About Us
Len Dryer Joins Eating Recovery Center as Chief Financial Officer
30-year veteran of Children’s Hospital Colorado lends extensive experience and strategic insight to rapidly growing, Denver-based eating disorders treatment hospital system.
Eating Recovery Center, an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder, today announced that it has named Len Dryer as its new chief financial officer. A healthcare executive with 30 years of experience at one of the nation’s premier pediatric medical centers, Dryer is tasked with advancing and overseeing the organization’s financial systems and infrastructure to support Eating Recovery Center’s current expansion plans as well as its long-term growth strategy.
Since its inception in 2008, Eating Recovery Center has grown from a single 12 bed/12 partial hospitalization slot adult behavioral hospital to an six-facility hospital network in Denver, California and Washington treating adults, adolescents and children with 46 beds/128 partial hospitalization slots. In an effort to expand patient access to care throughout the United States, Eating Recovery Center has partnered with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program in northern California and The Moore Center in Bellevue, Wash.
Throughout his 30-year career in financial administration at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Dryer served in several roles, including staff accountant, supervisor of accounting, controller, and most recently, senior vice president/chief financial officer. During the 23 years he managed the pediatric hospital system’s financial structure and reporting as senior vice president/chief financial officer, Dryer oversaw the construction of the new Children’s Hospital Colorado on the Fitzsimons campus and skillfully issued more than $710 million in debt financing. In addition to these achievements, he was instrumental in strategic planning and leadership development during his tenure at the hospital.
“Len’s extensive healthcare experience combined with his proven ability to consult, advise, coach, communicate and implement effective strategies will surely be an asset to Eating Recovery Center in light of the company’s recent growth and its future expansion plans,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center. “His strategic thinking capabilities and analytical skills have been cultivated and perfected through a lengthy tenure and increasingly responsible positions at a large, nationally recognized medical center, and I’m confident that Eating Recovery Center will benefit greatly from that expertise.”
In addition to his service to Children’s Hospital Colorado, Dryer has volunteered his time and expertise at several non-profit organizations, including CHCA, NACHRI, Miller Safety Center and March of Dimes. He most currently served as board chair for Colorado Access, a Medicaid/Medicare health plan, and is a board member for Rocky Mountain Youth, an organization providing primary care to underserved children and adolescents. Dryer earned a BS in accounting from the University of Nebraska, as well as a MBA from the University of Colorado.
Posted in About Us, In the News, Press Releases •
The Moore Center for Eating Disorders Expands Treatment Options by Partnering with Eating Recovery Center
Selective affiliation is part of Eating Recovery Center’s ongoing commitment to provide geographically diverse centers of excellence for the treatment of eating disorders
Eating Recovery Center, an international center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder, announced today that it has partnered with The Moore Center for Eating Disorders. Located in Bellevue, Wash., The Moore Center is the largest eating disorders clinic in Washington state.
This affiliation brings synergies to both organizations, enabling The Moore Center to enhance its current treatment options by strengthening its connection with an international inpatient and residential center of excellence for the treatment of eating disorders, and providing Eating Recovery Center patients an additional high quality treatment option to explore as they step down from higher levels of care. Patients at both facilities will experience the benefits of two of the best programs sharing medical and clinical practices and philosophies.
Eating Recovery Center will additionally lend organizational depth and breadth to The Moore Center, allowing the Washington facility to utilize Eating Recovery Center’s management and administrative services.
“At Eating Recovery Center, we continue to seek out established professionals who share our values and our culture, and who are committed to providing the highest quality eating disorders care,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner and chief executive officer of Eating Recovery Center. “The Moore Center has long been a trusted source of expert eating disorders care in the Pacific Northwest, and I have worked closely with the program’s dedicated team for more than 10 years. I strongly believe that this group is the right team with which to share our successful clinical programs.”
Since it was founded in 1991, The Moore Center has provided specialized and comprehensive treatment for eating disorders in a medical setting. The treatment center will continue to be led by program founder and medical director Mehri D. Moore, MD.
“Partnering with Eating Recovery Center enables The Moore Center to not only expand our treatment options and provide higher levels of care to our patients, but also leverage the expertise and experience of some of the nation’s most respected eating disorders treatment experts,” said Dr. Moore. “By incorporating clinical models developed by Eating Recovery Center’s leadership team into our treatment program, we strive to provide the best possible care for our patients and support their lasting recovery.”
The Moore Center’s eating disorders treatment programs include:
- Comprehensive partial hospitalization programs for adolescents ages 13 through 18 and adults ages 19 and older.
- An intensive outpatient program that expertly treats eating disorders while minimizing interruption in a patient’s daily life.
- Additional “step down programs” that ease a patient’s transition into everyday life while continually promoting lasting eating disorders recovery.
