07 Nov iaedp™ Foundation Announces the 2027 Class of Fellows and Award Recipients

Honorees will be recognized at the 2027 Annual Global Symposium in Chicago, February 18–20, 2027

The iaedp™ Foundation announced the 2027 Class of iaedp Fellows and the recipients of its 2027 Awards. Together, these professionals represent decades of work in clinical care, education, research, and service to people affected by eating disorders and the practitioners who support them.

Each honoree will be recognized in person at the 2027 iaedp™ Foundation Annual Global Symposium, February 18–20, 2027, at the Marriott Marquis Chicago.

“What I value most about these recognitions is the opportunity to celebrate the people who have helped shape our field. Through their research, clinical work, teaching, mentorship, and advocacy, this year’s Fellows and award recipients have made meaningful contributions to the eating disorders community. On behalf of the iaedp Board, congratulations, and thank you for the work you do and the difference you make,” said Eva Trujillo Chi Vacuán, MD, MET, FAED, CEDS, FAAP, F.iaedp, President of the Foundation.

The 2027 Class of iaedp Fellows

The Foundation established the Fellow designation to honor senior professionals whose careers show long-standing dedication, innovation, and achievement in the eating disorders field. Fellowship recognizes what a professional has already contributed and their continuing commitment to moving the field forward.

The standards are rigorous. Each Fellow has at least 10 years of membership in good standing and at least 15 years of professional service in eating disorders. Clinicians must also have held the Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS) credential for at least five years. Beyond those requirements, applicants show significant, sustained contributions to the field, which can include:

• Authoring peer-reviewed articles or books
• Leading a clinical facility or program
• Serving on the Board of Directors or volunteering with the Foundation
• Teaching or mentoring CEDS candidates
• Presenting at national or international professional meetings
• Conducting research that shapes practice
• Developing community projects and initiatives that reach new people

Fellows join a group of recognized leaders within the Foundation and may add the F.iaedp designation to their credentials.
The 2027 Class of iaedp Fellows:

• Tammy Beasley, MS, RDN, CEDS-C, F.iaedp
  “Few colleagues better embody the Foundation’s commitment to clinical excellence, education, and service. A partner in building iaedp™ certification. Tammy was focused, passionate, and diligent in establishing the crucial role of the dietitian in eating disorder treatment. She championed a certification specific to dietitians, the Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD), now the Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS), which the Commission on Dietetic Registration approved in June 2015 thanks to her persistent efforts.”
  
• Anne O’Melia, MD, CEDS-C, F.iaedp 
  “I know of no other professional in the eating disorder field who can teach, mentor, and provide clinical supervision across such an expansive range of disciplines with the depth and credibility that Dr. O’Melia brings. Her unique training in psychology, pediatrics, general psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and consultation-liaison psychiatry allows her to bridge medical, psychiatric, developmental, and behavioral perspectives in ways that are exceptionally valuable to multidisciplinary teams.”
  
• Tere Rivera, MS, RDN, FAED, CEDS-C, F.iaedp 
  “I have known Tere since 2006 when she moved from Mexico to San Antonio with her family. This move required her to leave her position at the hospital in Mexico City and to come to a state that did not recognize her degrees and experience and required her to seek another master’s degree. Tere took all of this in stride without bitterness. During my time working daily with Tere I saw the depth of her knowledge. Beyond that I saw her ability to work with the varied eating disorder presentations and personalities that were in her care. I watched her train new dietitians, create new ways of teaching important skills and concepts, work with patients and their families and her colleagues.”
  
• Alli Spots DeLazzer, LMFT, LPCC, CEDS-C, F.iaedp  
  “Alli is extremely hardworking and meticulous. She holds very high standards, for herself and for every project she takes on, and the final product is consistently better for it. She is certainly raising the bar of professionalism for iaedp. What drives her is a question she always returns to: how do we ensure that people with eating disorders, and their families, can find a clinician who is truly well trained to help them?”
  
