Eating disorder care that works, built by people who’ve been there.

Eating disorders affect people of all identities and backgrounds — yet up to 90% won't get care. We started Arise to challenge assumptions around eating disorders and expand access to inclusive, effective care.

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Listen to lead

We’re not going to have all the answers. To effectively serve every person’s healing journey, we must start by humbly listening to and elevating voices from marginalized communities.

All bodies have value

We’re here for people of any age, race, size, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and background, because everyone deserves to be understood, respected, and supported.

We’re all human

Being human means that we celebrate together and support each other through the low points. We give each other the space to rise and fall and rise again.

OUR STORY

We started Arise because we've been there, too.

Our co-founders, Joan Zhang and Amanda D'Ambra, each had their own struggles with eating disorders and mental health, experiencing firsthand the harm it caused in their lives — and the power of community and connection in their own healing.

They came together with shared conviction that respectful, inclusive care should be available to people who need it — whatever they look like and wherever they come from.

With input and support from an incredible group of care and community advisors, they started Arise to change the conversation around eating disorders — and bring people a new kind of care that puts them at the center.

OUR APPROACH
‍

A safe space to get real about healing through an eating disorder.

Community + clinical for better outcomes

We know that peer support and connecting to people with shared experiences is critical to healing from eating disorders — so that's part of our model from the start.

Person-centered care

Every person's voice matters — and no two experiences are exactly the same. We listen and learn from our members, working together on goals and a care plan that put them at the center.

Ongoing support for
long-term healing

Eating disorder recovery isn't linear, and healing takes time. As we move with folks out of active clinical care, they continue to have ongoing support as a part of our community.

Our leaders and advisors

We've brought together leaders and experts in community-based and clinical care for eating disorders and mental health to collectively build Arise to best support folks.

Amanda D'Ambra

CEO & Cofounder

she/her

Identifies as a white, cisgender woman

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Joan Zhang

Chief Product Officer & Cofounder

she/her

Identifies as an AAPI woman and child of immigrants

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Erikka Dzirasa, MD, MPH, DFAACAP

Chief Medical Officer

(she/her)

Identifies as a Black Cisgender woman

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Giva Wilkerson

Head of Community Care

(she/her)

Identifies as a Black Cisgender woman

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Dr. Jennifer Wang-Hall, Ph.D.

Advisor

(she/her)

Identifies as a cisgender, mixed race, queer, invisibly disabled person

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Mazella Fuller, Ph.D., MSW, CEDS

Advisor

(she/her)

Identifies as a Black Cis-Woman

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Ivy Felicia

Advisor

(she/her)

Identifies as a Fat, Black, Woman of Size

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Tracy K. Richmond, MD, MPH

Advisor

(she/her)

Identifies as a white, cisgender female

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Francis Iacobucci, LCSW, LICSW

Advisor

(he/him)

Identifies as a white, cishetro, fat, male

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Whitney Trotter, MS, RDN/LD, RN, RYT

Advisor

(she/her)

Identifies as a Black Biracial Woman of color

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Marcella Raimondo, PhD, MPH

Advisor‍

(she/her)

Identifies as a queer, cisgender, woman of color, polyamorous

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"Choosing to be a part of a diverse team here at Arise allows me to utilize my skill set and explore my passion as a psychotherapist to support members of underrepresented communities with compassion and empathy — which I believe to be two main pillars of excellent clinical care."
— AYUSHI, THERAPIST
"As someone who has faced barriers identifying as an immigrant, Queer, gender non-conforming person-of-color, finding folks who uplift, celebrate, and support you on your journey feels like an absolute privilege. Being part of Arise is being a part of a community. It feels like you can finally be human at work. "
— IZZY, PRODUCT DESIGNER
"Diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion is often displayed in a company’s values, and unfortunately not represented within its day-to-day workplace and culture. Working in an environment like Arise, where the representation of all employees is seen and celebrated, allows our commitment for serving our members of all backgrounds and identities to happen in truly a natural and integrated way.”
— AIMS, CARE ADVOCATE

Hear what people have to say

Testimonial

“The first time I met with Joan and Amanda, it was clear they got it. They not only understood what it was like to live with an eating disorder; but how important it was to be supported by those that not only cared about you, but respected you as well. That is what Arise stands for - increasing access to care, while supporting the empowerment of those receiving care."

Giva, Head of Community Care

Press

“For Amanda D’Ambra and Joan Zhang, the idea of starting and co-founding an eating disorder care startup was personal: Both struggled with an eating disorder, along with other mental health issues, and received treatment — a treatment they hope more people will be able to access."

Testimonial

“I was drawn to Arise because of the mission and vision for folks like me that come from marginalized groups to access equitable health care for their eating disorder. I love working with our members because it gives them the opportunity to see someone like them that is on a similar journey of healing and recovery."

Carol, Care Advocate

Testimonial

“Eating disorders are not just a brain disorder. They're also psychosocial, and so looking at all of those factors is a really important piece of care."

Press

“Diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion is often displayed in a company’s values, and unfortunately not represented within its day-to-day workplace and culture. Working in an environment like Arise, where the representation of all employees is seen and celebrated, allows our commitment for serving our members of all backgrounds and identities to happen in truly a natural and integrated way.”

Aims, Care Advocate