Eating Recovery Center’s affiliation with The Moore Center is part of Eating Recovery Center’s ongoing effort to provide centers of excellence for the treatment of eating disorders in geographically diverse locations.
Posted in About Us, In the News, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
Eating Recovery Center In The News: KOAA Colorado Springs
Last week, Eating Recovery Center’s Joe Eiben, Primary Therapist, appeared on KOAA in Colorado Springs to discuss how eating disorders are more pervasive than ever, and how Facebook and new media may be playing a part in hurting one’s self image. Click here to view the segment, or simply view the video below.
Posted in About Us, In the News •
Eating Disorders Treatment Expert Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, Awarded Colorado Psychiatric Society’s Outstanding Achievement Award
Denver psychiatrist honored for his record of clinical excellence, his commitment to expanding access to quality psychiatric care and his dedication to eating disorders education and awareness.
At its annual gathering of members this past Friday, the Colorado Psychiatric Society awarded its 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award to Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, a Denver-based
psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. The honor seeks to recognize a psychiatric colleague who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of mental health. Dr. Weiner, who founded and serves as chief medical officer and chief executive officer of Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), was selected due to his thought leadership in eating disorders diagnosis, innovation and effective treatment design and delivery.
“The psychiatric community has long-recognized the complexity of eating disorders and the difficulties associated with the development and delivery of effective treatment for this growing patient population,” says Robert House, MD, director of behavioral health services at Denver Health Medical Center and president of the Colorado Psychiatric Society. “Dr. Weiner’s efforts to create comprehensive, cutting-edge treatment resources for patients, families and referring professionals – both locally and nationally – have been instrumental in expanding access to quality care for individuals struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS.”
Dr. Weiner has committed his psychiatric career to creating best-in-class eating disorders treatment programs in the Denver area. Most recently, Dr. Weiner founded Eating Recovery Center to address the regional gap in treatment resources for eating disordered patients requiring a higher level of care. What began in 2008 as a single, 12-bed adult hospital facility has become a seven-facility treatment center network with locations in Denver and Northern California offering comprehensive levels of care for male and female adults, adolescents and children. Not only has Eating Recovery Center
emerged as a valuable treatment resource for patients, families and referring professionals locally and in surrounding regional communities, but it has also become a trusted national and international resource, with patients seeking treatment from across the United States and several countries abroad.
“Denver’s emergence as a hub for eating disorders treatment is due, in large part, to Dr. Weiner’s expertise, passion and strategic vision,” explains Emmett R. Bishop, Jr., MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner and medical director of adult services at Eating Recovery Center, who has worked alongside Dr. Weiner for more than 12 years and nominated him for this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
In addition to his record of clinical excellence in the treatment of these complex psychiatric disorders, Dr. Weiner is also committed to eating disorders awareness and outreach. He speaks widely to
professionals in the healthcare field, and conceptualized the Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference, a professional conference hosted annually by Eating Recovery Center in Denver that brings together industry-leading eating disorders professionals to share treatment best practices with physicians, therapists, dietitians, nurses, social workers and advocates. Additionally, Dr. Weiner is committed to educating the next generation of psychiatric professionals on eating disorders and career opportunities in the field as an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he has received the prestigious Gold Apple Teaching Award from the medical school and the Best Teacher Award from the Psychiatric Residency Training Program.
Posted in About Us, In the News, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
With Eating Disorders in Children on the Rise, Eating Recovery Center Urges Parents to Practice Prevention at Home
Leading Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Treatment Program Offers 10 Tips to Help Parents Prevent Eating Disorders
Between 1999 and 2006, hospitalizations for eating disorders in children 12 and younger rose 119 percent, according to a 2010 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In an effort to curb the growth of anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder in this young patient population, Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), an international center for eating disorders recovery, urges parents to take preventive measures at home to stop eating disorders before they start.
“While clinicians have yet to identify the absolute keys to preventing eating disorders, we do know that positive parental involvement and heightened awareness can help foster the development of healthy relationships among children, their bodies and food,” explains Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS, medical director of child and adolescent services at Eating Recovery Center.
Eating Recovery Center offers 10 recommendations to help parents practice eating disorders prevention at home:
“Even if parents are not able to prevent eating disorder-related behaviors in their children, prevention activities – such as being well-informed about eating disorders and recognizing changes in attitude or behaviors that may suggest your child is at risk – are invaluable for enhancing early recognition and timely intervention,” continues Dr. Bermudez.
