Special Interest Groups

Connecting Professionals Through
Shared Interests, Focus and Passion

The iaedp Foundation Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are member-driven communities designed to bring together professionals with shared interests in eating disorders treatment, research, education, and advocacy. SIGs provide a space for collaboration, networking, and innovation, while advancing iaedp’s mission to support multidisciplinary professionals working in the field of eating disorders.

Why Join a SIG?

By participating in an iaedp Special Interest Group, members gain:

Professional Connection – A community of peers with similar expertise or interests.
Visibility and Recognition – Opportunities to contribute to iaedp newsletters, present at the Global Symposium, and publish resources.
Collaboration Tools – Dedicated online spaces for meetings, discussions, and resource sharing.
Foundation Support – Administrative and leadership guidance from iaedp staff and the SIG Leadership Committee.

What SIGs Do

Each group sets its own activities, which may include:

Online discussions and resource exchanges
Virtual education events and webinars
Research presentations, discussion panels, and invited speakers at the Annual Symposium
Business meetings for elections, goal-setting, and reviewing progress

SIGs are an iaedp member benefit. Not a member yet? Join Us!

Current Special Interest Groups

AAEDP-BIPOC

Dedicated to identifying, attracting, and engaging African-American Eating Disorders Professionals. AAEDP-BIPOC is committed to providing training and conducting research focused on the unique societal challenges impacting eating behavior and African-Americans, and the barriers to the professional advancement of African-Americans in the field. Since African Americans are representative in various groups including People of Color, the AAEDP Committee is proud to model inclusivity with the establishment of the Black, Indigenous, People of Color Subcommittee of the AAEDP. In so doing, we recognize the complex cumulative challenges of racism, sexism and classism and how they combine, overlap and/or intersect. They faciltate monthly Culturally Competent Conversations (CCC) every third Tuesday. The Committee was established in 2016 by Founding Chairs Dr. Charlynn Small, CEDS-C and Dr. Mazella Fuller, CEDS-C.

Committee Co-Chairs

Sabrina Richardson, LMFT, CEDS
Rasha Khaffagi

Eating Disorder Professionals with Lived Experience

Eating Disorder Professionals with Lived Experience is a professional special interest group dedicated to supporting eating disorder professionals who bring both clinical expertise and lived recovery experience to their work. The group seeks to foster awareness, acceptance, and meaningful dialogue around the unique perspectives and contributions of recovered professionals within the eating disorder field.

Through a supportive and professionally focused community, members will have opportunities to explore the challenges and strengths associated with maintaining recovery while working in eating disorder treatment. The group will offer monthly consultation and peer support meetings to address clinical, professional, and ethical considerations that may arise in practice.

In alignment with iaedp’s commitment to education and excellence in care, the group will also provide annual educational presentations focused on ethical considerations for professionals with lived experience, as well as the unique benefits and insights that recovered professionals can contribute to treatment, advocacy, education, and the broader eating disorder community.

The group’s mission is to promote professional growth, ethical practice, and the thoughtful integration of lived experience as a valuable asset in advancing eating disorder treatment and recovery.

Committee Chair

Alison Mayer, NCC, LCPC, CEDS

Medical Stewardship

Established upon the principles of responsible stewardship of clinical research, education, knowledge, tools, and resources through clinician connection and collaboration for comprehensive feeding and eating disorder treatment facilitation, Medical Stewardship is for the endorsement and encouragement of clinician excellence in the art and science of feeding and eating disorder recovery within a biological, psychological, and social framework. The foundational objective of Medical Stewardship is to explore, establish, and endeavor clinical feeding and eating disorder standards and influence the medical system to advance the efficient and effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of feeding and eating disorders.

Committee Co-Chairs

Kim Cover, MS, LPC, RD, LDN, CSSD, CEDS-C

Angela Storck-Petersen, MPH, MS, RD, LDN, CEDS-C

Mentoring

The Mentoring SIG’s mission is: Building all types of connections within iaedp, including mentoring relationships. The purpose of iaedp™ mentorship is to provide a resource to clinicians who are new to the field of eating disorders, new to iaedp, or looking for guidance. Each relationship is tailored to meet the needs of the mentee and the mentoring connection. Learn more about mentorship opportunities.

Committee Chair

Brooke C. E. Farrington MSW, LCSW, CEDS-C

The Peer Consultation Special Interest Group

The Peer Consultation Special Interest Group is dedicated to fostering clinical excellence, professional connection, and interdisciplinary collaboration among eating disorder treatment professionals. Through a confidential and collegial consultation forum, members are invited to explore complex clinical cases, ethical and legal considerations, treatment planning challenges, countertransference, and team-based care. Grounded in iaedp’s commitment to professional development and high-quality treatment standards, the group provides a supportive environment where psychotherapists, dietitians, physicians, and other eating disorder specialists can share expertise, deepen clinical knowledge, and strengthen their capacity to provide effective, ethical care. By encouraging thoughtful dialogue and mutual learning, the Peer Consultation SIG helps advance excellence in eating disorder treatment while building a meaningful professional community across disciplines.

Committee Co-Chairs:

Jonna Fries, PsyD and Maggie Edwards, PsyD