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Why Don’t You Just Eat? Understanding the Role of Brain Reward Circuits in Eating Disorders

A Part of SunCloud's Continuing Education Series of Events

Why Don’t You Just Eat? Understanding the Role of Brain Reward Circuits in Eating Disorders

Presented By:
Guido Frank, MD January 19, 2024

Topics Covered:

  • How fear of eating interacts with brain reward circuits
  • How food restriction or binge eating can alter brain circuits

How fearful conditioning has long-term effects on treatment outcomes,

Dr. Frank has been funded through the National Institute of Mental Health and numerous private foundation grants for the past fifteen years to study the biological domains that underlie eating disorder-related behaviors in youth and adults. His research has introduced computational modeling to the eating disorders field. His overarching goal is to develop translational models that bridge clinical presentation with neuroscience to develop more effective treatments. 

Video: Watch the Presentation and Receive 1 CME/CE Credit

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About the Speaker

Presented by:Guido Frank, MD Professor of Psychiatry, University of California

Dr. Frank is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist. He earned his medical degree from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany, as well as trained in psychosomatics at the Center for Behavioral Health Klinik Roseneck, Prien, Germany, and then at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, and the University of California San Diego, USA.

Dr. Frank is a clinician-researcher who has studied the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders for the past 25 years. He is also a trained psychotherapist and applies neurobiological knowledge to inform psychotherapeutic treatment. In addition, he is an expert consultant to local and national law firms. He has received multiple awards for mentoring, research, and teaching.

Joint Accreditation Statement:

Joint Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Galen Mental Health.  Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Amedco Joint Accreditation #4008163.

Elizabeth E. Sita, MD
Medical Director of Adult Services

Dr. Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, is a Board Certified psychiatrist specializing in the care of patients with eating disorders. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Chicago and graduated with Highest Honors. She then earned her medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and was recognized with the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Psychiatry. She subsequently completed residency with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, where she was elected Chief Resident and received the Resident Psychiatrist Leadership & Service Award.
Upon completing her training, Dr. Sita came to Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, where she served as Assistant Medical Director of the Center for Eating Disorders and Director of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Services before transitioning to lead the new inpatient eating disorder unit as Medical Director of Eating Disorder Services at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital – Chicago. In these roles, she has cared for a multitude of adolescents and adults struggling with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders as well as severe, cooccurring mood, trauma, personality, and substance use disorders.
Dr. Sita has been recognized throughout her training and practice for a commitment to excellence in patient care and for her ability to engage patients in their most challenging moments. Her passions include the care of treatment-resistant eating and mood disorders as well as questions of medical capacity and end-of-life decision making.
She believes that, first and foremost, human connection is key to mental health and well-being and strives to share this philosophy in each and every patient encounter. She is excited to bring her expertise to SunCloud Health as the Medical Director of Adult Services!
 
VIDEO: Meet Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, Medical Director of Adult Services


 https://youtu.be/JbmELh2UGXE

Lacey Lemke, PsyD
Assistant Vice President of Clinical Services

Dr. Lacey Lemke (she/her) is a licensed clinical health psychologist with specialized expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and the practice of medical and health psychology. She completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology with a Primary Care emphasis at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Lemke went on to complete both her predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship through Ascension Health, where she gained advanced training working with individuals experiencing eating disorders and self-injurious behaviors, as well as within pediatric subspecialty settings including endocrinology, neurology, and adolescent medicine.

Dr. Lemke is deeply committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate care and collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive treatment. Her professional mission is to support patients in achieving their fullest potential by guiding them to the most appropriate level of care and empowering them to make meaningful, sustainable progress toward improved health and well-being.