Click here to watch a recording of Part One.
Come join us for the first of a two-part series on eating disorders and mental health. In October, Dr. Vanessa Montemarano from the Klarman Eating Disorders Center at McLean Hospital, will share her experiences working with this population, the challenges in relation to mental health, and how the Klarman Center works to provide support and help to individuals. In November, Wendy Levine, a peer with lived experience, will share her story about living with an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa) and talk about the book she wrote about her journey with it.
SPEAKER BIOS
Vanessa Montemarano, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Klarman Eating Disorders Center at McLean Hospital and a Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School. She specializes in treating eating disorders and has worked across inpatient, residential, partial-hospitalization, and outpatient levels of care with young adults and adults. Her broader clinical interests include depression, anxiety, self-criticism, emotion regulation, body image, and identity development. Drawing from emotion-focused, schema, cognitive-behavioral, acceptance-based, and dialectical-behavioral approaches, Dr. Montemarano provides evidence-based, trauma-informed care grounded in warmth, curiosity, and compassion.
Wendy R. Levine, a native of Worcester, MA, currently residing in FL, has been a reading tutor in grades K-1 in the Pinellas County school system for the past five years. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz, where she earned her BA in English/Journalism. Prior to “retirement,” Wendy worked in a variety of settings including medical, financial and newspaper. Her writing has garnered several awards. She has been battling anorexia nervosa for 55 years. In 2018 she wrote a book about her struggles, Butterflies are Free…What about Me…One Woman’s Battle with Anorexia Nervosa. Wendy is hopeful her story will help prevent others from experiencing psychological and physical pain caused by eating disorders.
Zoom Room Link: https://zoom.us/j/86050953710
Note: This Zoom room does not require a password.
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 7:00–8:15 p.m. ET
Speakers’ Series Co-Chairs:
Cynthia Piltch: Cynthia@dbsaboston.org
Alisa Stepanian: Alisa@dbsaboston.org