For more information about MEDA and services call

1-866-343-MEDA

1-617-558-1881

Meet the Staff

Rebecca Field - MEDA Spokesperson

"In real life beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and the same should be true on television. It's so important to accept and appreciate our bodies and work to keep them healthy. It's not about size or a number on the scale. Slowly, but surely, we can change the way women are viewed, on and off screen."

Actress Rebecca Field signed on as spokewoman for MEDA in fall of 2007 after hearing about the organization through a friend. Originally from Lenox, Massachusetts, Field welcomed the opportunity to serve as an attainable role model for young girls. Field has been on shows such as Monk, ER, Mind of Mencia, and The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. She also played a part in an R. Kelly music video. Currently she can be seen on Monday nights at 10p.m. as Janet Meadows in the ABC series "October Road."

Rebecca Manley

Rebecca Manley, M.S., is the founder of MEDA, Inc. She holds a B.A. in secondary education and English, and a M.S. in family studies and counseling with an emphasis on early childhood development. Before founding MEDA in 1994, Rebecca worked as a therapist for a year at a residential treatment facility. For the last eleven years, she has been teaching and developing an eating disorder prevention program for early childhood educators and high schools. Additionally, she has also been working in a clinical setting for the last nine years. Rebecca is the author of Teaching Body Confidence: A Comprehensive Curriculum for Girls, and has presented more than four hundred lectures on eating disorders, media influences, self-esteem, and body image. Nationally recognized for her work in eating disorders, she has been quoted in several national publications and has appeared on many national news programs.

Beth Mayer

Beth Mayer, LICSW, has been in the eating disorders field for 23 years. She is nationally recognized for her work in the eating disorders field and has spoken at conferences around the country. She is currently the CEO of MEDA, Inc. Prior to becoming CEO, Beth served as Executive Director of MEDA. She was also a member of MEDA's Board of Directors for several years. Beth has been the Program Director of two community-based adolescent programs for Riverside Community Care, a nonprofit, healthcare and human services organization that delivers mental health, early intervention and substance abuse treatment services throughout Eastern and Central Massachusetts. Beth also served as the Executive Director of Travelers Aid Society of Boston, an organization that works with vulnerable individuals and families to address their immediate housing and social service needs through outreach, direct service and advocacy. Beth has a private clinical practice and for 20 years has been providing individual, couples and family therapy with a focus on eating disorders, addictions, sexual abuse, clinical depression and multiple personality disorders. Beth has also served as an adjunct professor at Simmons College, Boston University, Boston College, Lesley University and Salem State College, supervising MSW and LMHC graduate student interns. Beth holds a B.S. in Clinical Psychology from Quinnipiac University and a Master of Social Work Degree from Boston College.

Kristin Tyman

Kristin Tyman is the Director of Project Management. Kristin been with MEDA for three years. Her primary responsibilities include, answering the main helpline and directing clients calls, coordinating the national conference, managing professional members and maintaining office operations. Prior to coming to MEDA, Kristin earned her B.A. from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. While at Holy Cross, Kristin was a member of the Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders Peer Education group. She served as Co-Chair for two years. She is pursuing a Masters in Public Health at Boston University.

Kristin Fabbri

Kristin Fabbri, M.A. is the Director of Education and Outreach at MEDA. Kristin has been involved in the field of counseling and psychology since graduating from Tufts with a B.S. in psychology. Prior to working at MEDA, Kristin worked at McLean Hospital and performed clinical work with children and adolescents at the Academy North in Reading. Kristin earned her M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College and holds a specialization in Holistic Therapy from Lesley University. Through her professional role at MEDA, Kristin has dedicated herself to raising awareness and educating those suffering from poor body image and disordered eating.

Meet the Board

Caroline Carlson Balz

As Chairman of the Board, Caroline is passionate about MEDA's mission. Caroline previously was the Vice-Chair and co-chaired MEDA's 10 year Anniversary Gala. Professionally, Caroline is a psychotherapist specializing in eating disorders. Professionally, Caroline is a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and sees patients in her private practice located at MEDA. Currently, Caroline is writing a book based on the development of self-concept for those in recovery from eating disorders. Caroline earned her Masters in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and a Masters in Counseling from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. After graduating with a BA from Connecticut College, Caroline worked as a Managment Consultant at Sibson & Company's New York City Office. Between Master's degrees she worked at Dedham Country Day School as the Assistant Director of Development. As for organizational memberships, Caroline is a member of: American Counseling Association (ACA); Psy-Chi-The National Honors Society for Psychology, The Women's Educational and Industrial Union and The Vincent Club.

