Linda Bacon, PhD , is a researcher on the inside track of weight regulation science – a scientist whose three graduate degrees, research, and clinical expertise uniquely prepare her to understand and translate the physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural underpinnings of weight control. An internationally recognized authority on weight and health, Dr. Bacon has published her work in top scientific journals as well as the highly acclaimed popular press book, Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight.
Deb Burgard, PhD, a psychologist specializing in eating disorders and sexuality, is one of the founders of the Health at Every Size® (HAESSM) approach. Deeply interested in both stigma and body image, and how people find ways to cherish the bodies they were taught to distrust, she uses these lessons in her clinical work with people suffering from various forms of body estrangement. She has written and done research on these topics and co-chairs the HAESSM SIG for the Academy for Eating Disorders, serves on ASDAH’s Public Policy Committee, and on NAAFA’s Advisory Board.
Jeanette DePatie (The Fat Chick), MA, ACE, is a certified aerobics instructor, personal trainer and veteran fitness professional with over 10 years experience training students of all sizes, shapes ages and abilities. Using techniques gleaned as a teacher, producer, marketing professional, wife, musician, marathoner and triathlete, DePatie specializes in creating fitness programs that allow students to feel successful the first time and every time they participate. Ms. DePatie has held fitness certifications from the YMCA, ACE and AFAA. She is author of the newly released book and DVD The Fat Chick Works Out! Jeanette currently serves as Vice President of ASDAH.
Fall Ferguson, JD, MA, is Assistant Professor of Holistic Health Education at John F. Kennedy University. She teaches courses on health care policy, community health, the “collective body,” and working with body image, among other subjects. Fall also has a private practice as a health educator and coach. Fall is on the Editorial Board of the Fat Studies Journal and is active in ASDAH, serving as the Secretary of the Board, Chair of the Scouting Committee, and on the Public Policy Committee.
Laurie Klipfel, RN, MSN, BC_ANP, CDE has been a nurse and a Certified Diabetes Educator for more than 20 years. She has been a nurse practitioner specializing in metabolic syndrome (diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia) for 10 years. Laurie is an author and a featured speaker for PESI healthcare. She has been a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) for 20 years and is past president of the St. Louis Chapter of AADE. Laurie is a new member of ASDAH.
Deb Lemire, President of ASDAH, is Founder and Artistic Director of Queen Bee Productions, a professional organization producing creative works that advocate for women. QBP offers workshops, talks and performance presentations that focus on issues important to women including body and size acceptance. Her original piece ”For Beauty’s Sake” was commissioned by MEDA for their 10th anniversary. Deb presented at the Endangered Species: Women Summit in New York in march 2011. She has been honored for her achievements by the National Organization for Women, YWCA, and the Akron Women’s History Project. She is an advocate for Health At Every Size® on her school district’s Wellness Policy committee in Ohio. Deb was instrumental in the development of ASDAH’s Bylaws.
Judith Matz, LCSW, is co-author of two books on the topics of eating and weight issues: The Diet Survivors Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care and Beyond a Shadow of a Diet: The Therapist’s Guide to Treating Compulsive Eating. She is the director of the Chicago Center for Overcoming Overeating, Inc. and has a private practice in Skokie, IL. Judith is a frequent presenter at local and national conferences. Descriptions of her work have appeared in the media including the LA Times, Fitness, Good Housekeeping, Self, Shape, Today’s Dietitian, Diabetes Self-Management, Psychotherapy Networker, and NBC News Chicago with Nesita Kwan, and she appears in the documentary America The Beautiful 2.
Michelle May, MD, is a recovered yo-yo dieter and the founder of the award-winning Am I Hungry?® Mindful Eating Workshops and Facilitator Training Program. She is the author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle that guides readers to eat fearlessly and mindfully. Michelle has been featured on the Discovery Health Channel and Dr. Oz and quoted in Body+Soul, CNN Health, Self, TIME.com, US News & World Report, Vim & Vigor, Washington Post, WebMD, Woman’s Day, and others.
Lily O’Hara, BSc, Postgrad Dip Hlth Prom, MPH, PhD (c) is the Section Head for Health Promotion, Health Authority – Abu Dhabi. Lily is passionate about social justice and the need for health promotion to be truly health promoting. Lily has worked in health promotion positions with government, non-government, university, private and community organisations for over 25 years. Lily has been in her current role with the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi since January 2011. Prior to that she spent 13 years as an academic at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, where she established, taught in and led the health promotion and public health undergraduate and graduate programs. She and a colleague have developed and tested a new model of health promotion called the Red Lotus Health Promotion Model, which is the first health promotion model to explicitly incorporate a system of values and principles. Lily has held leadership roles in a number of scientific associations including the Australian Health Promotion Association (National President) and the Association for Size Diversity and Health (International Vice President). And a recipient of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance International Size Acceptance Trailblazer Award for diligent work in bringing the HAESSMmessage to colleagues in the health education field.
Jonathan Robison, PhD, MS, holds a doctorate in health education/exercise physiology and a master of science in human nutrition from Michigan State University where he is Adjunct Assistant Professor. Dr. Robison is also Adjunct Associate Professor at Western Michigan University where he teaches in the Holistic Health Care Program. He has authored numerous articles on a variety of health-related topics and is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. He has served as co-editor of the journal -Health At Every Size – and has been helping people with weight and eating-related concerns for more than 20 years.
Dana Schuster, MS, is a Health & Fitness Instructor with a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. She co-taught the Kaiser Permanente Great Shape exercise class for thirteen years, co-founded Women of Substance Health Spa (open 1997-2001), and currently teaches exercise classes at Every Woman Health Club in Redwood City, California. Since 2005, Dana has been involved in School Wellness Policy development and implementation as an avid promoter of the Health At Every Size® model. She is the married mother of two adult (and fabulous) sons, has a terrific daughter-in-law, and prefers to describe herself as a “Free-lance Agitator & Advocate for Integrity.”
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