Kim Dennis, MD, is the Co-founder, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer at SunCloud Health. A board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in treating eating disorders, addiction, trauma, and multi-occurring disorders, she believes in and maintains a holistic perspective in the practice of psychiatry, incorporating biological, psycho-social, and spiritual approaches into nuanced, individualized treatment plans.
Dr. Dennis obtained her medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she served as chief resident. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, in addition to her work with SunCloud Health. Past expertise includes consulting for Acadia Healthcare, CEO and Medical Director of Timberline Knolls, and private practice at Working Sobriety Chicago.
A renowned expert in her field, Dr. Dennis is published in the areas of food addiction, the use of medication with family-based therapy for young people with anorexia nervosa, co-occurring eating disorders and self-injury, and gender differences in the development of psychopathology. She also contributes regularly to news networks, such as ABC News and CNN; other national press, including The Huffington Post and Chicago Tribune; and online health communities, such as Web MD, dailystrength.org, expertbeacon.com, and her personal blog titled “Abundant Living by Dr. Kim.”
Media:
SunCloud Health Featured on CNN – Insight into Addiction to Ultra-Processed Foods
“A program that incorporates interventions for food addiction with treatment for restrictive eating disorders is relatively new and somewhat controversial, said food addiction specialist Dr. Kim Dennis, MD, cofounder, CEO and chief medical officer at SunCloud Health in Chicago…”
NEJM Catalyst – “Addressing the Lack of Continuity of Care in Mental Health Services”
Insightful interview in NEJM Catalyst, a sister publication of the New England Journal of Medicine, featuring Kim Dennis, MD, David Newton, MBA, and Namita Seth Mohta, MD. NEJM Catalyst brings health care executives, leaders, and clinicians together to enhance the value of health care delivery.
Food Addiction Should Be Included in the DSM-6 – Article by Kim Dennis, MD, and Timothy D. Brewerton, MD
Read an insightful article published by Dr. Kim Dennis, MD, and Timothy Brewerton on MedPage Today on why food addiction should be included in the DSM-6. Without an expanded diagnostic menu, many patients will struggle to get appropriate care.
Weight Loss GLP Meds: Risk or Benefit? – “GLP-1 Medications and Disordered Eating: A Personalized, Evidence-Based Approach”
In a talk on the benefits and risks of GLP meds for those struggling with eating disorders, Dr. Kim Dennis emphasizes the importance of individualized and nuanced care. These medications pose risks for sure, and they are not all bad. As always, the answer lies in the person we are treating.
Memberships:
- Academy for Eating Disorders
- American Society for Addiction Medicine
- American Psychiatric Association
- Illinois Society for Addiction Medicine (Past Member-at-Large)
- Eating Disorders Coalition
- International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals
- Galen Mental Health (Board Member)
- Eating Disorders the Journal of Treatment and Prevention (Editorial Board Member)
- ANAD Medical and Scientific Advisory Board (Founding Member)
- NEDA (Clinical Advisory Committee Member)
- AED Substance Related and Addictive Disorders SIG (C-Chair)
- Frontiers in Psychiatry (Editorial Review Board)
Accolades:
- Edith Ballwebber Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, University of Chicago (1993)
- Student Marshal (top 1% of all University students), University of Chicago (1995)
- NIH Summer Research Award (1997)
- Fentress Award for senior scientific research (2000)
- Chairman’s Fund Award Recipient (2001-2005)
- Chief Psychiatry Resident (2004)
- Compassion Award, Sierra Tucson Gratitude for Giving, Chicago (2012)
- Outstanding Clinician Award, Physicians Category, Addiction Professional Magazine (2013)
Publications:
Dennis K, le Grange D, Bremer J. Olanzapine use in 5 adolescents treated with psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa. J Eating and Weight Disorders, in press.
Samuel Refetoff, Peter M. Sadow, Sirimon Reutrakul, Kimberly Dennis, Deborah Mannavola, Joachim Pohlenz, Roy E. Weiss. Resistance aux hormones thyroidiennes sans mutation des genes des recepteurs aux hormones thyroidiennes. MT Endocrinologie. Jan.-Feb. 2002, Vol. 4 (1): 34-41.
Anselmo J, Kay T, Dennis K, Szmulewitz R, Refetoff S, Weiss RE. Resistance to thyroid hormone does not abrogate the transient thyrotoxicosis associated with gestation: report of a case. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001, 86:4273-4275.
“Resistance to Thyroid Hormone in Families without TR Mutations,” 55th Annual Senior Scientific Poster Session, May 2001.
Hendrickson BA, Guo J, Brown I, Dennis K, Marcellino D, Hetzel J, Herold BC. Decreased vaginal disease in J-chain-deficient mice following herpes simplex type 2 genital infection. Virology. May 25, 2000, 271(1):155-62.
Lahey B, Goodman S, Rathouz P, Miller T, Dennis K, Jensen P, Schwab-Stone M, Canino G, Bird H, Waldman I. Age and Gender Differences in Oppositional Behavior and Conduct Problems: A Cross- Sectional Household Study of Middle Childhood and Adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. Aug. 2000, 109(3): 488-503.
Dennis, K. and Wickstrom J. Chapter 16: Healing Self-inflicted Violence in Adolescents with Eating Disorders. In the Treatment of Eating Disorders: Bridging the research-practice gap. Margo Maine (Editor), Beth Hartman McGilley (Editor), Douglas Bunnell (Editor). London, 2010.
Brewerton, T. Dennis, K. Wiss, D. Dismantling the Myth of All Foods Fit in Eating Disorders Treatment. International Journal of Eating Disorders
