Our Mission

What is EDAM?

The Eating Disorders Association of Maine is a statewide network of individuals, providers, organizations, educators, advocates, and community members working together to improve eating disorder awareness, prevention, education, and access to care across Maine.

EDAM is dedicated to promoting body acceptance, weight-inclusive care, and health and wellness at every size. We work to connect people with resources, strengthen collaboration among treatment providers, and support individuals, families, schools, healthcare professionals, and communities impacted by eating disorders and disordered eating.

Our mission is rooted in hope, connection, and the belief that recovery is possible. Whether someone is seeking support for themselves, worried about a loved one, looking for treatment options, or hoping to learn how to better support their community, EDAM exists to help people feel less alone and more connected to care.

History

EDAM grew from the vision and leadership of Mary O’Rear, former Executive Director of Mainely Girls. Through her work supporting girls’ confidence, leadership, and wellbeing, Mary began hearing more and more stories of young people struggling with eating disorders. She recognized that eating disorders could affect people across genders and backgrounds, and that these illnesses often became significant barriers to living full, connected, and meaningful lives.

Mary also understood that eating disorders are complex. They often involve overlapping medical, mental health, nutritional, social, and emotional needs. No single provider, family member, school, or organization can address these challenges alone. In response, Mary began bringing together professionals across Maine who were working with individuals affected by eating disorders. Her goal was to strengthen collaboration, improve communication, and help create more connected treatment teams.

Thanks to Mary’s leadership, passion, and persistence, eating disorder professionals across Maine began building stronger networks of care. In 2012, a group of like-minded individuals came together to formally create the Eating Disorders Association of Maine. Today, EDAM continues that work by supporting education, collaboration, resource-sharing, advocacy, and connection throughout the state.

Our Mission

EDAM’s mission is to promote eating disorder awareness, prevention, education, and access to support throughout Maine.

We do this by:

  • Connecting individuals and families with eating disorder resources

  • Supporting collaboration among medical, mental health, and nutrition professionals

  • Offering education and training for providers, schools, organizations, and communities

  • Raising awareness about eating disorders, disordered eating, body image, and weight stigma

  • Promoting body acceptance and weight-inclusive approaches to health

  • Helping Maine communities better recognize, respond to, and prevent eating disorders

Eating disorders are serious, complex, and treatable conditions. No one should have to navigate them alone.

Why EDAM’s Work Matters

Eating disorders are often misunderstood, under-recognized, and under-treated. They can affect people of all ages, genders, body sizes, races, abilities, income levels, and backgrounds.

Despite common stereotypes, eating disorders do not have a single “look.” Someone may be struggling even if they appear healthy, maintain a certain weight, or do not fit the narrow image often associated with eating disorders.

Eating disorders can impact physical health, mental health, relationships, school, work, identity, and daily life. Early recognition and access to appropriate care can make a meaningful difference in recovery.

Yet many people still face barriers to support, including:

  • Limited access to specialized eating disorder providers

  • Long waitlists for care

  • Insurance and payment barriers

  • Lack of awareness about available resources

  • Weight stigma and diet culture

  • Misinformation about food, bodies, exercise, and health

  • Shame, secrecy, and fear of not being “sick enough”

  • Geographic barriers, especially in rural communities

  • A lack of coordinated care among providers

EDAM exists to help reduce these barriers by bringing people, providers, and communities together.

Meet the EDAM Board Members

Sarah (Say) Carnahan, MA, MSW, LCSW - President
Sarah (Say) Carnahan (she/her) is an LCSW and the Director of Mental Health and Counseling Services at the University of Maine Farmington. Sarah got her clinical MSW as well as her M.A. in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from The Ohio State University. While there, Sarah received training through The Center for Balanced Living, which was then an independent, nonprofit treatment center for eating disorders run by Dr. Laura Hill. (Since then, CBL has become part of The Emily Program.) As a therapist, Sarah uses an integrative approach with a strong undercurrent of DBT. She also has significant training and experience in working with folks in the LGBTQIA+ community. Sarah is passionate about providing consultation and education for those who want to learn more about working with people with eating disorders. 

Kathleen Hart, Ph.D. - Vice President 
Kathleen received her doctorate from Boston College and trained in clinical psychology at Boston Children’s Hospital and The Cambridge Hospital. Dr. Hart completed her Pre-doctoral Internship at The Children’s Hospital of Colorado. She also worked at Bethesda Hospital, Colorado, both on the adult Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse units. Now in private practice, Dr. Hart works with teens and adults with eating and anxiety disorders using behavioral treatments including: Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT), Family-Based Treatment (The Maudsley Method), and Mindfulness Training. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Hart devoted a portion of her career to research. She studied the relationship between parental attachment, sex roles, and eating disorders. Her findings are published in the Journal of Psychological Assessment, Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, and the Journal of Sex Roles.