• Anna Tanner, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, CEDS-C, FAED, F.iaedp
  “Anna’s contributions to our field are exceptional. She has numerous publications on eating disorder medical issues, she promotes evidence-based research, and has extensive knowledge as an eating disorder physician. As a professional, Anna has made numerous presentations at both iaedp conferences and other national eating disorder events and symposiums. She is an expert presenter. She also has won numerous awards for her work. Currently, she has just released her book Pediatric Eating Disorders: The Medical Care of Children and Adolescents. This book is a much-needed resource for the medical field. She contributes to the AED Medical Guide for Eating Disorders and also the Medical Core Course for iaedp certification.”

The 2027 iaedp Foundation Award Recipients

The Board of Directors created the Awards Program to formally recognize members whose dedication has moved the Foundation’s mission forward. The program honors long-standing leadership, the fresh contributions of newer professionals, steady service and goodwill, and extraordinary lifetime achievement. Nominations come from chapters, the membership at large, and the Senior Advisory Council, which reviews each nomination and makes recommendations to the Board. The Board gives final approval.

• Legacy Award: Craig Johnson, PhD, CEDS, FAED 
  “There are people whose influence in a field of professional endeavor goes beyond their own success. Such is the case for Craig Johnson, PhD and the field of eating disorders. His legacy as a clinician, teacher, author, visionary, founder of key organizations, etc., well deserves a special recognition as he retires. Perhaps most significant is the direct impact that he has had in shaping and supporting the careers and professional growth of so many clinicians and researchers who may one day also be deserving of a similar recognition. That, to me, is his legacy and why he deserves the Legacy Award from the iaedp Foundation.”
  
• Lifetime Achievement: Kenneth Weiner, MD, CEDS, FAED  
  “For more than four decades, Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, has been among the most consequential leaders in the development of specialized eating disorder treatment in the United States. His contributions extend far beyond clinical excellence, professional education, and the creation of successful treatment programs. Through extraordinary vision, persistence, and leadership, Dr. Weiner helped fundamentally transform access to comprehensive eating disorder care, particularly for individuals with the most severe, medically complex, and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, exemplifies the sustained leadership, professional achievement, and transformative service that the iaedp Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize. His legacy has helped change not only how eating disorders are treated, but who has the opportunity to receive that treatment.”
  
• Member of the Year: Alice Baker, MSRD, CEDS-C, LPC, LMHC, LDN  
  “Alice has been a tremendous and genuinely transformative asset to iaedp. When the organization transitioned from two Chapter President Representatives on the Board of Directors to a Member-at-Large dedicated to U.S. Chapters alongside a Chair of the U.S. Chapter Presidents Committee, Alice stepped into this newly created leadership role and helped shape it into something meaningful and lasting. As the first person to serve in this capacity, she approached the role with exceptional intentionality, thoughtfulness, and care, working to strengthen relationships between the Chapters and the Foundation, foster communication between Chapter Presidents and the Board, and ensure that Chapter leadership felt supported, valued, and connected. What truly distinguishes Alice is her remarkable ability to build trust. Her kindness, curiosity, empathy, and genuine warmth created an environment in which Chapter Presidents felt safe sharing their needs, perspectives, and concerns… Alice understands that effective leadership extends beyond managing responsibilities; it requires listening openly, approaching challenges with compassion, and creating space for honest dialogue and collaboration.”
  
• New Professional Award: Maria Ortiz, LMHC, CEDS, EMT 
  “What makes Maria especially deserving of this recognition is the way she combines clinical excellence with genuine compassion, leadership, and advocacy. She does not limit her impact to the individuals she works with directly. She consistently finds ways to educate families, support healthcare professionals, reach athletic communities, and change the conversation around eating disorders. What makes Maria especially deserving of this recognition is the way she combines clinical excellence with genuine compassion, leadership, and advocacy. She does not limit her impact to the individuals she works with directly. She consistently finds ways to educate families, support healthcare professionals, reach athletic communities, and change the conversation around eating disorders.”
  
