MEDA’s Staff

Monika Ostroff, LICSW, CEDS-C (she, they)

Executive Director

(617) 558-1881 ext. 104 mostroff@medainc.org Monika Ostroff, LICSW, CEDS-C is the Executive Director of the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association, Inc (MEDA). Prior to leading MEDA, she directed several residential, partial hospital and intensive outpatient eating disorder programs in addition to having owned a thriving private practice. Monika is the co-author of Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide to Recovery and a contributing author to Self-Harm Behavior and Eating Disorders. With more than 25 years of experience in the field of eating disorders, Monika has presented at many national conferences, taught at the university level, and appeared on many media broadcasts, publications & podcasts. Practicing from a trauma informed, social justice and staunchly HAES® aligned lens, Monika is a dedicated ally and strong advocate working to ensure access to equitable, compassionate, and affirming care for all. Her passion for treating eating disorders and mentoring other professionals was borne out of her own struggle with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa and life experiences.

Ruth Elliott, LICSW (she, her)

Director of Clinical Services

(617) 558-1881 ext. 108
relliott@medainc.org
Ruth earned her master’s degree in Social Work at the University of New Hampshire in 2004. Her drive for becoming a therapist evolved from her own decades long struggle with an eating disorder. Recovery is something that Ruth holds hope for in each person that she works with. She has worked in many different areas throughout her career but is devoted to helping people fully recover from their eating disorders. Ruth has worked in the eating disorder’s field for the last 15 years as a clinician, and most recently, as the clinical director of an eating disorder PHP and IOP. She is also a yoga teacher who is enthusiastic about helping people connect with their bodies in a way that eating disorders do not allow. Ruth is passionate about educating the community, professionals, parents, and caregivers about eating disorders, advocating so that people suffering from eating disorders can receive fair, compassionate, and equitable care. She practices eclectically and finds immense joy in helping people live in their bodies compassionately. Ruth is grateful to have the opportunity to work for MEDA and continue work that brings her joy.

Carolyn Judge (she, her)

Director of Operations

(617) 558-1881 ext. 105 cjudge@medainc.org Carolyn earned a BS from University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She worked at one of the oldest architectural firms in the country for 24 years. As a Principal in the firm, she was able to work closely with healthcare professionals, planning and managing large and complex hospital and research facility building projects. Her focus was creating healing environments for patients, their families and caregivers balanced with the complex needs and issues faced by the medical profession. She changed gears a number of years ago to spend more time with her family and became interested in the nonprofit world. She brings her strong organizational and management skills to MEDA and is excited about working with the MEDA team and community to raise awareness about eating disorders and help promote education and awareness.

Sydney Appelbaum, LICSW (she, her)

Assistant Director of Clinical Services

(617) 558-1881 ext. 208 sappelbaum@medainc.org   Sydney (she/her) received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Ithaca College and her master's in social work from Boston University. Her passion for therapy comes from her own lived experience with an eating disorder. Sydney has worked in a variety of settings including oncology, medical practices and community health. In addition to these positions and her role at MEDA, she maintains a private practice where she focuses on trauma and eating disorders. She approaches therapy through a strengths-based lens and loves to integrate humor into her practice. Outside of the therapy room, Sydney is a Pilates instructor with a focus on body inclusive practice and mind-body connection. She is passionate about educating communities about eating disorders in hopes that those who are struggling will be met with compassion and support.  

Jamie Bushell (they, them)

Office and Communications Manager

(617) 558-1881 ext. 110 jbushell@medainc.org Jamie Bushell received a BA in comparative literature from Hamilton College and a MS in speech-language pathology from Boston University. Jamie created the blog and social media platform, thirdwheelED, to increase the visibility of how eating disorders and other mental illnesses impact an often-marginalized LGBTQIA+ community. Jamie worked in the public health field as a project coordinator for three years on a federally funded project that focused on advancing recovery for mental health and substance use disorders. Jamie’s work is not only informed by their own lived experience in recovery, but also by their belief in the universal possibility of recovery. Jamie is excited to be part of join MEDA team as the Office and Communications Manager to share their passion in preventing and treating eating disorders.

Emily Emilio, MSW (she, her)

Clinical Care Manager

(617) 558-1881 ext. 109
eemilio@medainc.org
Emily received her BA in Psychology at Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. During that time, she worked with children and their families, primarily from underserved communities. From this experience and her growing drive for social justice and advocacy, Emily pursued a Masters degree in Social Work at UConn’s School of Social Work in Hartford, CT. She concentrated in Policy Practice where she learned to understand and navigate larger institutional systems, the policy arena, and advocate for accessible and affordable resources. While in her Graduate program, Emily used her understanding of policy to advocate and better support the clients she worked with; primarily connecting children, adolescents, and their families with resources in their communities. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending down time relaxing with her fiancé and their two dogs.

