2019 iaedptm Symposium Announces Keynote Speaker Line-Up

PEKIN, Ill., Oct. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedptm) Foundation's 2019 Symposium, will once again feature world-class keynote speakers to headline its annual conference, slated for February 7-10 in Palm Desert, California at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort.
"To be able to engage with these accomplished professionals in the field at one time and in one place is an extraordinary opportunity," said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at the iaedptm Foundation. "Their collective mission is not only to discuss the field's latest research, but also to share their treatment experiences."

The keynote speakers will present to nearly 900 eating disorders healthcare providers who are expected to attend the 2019 iaedptm Symposium.

The keynote speakers are:

• Adele Lafrance, PhD, C.Psych, is a Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at Laurentian University. She is co-developer of Emotion-Focused Family Therapy and developer of Emotion-Focused School Support. She leads multiple research projects in the areas of EFFT and mental health, including eating disorders. She offers supervision and training for individual clinicians and organizations across Canada and Europe. She also maintains a private practice of psychotherapy and integration support.
• Louis Charland, PhD, is an International Partner Investigator at Western University in Ontario, Canada. He is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy, a joint appointment with the Faculty of Health Sciences and a cross appointment in the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. His current research focuses on the history and philosophy of affective terms and concepts, the philosophy of medicine and psychiatry, as well as issues in bioethics that touch on these areas in a central way.
• Joel Yager, MD, is Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado. He also holds Emeritus Professor positions in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Yager's clinical and research interests include eating disorders, psychiatric education, health services, and other aspects of general psychiatry. He has received the Goldberger Award in Clinical Nutrition from the American Medical Association, the Vestermark Award for Excellence in Psychiatric Education from the American Psychiatric Association and the NIMH, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Academy for Eating Disorders. Dr. Yager has been writing for NEJM Journal Watch Psychiatry since its inception in 1995.
• Ralph Carson LD, RD, PhD, is a clinical nutritionist and exercise physiologist with nearly 40 years of experience in the treatment of addictions, obesity and eating disorders. He serves as Senior Clinical and Research Adviser at Eating Recovery Center. In addition to his successful clinical practice, Dr. Carson is committed to community education and teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals specializing in exercise therapy, sports nutrition, eating disorders and obesity. He has been a faculty member of the University of Alabama at Huntsville for over 20 years, is a nutritional advisor to numerous university athletic departments, including the University of Tennessee National Basketball Champion Lady Volunteers, and speaks regularly to professional and lay audiences alike. Dr. Carson is the author of Harnessing the Healing Power of Fruit and The Brain Fix: What's the Matter with Your Gray Matter, and has published more than 20 articles.
• Cassy Taverna MSW, LCSW-A, is a social worker associate who completed her clinical internship at the Chrysalis Center. She co-developed and carried out a curriculum for the adolescent-based Teen Group using creative-expressive interventions. In addition, she completed bariatric research alongside other interns, presenting her findings on the effects of support groups on the long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery patients. Her clinical interests include the treatment of eating disorders, trauma, anxiety/mood disorders, LGBTQ issues, bariatrics, and grief. Cassy spent two years serving in the west and south sides of Chicago with AmeriCorps organization City Year, where she tutored and lead an after-school program for elementary-school aged children, as well as participated in many community development projects. Cassy presented her research on Disordered Eating Among Newly Bereaved Spouses at the International Conference on Community Mental Health in Bangalore, India during her graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
• Brian Kohatsu spent 20 years as an award-winning director before stepping away from the camera for a career in comedy. He quickly found success in radio and gained national recognition when he was featured on Sirius/XM. Brian has taught improv in Phoenix Arizona for over a decade and is an Improvisor, stand-up comedian and media producer. He performs comedy all around the country in comedy clubs, casinos, and churches. Brian has entertained for major corporations such as Nissan and Home Depot, in addition to several national and local charities.
• Carolyn Costin, MA, Med, MFT, FAED, CEDS, is a highly sought-after speaker who shares her wisdom and expertise with professionals and the public through worldwide speaking engagements. A large percentage of Carolyn's career has been lecturing, training, teaching and supervising clinicians, dietitians and physicians. Many regularly attend a monthly study group for professionals that Carolyn started in the mid 1980's. Carolyn also offers continuing education courses through the national Board of Certified Counselors and the California Marriage and Family Therapy association. Carolyn is involved in several professional eating disorder organizations including The International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP) as a Senior Advisory Council member and the Academy of Eating Disorders, (AED) as a Fellow. Her advocacy work continues in many arenas including organizations such as Project Heal, Eating Disorder Hope and The Eating Disorder Coalition.

The iaedptm Foundation's Presidents Council, which provides organization support, includes: Center for Change; Center for Hope of the Sierras; Center For Discovery; Eating Recovery Center; KellerLife Center for Eating Disorders; Laureate Eating Disorders Program; McCallum Place Eating Disorder Centers; The Meadows Ranch; Rogers Behavioral Health; Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders; Selah House; The Renfrew Center; Timberline Knolls; Turning Tides Eating Disorder Treatment Center; and Veritas Collaborative.
More information about all aspects iaedptm and its 2019 Symposium can be found at iaedp.com.

About the iaedptm Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. MemberSHARE.iaedp.com is an iaedptm business journal and online member resource to learn about noteworthy member achievements, continuing education webinars and U.S. and international chapter activity and events; for more information, visit MemberSHARE.

SOURCE The iaedp Foundation