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Mark Warren, MD, MPH
Clinical Psychiatrist, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Mark Warren is the medical director of the Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders. A Cleveland native, he is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University Medical School and completed his residency at Harvard Medical School. He served as Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Medical Director of University Hospital Health System's Laurelwood Hospital.  A past vice-chair for clinical affairs at the Case School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, he continues on the Clinical Faculty of the Medical School, teaching in both the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics.  He is a currently a faculty member and former chair of the Board of Governors at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.  Dr. Warren is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a two time recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and a winner of the Woodruff Award.   He leads the Males and Eating Disorders special interest group for the Academy of Eating Disorders.

Lucene Wisniewski, PhD, FAED
Clinical Psychologist, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Lucene Wisniewski is Clinical Director and co-founder of CCED. She received her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh and completed an NIMH supported Clinical-Research Post-doctoral fellowship at the Eating Disorders program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. A leader in the use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Dr. Wisniewski worked with Dr. Marsha Linehan’s group at Harborview Hospital in Seattle, Washington from 1998-2000.  From 2000-2006, she worked with Dr. Linehan’s group, The Behavioral Technology Transfer Group, as their eating disorder expert, giving workshops on the treatment of eating disorders nation wide. Because of her leadership in the field of DBT and eating disorders, she was ask to be first author on the chapter addressing this topic in Linehan’s group’s most recent book  Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Clinical Practice (2007).  In 2000, Dr. Wisniewski was named the first Clinical Director of Eating Disorder Programs for University Hospital s Health System’s Laurelwood Hospital.  In that role she created the first PHP programs for eating disorders in Northeast Ohio.  She pioneered the use of both DBT and Maudsley Family Based Therapy during her tenure with UHHS, creating the first treatment center in Northeast Ohio using only evidence based care.  Her research and clinical interests include using empirically founded treatments to inform clinical programs. She provides workshops on the CBT and DBT treatment of eating disorders nationally. She is a fellow in the Academy for Eating Disorders as well as the North American Association for Study of Obesity.  She is a current board member of the Academy of Eating Disorders.

Cristina Shaw, MSW, LISW
Child, Adolescent and Family Therapist, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Cristina is a child, adolescent and family therapist. Cristina specializes in utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Maudsley Family Based treatment for eating disorders. In addition to treating eating disorders, Cristina also treats children with anxiety related eating problems. Cristina received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and is a Ph.D. candidate in Counseling Psychology through Gannon University. Cristina’s dissertation research is on the use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for the treatment of eating disorders. Cristina is also adjunct faculty at Case Western Reserve University, where she teaches Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and is a field instructor through the graduate social work program.  Cristina was instrumental in the creation of the first Maudsley Family Based Therapy program in Northeast Ohio, providing a new evidence based therapy for adolescents in need.

Karen Wolf, APRN, BC
Adult Treatment Program Coordinator, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Karen is the coordinator of the adult Day Treatment Program, and facilitates the DBT skills training group.  Karen has been a board certified Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing since 1994.  She received her BSN from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and her MSN from Kent State University.  Additionally, she has completed post-graduate training in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.  Over the course of her nursing career, Karen has provided care to adults in a variety of settings, including inpatient, outpatient and partial hospitalization. 

Melissa Daniele, MEd, LPCC
Adolescent Treatment Program Coordinator, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Melissa is from Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from The University of Toledo with a B.A. in Psychology. She graduated from Cleveland State University with a M.Ed. in Community Agency Counseling.  She was employed at Laurelwood Hospital’s Eating Disorder Program from 2001 to 2006 and is currently the Coordinator of both the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program and Day Treatment Programs at CCED.

Joanna Hardis, MSSA, LISW
Intake and Assessment Coordinator and Resident Yogini, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Joanna Hardis, LISW is the intake and assessment coordinator and the resident yogini (providing yoga in the adult and adolescent Day Treatment Programs). She earned her BS from Cornell University and her MSSA from Case Western Reserve University. She is also certified in cognitive therapy from the Cleveland Center for Cognitive Therapy.

Amy Luzar, MSSA, LISW
Social Worker, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

A Licensed Independent Social Worker, Amy received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1993 and a Master of Social  Science Administration from The Mandel School of Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in 1997.  She is certified by the State of Ohio to practice School Social Work, and worked as a School Social Worker for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District for two years.  In 1999, Amy graduated from The Couple and Family Therapy Training Program at The Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, where she has co-facilitated the Ongoing Personal Support Group since 2001. 

Amy is trained in using the Maudsley model of family treatment for eating disorders, and believes it is the most sound and effective way to help families recover from and have continued health after experiencing an Eating Disorder. She is also working with adults, and has a special interest in binge eating disorders.   She  is training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy to work with adults in individual and group therapy.

Claire Boyette McCullough, LCP, NCC
Coordinator of the Adult Intensive Outpatient Program, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Claire is from Shelby, North Carolina and graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.A. in Psychology and Women’s Studies.  Claire received an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Cincinnati.  She has completed her coursework and is a Doctoral Candidate for her Ph.D. at Kent State University in Counseling and Human Development Services. Currently, she is working on her dissertation concerning eating disorders and the Maudsley approach to adolescent treatment. She is a member of the adolescent Day Treatment Team and also provides services for individual adult patients.