If your child begins showing symptoms of disordered eating, immediately seek eating disorders support from a qualified professional. Early intervention significantly improves the likelihood of recovery. For more information about Eating Recovery Center’s eating disorders treatment programs for children and adolescents ages 10 through 17, please visit www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in About Us, In the News, Press Releases •
Eating Recovery Center In the News: KGNU Independent Community Radio
Eating disorders don’t discriminate; in fact, they affect men, women, boys and girls of all ethnicities and at all socioeconomic levels. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals aren’t immune to eating disorders either. In fact, according to some studies, gay men are more likely to have an eating disorder than straight men due to increased pressure to meet physical standards that are often considered more “attractive” within the gay community.
In a recent interview with KGNU Independent Community Radio (1390AM Denver, 88.5FM Boulder), Eating Recovery Center therapist Joe Eiben, MA, LPC, shared insights about eating disorders in the gay community. Topics discussed included eating disorder warning signs and treatment options, as well as discussion around the prevalence of anorexia and bulimia among LGBT individuals. Listen the Joe’s interview in its entirety here.
Posted in About Us, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, In the News •
Dr. Michael Spaulding-Barclay Joins Eating Recovery Center’s Child and Adolescent Services
Board Certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and with a background in eating disorders treatment, esteemed physician brings valuable skill set to Center’s comprehensive programs
Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), an international center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder, today announced that Michael Spaulding-Barclay, MD, MS, FAAP, has joined its medical team as Attending Physician, Child and Adolescent Services. In this role, Dr. Spaulding-Barclay will work collaboratively with Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Services Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS and the multidisciplinary treatment team to develop and deliver comprehensive eating disorders treatment plans to boys and girls ages 10 through 17.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Spaulding-Barclay has joined Eating Recovery Center’s team of expert eating disorders treatment professionals, and anticipate he will fit seamlessly into our culture of excellence and innovation in the delivery of care for child and adolescent patients and their families,” says Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, Founding Partner, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Eating Recovery Center.
Board Certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and with a background in eating disorders treatment, Dr. Spaulding-Barclay comes to Eating Recovery Center from the Eating Disorders Center at Children’s Mercy Hospital & Clinics in Kansas City, Missouri, where he served as Medical Director. He also currently holds an academic appointment as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri’s Kansas City School of Medicine. Other previous positions include Clinical and Research Fellow in Adolescent Medicine at Indiana University’s Riley Hospital for Children and Physician in a private, general pediatric practice in North Andover, Massachusetts. Dr. Spaulding-Barclay also holds memberships in several professional organizations, including the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (President, Mid-West Regional Chapter, 2009-2011), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of Eating Disorders and the Body Balance Coalition of Missouri (currently Executive Board Member). Additionally, he was selected as a “Top Doctor” in Adolescent Medicine by US News & World Report (in collaboration with Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd., publisher of Americas Top Doctors) in 2011.
Dr. Spaulding-Barclay earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana, and completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at Indiana University’s Riley Hospital for Children. He also earned a Master’s of Science in Clinical Research through his participation in the Clinical Investigator Training Enhancement (CITE) program, a joint initiative of Indiana and Purdue Universities that is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
In January 2011, Eating Recovery Center opened the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents to address what experts term “epidemiological drift” in childhood eating disorders, which is marked by the condition’s swift growth in incidence in this young patient population. In fact, recent research from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that hospitalizations for eating disorders increased 119 percent for children younger than 12 years of age between 1999 and 2006. Eating Recovery Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents offers the full spectrum of recovery programs and services for young patients and their families, including Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient programs, as well as alumni and family educational programming to support lasting recovery following discharge from the intensive treatment environment.
Posted in About Us, General, In the News •
Eating Recovery Center Raises Awareness of Eating Disorders in “Nontraditional” Populations During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
Men, Older Women and Children are Increasingly Developing the Deadliest Mental Illness
Four in 10 Americans have either suffered from or know someone who has suffered from an eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 26-March 3), Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), an international center for eating disorders recovery, highlights eating disorders’ pervasive impact on Americans of all ages and genders.
“A classic misconception of eating disorders is that they are a teenage girls’ disease, when in fact, we are seeing more older women, younger children and men of all ages entering treatment,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner, chief executive officer and chief medical officer of Eating Recovery Center. “Genetic risk factors and environmental triggers for these diseases don’t discriminate based on age or gender.”
The 2012 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week theme is “Everybody Knows Somebody,” which is truer now more than ever, as eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction continue to experience what experts term “epidemiological drift,” which is marked by a condition’s swift growth in incidence in new populations.
• Older women: Eating Recovery Center has seen a marked increase in older women seeking treatment for eating disorders. From 2010 to 2011, admissions of women over the age of 30 increased from 27 percent of total admissions to 33 percent of total admissions. In the same timeframe, admissions of women over the age of 40 increased from 13 percent of total admissions to 15 percent of total admissions.
• Men: A recent British study shows that more than 80 percent of men regularly engage in conversation about their bodies, that three in five men are unhappy with their muscularity and that more than one-third of men would trade a year of their life to achieve their ideal body weight or shape.