Alivia Carlton, LCSW, MSW (she, her)

Clinician

(617) 558-1881 ext. 205 acarlton@medainc.org Alivia received her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska and received her master’s degree in social work from Simmons University. She was introduced to working with eating disorders during her graduate-level practicum at Cambridge Eating Disorder Center. After receiving her degree, she continued her work at CEDC providing individual, family, and group counseling to those in recovery from their eating disorder. Alivia has worked in both PHP and IOP levels of care and is excited to step into the world of outpatient therapy. She believes in utilizing a strengths-based approach to help guide others towards growth and change in recovery, while working to build self-compassion and resiliency. Alivia enjoys facilitating group therapy, utilizing members’ shared experiences to alleviate feelings of isolation common in recovery, as well as members’ success stories to reinforce hope and strengthen group members’ ability to live their life authentically  

Megan Lissandrello, LICSW (she, her)

Clinician

(617) 558-1881 ext. 103 mlissandrello@medainc.org Megan received her Bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston University. Most recently, she worked at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in their Suboxone clinic and on the inpatient medical units. Megan provided individual and group therapy and treated those with substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and trauma. Prior to this, she worked at an inpatient psychiatric hospital providing assessments, outreach, and therapy. Megan has also worked in various educational settings with a variety of age groups including directing an after-school program for elementary school students and working with students at Babson College. Megan strongly believes in treating each person with compassion and empathy while working from a strengths-based perspective.

Jenna Mehlhorn, LMHC, EMDR level II trained (she, her)

Clinician

(617) 558-1881 ext. 106 jmehlhorn@medainc.org Jenna received her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Plymouth State University with a CAGS in eating disorders through the Eating Disorder Institute. Jenna completed her graduate-level internship at Cambridge Eating Disorder Center providing individual, family, and group counseling to those recovering from an eating disorder. Jenna has experience treating eating disorders in residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient settings. She is also a certified alcohol and drug counselor. She has worked in residential settings providing individual, group, and family therapy to adult women struggling with substance use and other co-occurring disorders. Jenna’s passion for becoming an eating disorder therapist comes from her own past challenges with disordered eating and an unhealthy relationship with exercise. She believes every individual has within them the resources for self-healing and growth and uses a person-centered and strengths-based approach. Jenna is dedicated to helping guide others in developing strategies that support their own recovery and that strengthen concepts of self-compassion and living a life more authentically.

Jamie Dannenberg MS RD LDN (she, they)

Registered Dietitian

(617) 558-1881 ext. 204 jdannenberg@medainc.org

Jamie (she/they) understands that relationships with food and bodies can be complicated and accompanied by critical thoughts, judgments and shame. Given her personal experience of caring for a loved one with an eating disorder, Jamie knows that recovering often involves working to understand internalized beliefs from our dominant culture. But, also from her personal experience, she knows how much is possible.

Jamie strives to provide a safe and inclusive space for people of all sizes, genders, sexualities, races, religions, abilities, and backgrounds. Their work is informed by social justice, fat liberation, Health at Every Size®, anti-diet, and LGBTQIA+ affirming frameworks. Through this lens, she supports her clients in disengaging from diet culture and leaning into their own innate body wisdom to make food and movement choices that affirm their values system, gender, and right to self-determination.

Let's work together towards trusting ourselves and creating a relationship with food that is filled with memories, connections, joy, and celebration.

Jamie received their Bachelor’s degree from The College of Wooster and completed the Coordinated Program in Dietetics and a master’s degree in Food and Nutrition at Framingham State University.

Nick Hamdi, PhD, RD, LDN (they, he)

Registered Dietitian

(617) 558-1881 ext. 210 nhamdi@medainc.org Nick (they, he) is a fat-positive, queer/non-binary, Arab dietitian based in New England. They enjoy working with clients across the lifespan to redefine and understand health, connect with their bodies, and find enjoyment and balance in the ways that they eat and live. They use a trauma-informed approach to counseling and integrate harm reduction principles into practice. They especially love working with LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and BIPOC clients. Nick specializes in ARFID, binge eating, body image, and intuitive eating. Nick is also a qualitative health disparities researcher who completed their PhD at the University of Rhode Island.

Audrey Steffano, LICSW, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor (she, her)

Clinician

(617) 558-1881 ext. 102
asteffano@medainc.org
While I have felt compelled to work with and advocate for the eating disorders population since I was in high school, my passion was only further solidified after I went through my own struggles with disordered eating and exercise behaviors. As someone who has now found freedom, flexibility, and fun with both food and exercise, I feel all the more inspired to help others achieve the same. I have recently become a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and feel especially passionate about helping others achieve intuitive eating and movement in the current diet culture. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Dayton and my Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College. Most recently, I worked as the senior clinician of the Dual Diagnosis Partial Hospitalization Program at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, where I provided individual and group therapy for those struggling with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness, and often in addition to other complexities including trauma and suicidality. Prior to working in the PHP, I worked on the inpatient detoxification unit at Faulkner and provided treatment to individuals seeking medical attention for withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs.

Kathy Coe (she, her)

Office Administration

(617) 558-1881 ext. 120
kcoe@medainc.org
Kathy works part-time as an administrative resource. After a long career in high tech management, she retired a number of years ago but subsequently concluded that idle time was not in her DNA. She is grateful to have found MEDA where she enjoys supporting the team on various projects, including maintaining the organization’s database and assisting with a myriad of tasks associated with the MEDA conferences and other events. She is happy to have plenty of free time to play golf, do needlepoint, spend time in the garden and enjoy the company of her six grandchildren.