This initiative is geared towards supporting high school seniors in the process of transitioning to college, once they've decided on which university they plan to attend. Research has shown that even when students are in solid recovery, they may not be fully prepared for the social and academic pressures that await them during their first few months on campus. Therefore, it is crucial that families are proactive in identifying supports that can be available if their loved one begins to struggle and/or experience a resurgence of eating disordered behaviors. Our primary support will entail establishing highly skilled outpatient eating disorder treatment teams for these young adults – and if requested, ongoing clinical case management services.
HRS is also planning to support the high school and boarding school communities. To address the increasing number of students identified as struggling with an eating disorder, our team will be offering monthly virtual conference calls (from September through June) to guide staff from educational institutions seeking various forms of support for the students in their care.
Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, F.iaedp, CEDS is the Advisor of our Adolescent Treatment Program. He is the Chief Clinical Officer and Medical Director of Child & Adolescent Services at Eating Recovery Center in Denver, Colorado. He holds academic appointments as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is Board certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Dr. Bermudez is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, the Academy for Eating Disorders and the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals. He is also a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals. Dr. Bermudez has lectured both nationally and internationally on topics related to pediatric and adult healthcare, and has been repeatedly recognized for his dedication and advocacy in the field of eating disorders.
For Adolescents
“In Dawn's individual work with clients, she is able to effectively empathize and support clients while challenging them to find healthier ways of coping. Clients frequently report that Dawn's help has been instrumental in their feeling both prepared to handle difficult transitions and hopeful about recovery. She also works diligently to maintain contact with both a client's outpatient team and family members. Dawn has helped many families over the years. Her warm and caring style combined with the depth of her knowledge about eating disorders and the best available treatment makes her an invaluable resource for families.” – Valerie Gurney, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist