For more information about MEDA and services call

1-866-343-MEDA

1-617-558-1881

Meet the Staff

Beth Mayer

Beth Mayer, LICSW, has been in the eating disorders field for 27 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 three 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.

Amy Armstrong

Amy Armstrong, LICSW is the Clinical Director of MEDA and has worked in the field of eating disorders for over 10 years. She received her Masters Degree from the University of WA in Seattle in June of 2000, then began working with Laurel Hill Inn the first month they opened in November of 2000. When at Laurel Hill, she had several roles, including clinical social worker, individual therapist, and itnerim director of the residential program; she went on to eventually implement and direct Laurel Hill's Day Treatment Center. Amy later worked for the Newton Wellesley Eating Disorder and Behavioral Medicine program as an outpatient therapist. She specializes in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and on adults with eating disorders and trauma histories. She is delighted to be part of MEDA and such a tremendously important cause.

Kristin Tyman

Kristin Tyman, MPH is the Chief Operating Officer. Kristin been at MEDA since 2004. Her current role at MEDA includes event planning and management, budget and strategic planning, grant writing and public speaking. She earned her B.A. from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and completed her Master's in Public Health at Boston University in January 2010. The intersection between eating disorders and public health is an area of extreme interest to Kristin. She is proud member to be a member of MEDA's team and promote the message that full recovery from an eating disorder is possible.

Betsy Harris

Betsy Harris is the Administrative Director. Betsy began at MEDA in 2008 with the goal to help prevent and treat eating disorders. She received her Bachelor's degree at Wheaton College and is pursuing a Master's in Social Work at Boston University. Her responsibilities include answering the helpline, assisting professional members, fund raising, co-leading the teen group, and assisting the COO in coordinating the national conference and Gala. In her spare time she likes to play with her dog, watch movies, and travel.

Holly Hemenway

Holly Hemenway, LCSW is the Director of Education and Outreach at MEDA. Holly has been passionate about the treatment of eating disorders and raising awareness since her undergraduate studies at UMass-Lowell where she began researching early childhood experiences and the etiology of eating disorders. After graduation, Holly spent three years working as a counselor at a local eating disorders treatment facility in both the inpatient and residential programs. In addition to working at MEDA, Holly received her Masters in Social Work at Boston University and is constantly inspired by the strength she sees on a daily basis from those who are struggling with an eating disorder. Holly is committed and eager to provide clinical and educational support to those who are on the path towards recovery.

Meet the Board

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.

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.

Zach Dubin

Zach Dubin received his Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology from Tufts University in 2007. He joined the MEDA board in Spring 2009. Zach is a professional fundraiser and currently works in the Annual Giving department at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a nationally acclaimed research and care facility. He currently is the lead officer of a new naming opportunity that supports the construction of the hospital's new building. Through his undergraduate studies, Zach became interested in public health and in particular, the sociology of women's health issues. Before becoming a fundraiser, Zach worked briefly teaching English in Japan to children and adults.

Roy Ettlinger

Roy Etlinger has thirty-five years of experience managing complex private and public behavioral health organizations which deliver adult and child inpatient and ambulatory services. He recently retired from being the CEO of Arbour Health System which includes five private psychiatric hospitals and ten outpatient centers. Roy has an interest in mental health programs that serve the special needs of women. He established the Center for Women Development and a partial hospitalization program for eating disorders. He has published in professional journals and served on many state and national boards. Roy has earned a Masters in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota.

John Killion

John is the Senior Director of Ancillary Services and Behavioral Contracting at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, where he leads the development and execution of the company’s Contract Strategy and Provider Relations for the Ancillary and Behavioral Health Network (23,000 providers).He has over 20 years experience in senior leadership positions in health care organizations and regional health care collaboratives and has been with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts for eight years. Prior to joining BCBSMA, John held positions at both Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care with specific responsibility for contracting and network management.J ohn has a Health Care Administration degree from Providence College. Married for 22 years, John and his wife Cheryl have four children, Bryana, Emma, Jay and Ayla.

Stephanie Rose

Arlene Schuler

Arlene Schuler is an attorney and principal in Archstone Law Group, P.C., a business law firm in Waltham, MA, where she practices general business and commercial real estate law. Arlene is a graduate of Boston University School of Law and Smith College. Arlene also served for several years as a Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Having attended women's schools for much of her educational life, Arlene is particularly interested in some of the unique challenges facing young women in the world today. Arlene is an accomplished equestrian and spends much of her free time as possible riding and training her Hanoverian mare.

Leigh Van Dusen

Leigh P. Van Dusen, M.S., is a Nutritionist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. Leigh earned her Masters degree in Human Nutrition from the Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Boston, MA. Leigh currently maintains a private practice in the Harvard Square area of Cambridge, MA, specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating. Leigh also advises clients in the areas of sports nutrition and general weight management, in addition to working with families in the prevention and management of childhood weight issues. Leigh consults for Middlesex boarding school in Concord, MA and Tufts University in Medford, MA. Before returning to the Massachusetts area, Leigh maintained a full-time private practice for 6 years in New York City providing nutrition counseling to clients with eating disorders and collaborating with their multi-disciplinary treatment teams. Prior, Leigh worked as a Nutrition Therapist for The Renfrew Center of New York’s Intensive Outpatient Program’s (IOP) and Outpatient Services, and The Center for the Treatment of Eating Disorders in Livingston, NJ. Leigh’s past work experience includes Deaconess Waltham Hospital’s inpatient unit in Waltham, MA, Laurel Hill Inn’s residential unit in Medford, MA, and Massachusetts General Hospital’s Neuroendocrine Unit in Boston, MA. Leigh has developed and implemented nutrition therapy support groups and served as an Advisory Board Member and Lecturer for the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia (CSAB) in New York, NY. Leigh was a former MEDA facilitator of Hope and Inspiration, co-leader for the teen support group and an educational presenter for the Connect to Confidence program.

Jessica Wexler

Jessica Wexler, PsyD received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She joined the Board of Directors of MEDA in September 2008. Dr. Wexler is a former MEDA volunteer who co-facilitated one of MEDA’s Connect to Recovery groups, and moderated the Hope and Inspiration forum. For the past several years, Dr. Wexler worked in private practice in Tel Aviv, Israel, where she is a licensed psychologist. She is currently doing her post-doctoral training at the Harvard University Health Services and has a private practice in Cambridge, MA. Dr. Wexler has significant experience treating eating disorders, as well as a variety of anxiety and mood disorders, using Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) and other interventions. She is currently part of a multi-disciplinary eating disorder consultation team at Harvard University where she also runs Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) support groups to help patients with eating disorders and other self-harm behaviors.