Improving access
to effective care, together.

Amanda came to found Arise out of her own lifelong experiences with eating disorders and mental health conditions — and listening to and learning from others’ stories to build accessible and inclusive support for eating disorders. As a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and marketing leader, Amanda has spent over a decade working in mental health and suicide prevention. She has been an early team member in several fast-growing digital health startups, including as the first marketing leader at Brightline and Cityblock Health. Before getting into startups to drive innovation in the mental health space, Amanda worked on suicide prevention campaigns at a Washington, D.C.-area marketing and communications firm, including for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Crisis Line and national suicide prevention programs. Her work is deeply rooted in improving health equity, breaking down barriers and stigma, elevating voices and stories of those who have not been heard, and connecting people with accessible, inclusive, and empowering support.

Joan cofounded Arise out of her own lived experience with eating disorders and mental health conditions — and deep empathy for the diversity of mental health journeys of so many others that drives her work as a product leader in the mental health tech space. Prior to founding Arise, Joan was a senior product manager at Headspace Health where she led initiatives that empowered members to get into clinical care faster than ever. Prior to Headspace, she was a lead product manager at Click Therapeutics developing a digital treatment for major depressive disorder. Joan started her career in management consulting at Deloitte where she led projects to implement robotics process automation at a top global pharmaceutical company and EHR systems for a state-wide development disability service provider.

Erikka Dzirasa, MD, MPH, DFAACAP is a double-board certified Child and Adult Psychiatrist who brings more than 10 years of deep expertise in eating disorders and mental health since first seeking out specialized training while in Duke University's residency and fellowship programs. She previously served as the Medical Director of an Eating Disorders specialty hospital system, leading policy and program development to deliver high-quality, effective care in their intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), residential and inpatient units for people living with eating disorders. Erikka is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of Project HEAL, a leading eating disorder nonprofit breaking down systemic barriers and providing education and supportive resources to people of all identities and background experiencing eating disorders. She is a partner in Catalyst Therapeutic Services, a private practice in Durham, NC and a Consulting Associate at Duke University Medical Center. As a mental health advocate, she also serves on the Race, Ethnicity and Equity committee for the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, and is the immediate Past President of the North Carolina Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Dzirasa earned her Bachelor of Science at Spelman College, Master of Public Health in Health Care and Leadership at UNC Chapel Hill, and her Doctor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.

Giva Wilkerson, MA, MPA is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Indiana University, currently residing in New York. After living with an eating disorder most of her teens and early adulthood, she experienced healing through a combination of therapy, activism and support from family and friends. Giva began her work in the field of eating disorder support with Project HEAL in 2018 managing the Communities of HEALing network of peer support services, later growing and expanding the program after its transition to ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).Upon leaving ANAD, she completed her training with the Carolyn Costin Institute (CCI), as an Eating Disorder Coach, combining her passion for connecting with others, with her dedication to providing healing to all in need.

Dr. Jennifer Wang-Hall is a licensed psychologist in California who has treated EDs at all levels of care since 2011. Working in various treatment centers and teams with differing approaches, Dr. Wang-Hall has trained in a multitude of approaches and has witnessed the utility and futility of various modalities. These experiences have led her to an eclectic and client centered lens that facilitates empowerment and agency in ED recovery. Core to Dr. Wang-Hall’s approach is attunement to systems of oppression that manifest in both the development and treatment of eating disorders. She integrates attention to ableism, white supremacy, misogyny, cis heterosexism, capitalism, and settler colonialism in her care of individuals from all backgrounds struggling with eating disorders. She is passionate about accessible, compassionate care for all people struggling with food and body concerns.

Dr. Fuller is a clinical associate on staff at the Counseling and Psychological Services of Duke University. She is a certified member and approved supervisor (CEDS-S) of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp™). She is the Co-Founder of African American Eating Disorders Professionals(iaedp). She is the Co-Editor of Treating Black Women with Eating Disorders: A Clinician Guide. She is also the Co-Founder and Principal of the Institute for Antiracism and Equity.

Ivy is a Certified Holistic Wellness Coach and Body Image Expert with more than a decade of acclaimed service. She is dedicated to helping people make peace with their bodies so they can thrive in their lives. Her lived experience as a Fat, Black woman and passion for fat liberation inspired her to create Fat Women of Color™ in 2017 providing collective care for Black and Brown women of size. As a passionate advocate for body liberation, she provides transformative offerings to through coaching, teaching, and public speaking.

Tracy Richmond is a Pediatrician and researcher who is board certified in Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine. She is the Director of the Boston Children's Hospital's Eating Disorder Program. She cares for patients across the full spectrum of eating issues. In addition to being a clinician, she is a wife, a mother, an avid traveler, a design enthusiast, and a dog lover.

Francis Iacobucci is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, body image dissatisfaction, and disordered eating. Having his own lived experience, he is an advocate for those experiencing disordered eating, and co-hosts a podcast dedicated to creating space to hear diverse perspectives about eating disorder treatment, recovery, and healing.

Whitney Trotter: (she/her) is dually licensed as a Registered Dietitian, Nurse, and yoga instructor. Whitney has over ten years of experience working as a registered dietitian serving the HIV/AIDS community as well as working in the eating disorder field. Whitney also previously worked at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center as a Pediatric emergency room nurse. In addition to working as an RDN and RN, Whitney has served as a member of her county's Rape Crisis Center. Her work at the Rape Crisis Center equipped her to co-found an anti-trafficking organization Restore Corps, where she now provides medical training to the community focusing on human trafficking response. Whitney's career in the Eating Disorder field includes being a former Nutrition and Nursing director of a Residential, PHP, and IOP center. Whitney is also the owner/founder of Bluff City Health, a private practice specializing in bridging the gap in the eating disorder field of equitable care and social justice.

Marcella Raimondo, PhD, MPH is a passionate and spirited clinical trainer speaking from her heart on social justice and eating disorders since 1995. In 1997, Marcella worked with About-Face, a nonprofit organization that addresses media impact on body image serving as the Director of Media Literacy until 2005. Today she is on the About-Face Board of Founders and a consultant. She was also on the Advisory Board for the Association of Size Health and Diversity (ASDAH), on the Advisory Board of Eating Disorder Recovery Support (EDRS) as Past President and served as Co-Chair of the Academy of Eating Disorders Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee. Marcella received her B.A. from UC Berkeley, and Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. Marcella’s desire to address eating disorders drove her to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology, receiving her PhD in 2012. She completed her post- doc internships at an eating disorder outpatient program and an eating disorder residential program for adolescents. Marcella currently serves as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY # 27037) in Kaiser Permanente’s eating disorder clinic in Oakland and runs a private practice. Marcella herself recovered from anorexia nervosa over 20 years ago. Marcella trains in Kajukenbo at Hand to Hand Kajukenbo Self Defense Center in Oakland. She holds a second degree black belt and enjoys the exploratory path her training gives her. Her eating disorder recovery and her martial arts training inspire her dedication to multicultural body nurturance and community celebration. For more information about Marcella's trainings, go to marcellaedtraining.com.