• Younger children: From 1999 to 2006, hospitalizations for eating disorders increased sharply – 119 percent – for children younger than 12 years of age, according to recent analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
“It’s important to be aware that eating disorders can happen to anyone—men, older women and younger children,” continued Dr. Weiner. “Do not discount disordered eating behaviors or concerning body image issues just because they are displayed by an individual believed to be outside of the traditional ‘eating disorder demographic.’”
Eating Recovery Center encourages individuals to quickly respond if they notice troubling food- or body image-oriented behaviors in their loved ones, regardless of age or gender. Eating disorders recovery is entirely possible with early intervention and proper treatment from qualified professionals.
• If you notice troubling behaviors in an adult friend or loved one, find a quiet time and place for a private, respectful meeting to discuss your concerns; and ask if he or she has considered whether or not he or she may have an eating disorder. While you continue to express your support, offer to help your friend or loved seek treatment.
• If you notice troubling behaviors in your child or adolescent, engage your child in conversation and speak to what you have noticed instead of making accusations; visit a medical provider if you are concerned about your child’s physical health; and identify a mental health provider for an eating disorders assessment.
For more information about National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
Join Eating Recovery Center at these events during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week:
• An annual candlelight vigil honoring those who have passed away from eating disorders, hosted by The Eating Disorder Foundation, Thursday, March 1, A Place of Our Own, 1901 E. 20th Ave., Denver, Colo.
• Mind and Body Fair, hosted by the University of Northern Colorado’s Women’s Resource Center, Monday, February 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Greeley, Colo.
• Eating Recovery Center Patient Art Show, February 27 to March 2, an exhibition of patient artwork, 1830 Franklin Street, Denver, Colo.
• A National Eating Disorders Awareness Week informational table in the Colorado State University Student Center, Wednesday, February 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• National Eating Disorders Association Walk, hosted by The Eating Disorder Network of Central Florida, Saturday, March 3, Orlando, Fla.
Posted in About Us, General, In the News, Press Releases •
Eating Recovery Center In the News: KWGN Denver
Dr. Ken Weiner appeared on KWGN Denver (Channel 2) to discuss how the transition to college is a common time for the development of eating disorders in young adults. He addresses warning signs, how concerned family members can address the issue with their loved ones, and eating disorders treatment resources in the Denver area. Click here to view the segment on KWGN Denver’s website, or simply view the video below.
Posted in About Us, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, General, In the News •
Eating Disorders Identified in College Freshmen as They Return Home for Winter Break
Eating Recovery Center Urges Parents to be Vigilant for Eating Disorders Signs
As college freshmen across the U.S. return home for the holidays, thousands of parents will – for the first time – discover eating disorders that developed during their child’s first semester. Because the transition to college is one of the two most common life stages in which eating disorders develop, Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), an international center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder, encourages parents to be vigilant for symptoms of eating disorders as their teens return home for the mid-year break.
“For many young adults, the pressures of the first semester of college can create the perfect storm for eating disorders development, and it’s easy for teens to hide behaviors from their families – particularly if they go to school far away from home,” explains Bonnie Brennan, MA, LPC, NCC, clinical director of Eating Recovery Center’s Adult Partial Hospitalization Program. “Many parents won’t see the outcome of this devastating development until their children return home for winter break.”
Dieting to avoid the “freshman 15,” stress from academic and social pressures and anxiety tied to being away from home for the first time are common triggers of first semester eating disorders development. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the mean age of eating disorders onset in the U.S. is 19. A 2006 poll of U.S. college campuses conducted by the National Eating Disorders Association found that one in five college students believe that at some point they have suffered from an eating disorder.
To help parents recognize eating disorders in college students and appropriately intervene, Eating Recovery Center highlights five winter break warning signs that may indicate their teen has an eating disorder or could be at risk for developing one:
Noticeable weight loss or weight gain since he or she entered college.
Helping with the preparation of holiday meals but not eating them.
Excessive exercise, even outdoors in poor winter weather conditions.
Withdrawal from family and friends and avoidance of gatherings, even if he or she has not seen loved ones for months.
Discussing college in a “stressed out” or obviously anxious manner or altogether avoiding conversations about school.
“Although parents may be tempted to send their young adult back to school, I strongly urge parents noticing any signs of an eating disorder to actively seek treatment,” explains Brennan. “With eating disorders, early intervention saves lives.”
Parents are encouraged to seek an eating disorders assessment if they notice these or other troubling behaviors in their teens while they are home for winter break. Recovery is entirely possible with early intervention and proper treatment from qualified professionals.
Posted in About Us, Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating, Bulimia Nervosa, General, In the News, Press Releases •
