the wonderful support from the therapist, instructor and members of the group. The program meets us ‘where we are.’ No two people are alike, and I’ve admired the creativity and integrity of the program. I’ve made friends here, and see how their treatment programs are different and similar to mine. The program works because it is based on patience and a willingness to change thinking in ways that lead to physical recovery.”

Get help. Find hope.