Charlotte W. Thomas, MSSA, LSW
Therapist, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Charlotte provides family and individual therapy at CCED, and leads groups for the adolescent and adult programs.  She graduated in 2007 from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.  Charlotte received her BA in Psychology, with a concentration in Neuroscience, from Davidson College.  Charlotte has also spent five years working towards a PhD in Behavioral Neuropharmacology, and chose to finish this work without completing her dissertation.  Charlotte is a native of Salt Lake City, UT and has had the opportunity to live in Dublin, Ireland and Charlotte, NC before moving to Cleveland.  During her free time, Charlotte enjoys reading historical fiction and non-fiction, and spending time with her husband and their ‘child’, a loving German Shepherd named Kobe.

Jorey Friedman Beegun, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Dr. Friedman Beegun is a clinical psychologist who provides family and individual therapy at CCED, as well as leading groups.  She received her doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. Dr. Friedman Beegun trained at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and Miami Children’s Hospital in Florida.  She has experience working with both adolescent and adult eating disorders in outpatient as well as inpatient medical and psychiatric settings. Additional specializations include the diagnosis and treatment of emotional and behavior disorders in children and adolescents, as well as family therapy.

Marsha Heiden, PhD
Clinical Psychologist, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Dr. Heiden works primarily with adults specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Previously, Dr. Heiden worked as an Intensive Outpatient Manager for University Hospitals Health Systems. As an Intensive Outpatient Manager she began and/or managed: Programs for adults including Dialectical Behavior Therapy for clients with depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorder; a Dual Diagnosis program for individuals who suffered with chemical dependency in addition to other mental health issues, and a women's Posttraumatic Stress program. In addition she also initiated and oversaw a program for dually diagnosed adolescent clients.  Dr. Heiden received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. She also holds a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA; a M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, and a B.A in Business Administration /Equestrian Studies from Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH.

Dr. Heiden's professional training includes her current post-doctorate position under the supervision of Dr. Lucene Wisniewski CCED.  Her internship with University Hospitals Health Systems in Beachwood, OH included training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for treating individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for treating trauma.

Kelly Constant Bhatnagar, MA
Adolescent Treatment Team, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Kelly, a Cleveland native, graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a B.A. in Psychology (minor in Women’s Studies) and a M.A. in Experimental Psychology.  She is currently an advanced graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Case Western Reserve University, where her specialties include the assessment and treatment of eating disorders, body image disturbance, and youth mood disorders.  Her doctoral dissertation examines new interventions for body image disturbance in women with eating disorders.  Professional memberships include the American Psychological Association (department representative and diversity liaison to the Advocacy Coordinating Team), Ohio Psychological Association, Academy for Eating Disorders (student representative to the MRRC committee), and Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (member of the Obesity & Eating Disorders special interest group).  Kelly also does research with the Mood Disorders Clinic and Healthy Kids/Healthy Weight Obesity study at University Hospitals of Cleveland, and is currently working on multiple publications concerning eating and mood disorders. 

This will be Kelly’s third year working with the CCED treatment team and she is pleased to be involved with the adolescent day treatment program and to provide services to individual adult and adolescent patients.

Nancy Blazar, RD, LD
Outpatient Nutrition Services Coordinator, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Nancy Blazar is the Coordinator of  Outpatient Nutrition Services at CCED.  She received her BS in Dietetics from the University of Cincinnati.  Her career includes 27 years of outpatient private practice experience in the field of dietetics.  She has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders and weight management for the past 16 years, treating men, women and children.  Nancy also counsels athletes, vegetarians and individuals interested in developing a healthier relationship with food, weight and activity.

Julie Norman, RD, LD
Nutrition Therapist, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

A graduate of the University of Akron, Julie has provided nutrition therapy in the field of eating disorders for eight years.  She has in-depth experience working with clients of all ages at all levels of care.  Julie uses the DBT/CBT model to help clients achieve optimal nutritional health.  She blends her passion for nutrition, her past experience as an athlete, and current certifications in yoga and fitness to help clients find balance in their food and body relationships.   She is a member of the American Dietetic Association and American Council on Exercise.  Julie is a volunteer facilitator for an ANAD support group in Akron to help members of her community find support and proper treatment for their eating issues.

Colie Taico, BA
Intern, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Colie received her bachelors of social work from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the spring of 2007. She recently moved to Cleveland in the fall of 2007 to begin her graduate studies at Case Western Reserve University. She is currently working on her masters of social work, while interning at CCED.

Tai Chiappa, BA
Assistant Adult and Adolescent Treatment and Intensive Outpatient Treatment, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Tai assists with both adult and adolescent Day Treatment and Intensive Outpatient Treatment programming.  She graduated from Kenyon College in 2004 with a BA in sociology.  After living and working at a publishing company in New York City for the past two years, Tai opted to switch gears and pursue a degree in clinical psychology.  In addition to gaining invaluable experience with the skilled clinicians at CCED, she has applied to graduate programs and is anticipating beginning her doctoral degree in clinical psychology in the Fall 2008.

Katie Dent
Receptionist, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Katie is CCED’s receptionist and scheduling extraordinaire.  With a background in customer service and administrative support, Katie joined CCED six months after its first opening.  Before coming to CCED, Katie had extensive experience in restaurants, banks, and small offices.

Donna J. Susnjara, CPC
Business Office Manager, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Donna is CCED’s Business Office Manager.  She is a Certified Professional Coder and has extensive experience in insurance billing and financial counseling.  Donna acts as a liaison between our clients and their insurance carriers to obtain coverage at the highest benefit level possible.  She meets with all of our clients to explain their insurance benefits for outpatient services.

Sandra Jackson
Billing Representative, Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders

Sandra Jackson is the Billing Representative for the Cleveland Center For Eating Disorders. She has extensive experience in insurance follow-up and patient account resolution. Sandra ensures that insurance claims are processed at the correct benefit level and is available to answer any questions our clients may have regarding their accounts.