Married for almost seven years, Caroline and her husband Bill have a young son named William.

Aaron Bikofsky

Aaron is a lawyer and currently practices part-time in a firm he started in 1961. He is a graduate of Tufts University and Boston College Law School. Aaron has served as an Assistant District Attorney and a Special Assistant Attorney General. He has been involved with MEDA for about four years and has been active in its C.A.R.E. group. Aaron is married and has three daughters and four grandchildren.

Laura Davis

Rick Devereux

MEDA Board member since 2005, has served as Gala Co-chair Gala in 2006 and been a contributing Writer to the Mind-Body Dialogues. In addition, in 2005 Rick co-led MEDA's parent support group and was a parent speaker at Hope and Inspiration. Rick is dedicated to supporting his daughter in her recovery from an eating disorder. In his professional life, Rick was COO and Director of Marketing for international non-profit trade group for commercial health clubs; author of tennis instructional book (1974) and produced a yoga DVD on tennis (2007). Moreover, Rick has coached tennis and squash and instructed yoga classes.

In 1978, Rick received an M.ed from Harvard University.
Rick has been married for 28 years and is the proud father of two children, ages 21 and 24.

Erin Dullea

Erin Dullea, CPCC, ACC, joined MEDA initially as a Hope and Inspiration speaker, and later as a Recovery Group Leader. Professionally, Erin is a certified professional coach who helps women create greater joy and freedom while balancing a fulfilling career with conscious motherhood and exceptional self-care. She is self-employed and is especially drawn to MEDA's mission of increasing self-esteem and confidence in young girls and women. Previously, Erin was a Human Resources Director for non-profit and for-profit organizations, where she built and managed the HR function while serving on the executive leadership teams. Erin earned her BA from Villanova University with a degree in Communications and Business and is cerified as a coach through the International Coaches Association and Coaches Training Institute. She also has multiple certification in leadership and training and development. Erin lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband, Joe, and daughter, Amelia.

Marion Russell

Marion Russell, MD, is a psychiatrist in training. Marion is a former co-chair of MEDA's gala and now serves as Vice Chair of the board. Marion completed her medical degree at Boston University's School of Medicine and her internship in psychiarty at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She is now a resident in Psychiatry at Boston Medical Center. During medical school, Marion co-authored two articles for the Women's Health in Primary Care journal on adolescent preventative medicine and eating disorders. She wrote chapters for a medical board review book on eating disorders, depression, anxiety disorders and postpartum depression. She also contributed to The Annenberg Foundations Adolescent Mental Health Initiative Consensus on Adolescent Eating Disorders. Marion is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Medical Association, The American Psychiatric Association and The Massachusetts Psychiatric Society. Marion is a former MEDA volunteer and co-facilitated one of MEDA's connect to recovery support groups.

Laurel Watt-Aldredge

Laurel Watt-Aldredge, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who has been a member of the Board of Directors of MEDA since July 2007. In 1990, she received a BA in Psychology from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. She went on to obtain a MA in Community Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from the University of New Haven in West Haven, CT in 2000. Laurel was awarded a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology in 2005. Her doctorate level training was focused in the area of Health Psychology. Her pre-doctoral internship was completed at the Behavioral Medicine Clinic at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA. Laurel's post doctorate training was completed at Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham, MA. Laurel is an active member of the American Psychological Association. She has notable experience treating eating disorders, as well as a broad range of anxiety and mood disorders. In addition, she has clinical experience in the areas of stress management, smoking cessation, and pain management. Laurel currently serves as a consultant at Walden Behavioral Care where she is actively involved in developing Walden's training program. In addition, Laurel is the staff psychologist for Walden's Mastering Balance program, an outpatient progream designed to treat binge and night eating. She also has a private practice in the Boston area.