• New Professional Award: Zoe Ross-Nash, PsyD, CEDS 
  “Within three years of being licensed, her contributions span academic research, documentary filmmaking, professional training, clinical programming, and public education, with an emphasis on improving how eating disorders are recognized and understood in non-clinical spaces. She started and owns a private practice specialized in eating disorders after training at the Renfrew Center in Coconut Creek, FL and at the University of California, Davis, in their eating disorder emphasis area. Recognizing the importance of prevention beyond traditional mental health settings, Dr. Ross-Nash developed and leads a training program that equips fitness professionals to become eating disorder-informed. The program emphasizes the role fitness professionals can play in recognizing warning signs, responding appropriately to concerns, and supporting early identification. Rather than positioning eating disorder care solely within clinical settings, this initiative addresses the opportunities for prevention and intervention among professionals who regularly work with individuals navigating body image, exercise, and food-related concerns but may not receive any education. The training has reached professionals across four countries and has been translated into Spanish, extending its accessibility to a broader international audience.”
  
• Special Services Recognition: Casey Tallent, PhD 
  “She is brilliant, innovative, and genuinely collaborative—a rare combination that makes her an exceptional leader and an invaluable member of the eating disorders community. When I describe Casey as a “unicorn,” I mean that she brings together strengths that do not often exist in one person: the ability to see possibilities others may overlook, the practical skills to turn ideas into meaningful change, and the collaborative spirit to make that work a shared endeavor. Her career reflects a consistent commitment to expanding access to care, bridging existing gaps, and strengthening the people and systems that support recovery.”
  
• Spirit of iaedp: Kate Funk, LMFT, CEDS-C, ADHD-CCSP 
  “Her sustained national service and leadership as the Founding President of the New Jersey chapter demonstrate a commitment to IAEDP that I deeply appreciate. As a member of the New Jersey board, I am particularly grateful for her contribution to our growing professional community. Under Kate’s leadership, the chapter has grown from 10 members to more than 50, bringing together clinicians and industry leaders across sectors. Every chapter event to date has sold out and generated a waiting list. These accomplishments reflect the shared efforts of our board and members, with Kate providing leadership during the chapter’s formative period. Her chapter leadership builds on years of national involvement. An IAEDP member since 2019, Kate has served as a Symposium Proposal Reviewer since 2020, on the Symposium Planning Committee since 2024, and in the Mentorship Special Interest Group since 2025. These commitments span educational review, conference planning, and mentorship, reflecting consistent attention to the organization and its members. Kate also contributes directly to professional education. Her IAEDP Symposium presentations have addressed burnout and supervision, the relationship between ADHD and eating disorders, and eating disorders in midlife and beyond. These topics reflect thoughtful consideration of clinicians’ needs and the varied experiences of those seeking care.”
  
• Spirit of iaedp: Sabrina Richardson, LMFT, CEDS 
  “Ms. Richardson leverages an extensive background of professional training to deliver exceptional, trauma-informed care. She masterfully integrates diverse therapeutic modalities and clinical interventions to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, couples, and groups navigating complex mental health challenges. Central to her clinical excellence is a deep-seated commitment to cultural competence, ensuring that her practice remains inclusive and responsive to varied cultural backgrounds. Ms. Richardson is particularly renowned for her passionate advocacy and specialization within the eating disorders and body image discipline. Her dedication spans from preventative grassroots work—helping K-12 students foster positive body image—to community-wide outreach, where she has tirelessly facilitated workshops and supportive services in partnership with the American Red Cross. Recognized as a thought leader in her field, she is frequently invited to serve as a presenter, panelist, and moderator at prestigious industry events, including national iaedp™ conferences and symposiums. Within our organization, her leadership has been nothing short of transformative.”

Celebrating in Chicago
The 2027 Fellows and award recipients will be honored during the 2027 Annual Global Symposium, February 18–20, 2027, at the Marriott Marquis Chicago. This year’s theme, From Evidence to Implementation: Closing the Research-Practice Gap, fits the people being recognized. Each of them has spent their career bringing what the field knows into the rooms where care happens.
The recognition will take place on Saturday, 20 February 2027. We hope you will join us in person to celebrate your colleagues.

Please join us in congratulating the 2027 Class of iaedp Fellows and this year’s award recipients.