Laura Sproch, PhD - Treasurer
Dr. Sproch is a clinical psychologist and the owner of Vibrant Psychology, a teletherapy outpatient practice specializing in the treatment of eating disorders.  She is a clinical psychologist committed to evidence-based treatments for eating disorders, which has guided the supervisory, educational, clinical, research, administrative, and outreach work that she has been involved in.  In particular, she utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral therapy, family-based therapy, and interpersonal therapy in the treatment that she provides.  Dr. Sproch was previously the program director of the New England Eating Disorders Program at Sweetser, a comprehensive eating disorder-specialized treatment program in southern Maine.  Prior to her work in Maine, Dr. Sproch was the research coordinator at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt (Baltimore, MD) and also trained at Friends Hospital (Philadelphia, PA) and ‘Ai Pono Eating Disorder Program (Honolulu, HI).   Dr. Sproch received her doctorate from Hofstra University in Clinical and School Psychology and her undergraduate degree from Vassar College.

Lindsay Susi, MSW - Secretary
Lindsay Susi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and outpatient therapist with New Roots Healing Center in Freeport, Maine, treating adolescents and adults with eating disorders. Previously, she was the Clinical Director of the New England Eating Disorders (NEED) Program at Sweetser, a comprehensive eating disorder treatment program located in southern Maine. She began her work in eating disorders as an intern with this program in 2013 and became a full-time clinician with NEED in 2016. Her clinical experience includes using evidence-based practices to address disordered eating patterns, behavioral challenges, motivational challenges, communication issues, and interpersonal relationship issues through individual, group, and family therapy. Her focus of treatment includes the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal and solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness techniques. She is passionate about working with individuals to address and re-work their relationship with food/body and has extensive experience in working with adolescents, adults, families, and supports in clinical settings.

Kathryn Best, LCSW - Events Planning
Kathryn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a special interest and training in eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image. She earned her Master’s degree from the University of New England and has worked primarily with transition-aged youth (ages 15 to 26). Most recently, she has worked at the South Portland Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine clinic in the multidisciplinary eating disorder program. Currently, she serves as a Staff Counselor at Colby College, where she provides individual counseling, group facilitation, and special programming.

Josh Palomera, MS, RD, LD, CSN - Membership
Josh is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian specializing in eating disorders and sports nutrition. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from San Diego State University and completed a research-focused Master’s degree and Dietetic Internship at Simmons University in Boston, MA, with specialized concentrations in eating disorders nd sports nutrition. Josh currently serves as the Campus Dietitian at Bates Collège, where he provides individualized nutrition counseling and develops programming to support student wellness and cultivate a more balanced relationship with food. Additionally, Josh sees private practice clients at Kaleidoscope Eating Disorder and Diet Recovery Center, providing nutrition counseling for individuals navigating eating disorders, disordered eating, and chronic dieting. Grounded in an anti-diet, weight-inclusive framework, his approach integrates scientific evidence with compassion and practicality. As a former athlete, he recognizes that while nutrition is vital for performance and health, food also carries personal, social, and emotional meaning. Josh helps clients cultivate trust in their bodies and develop a sustainable, empowered relationship with food.

Cynthia Robbins, M.D., MS, FAAP - Events Planning
Cynthia Robbins is a dually board-certified adolescent and pediatric provider.  She obtained her medical degree from Case Western School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH; completed a pediatrics residency at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital; and completed a fellowship in adolescent medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. She practiced in Indianapolis for the first twelve years of her career prior to moving to Maine, where she is now an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Tufts School of Medicine. She sees young people aged 10-26 at the South Portland Adolescent and Young Adult clinic for primary care and adolescent specialty care, and a large portion of her practice includes patients with eating disorders. She leads the multidisciplinary eating disorder program at the South Portland clinic and is highly involved in programming for patients admitted to the Maine Health Barbara Bush Hospital for eating disorders. 

Alison Swiggard, MS, RDN, LD - Website/Communication
Alison Swiggard is a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders, body image, and the complex relationship between food, mental health, and identity. She works with adolescents and adults across the eating disorder spectrum, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and disordered eating, with particular experience supporting neurodivergent clients, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those navigating PCOS and GI conditions such as IBS. Alison holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Penn State University and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Simmons University, with a specialized concentration in eating disorders. She currently practices at CV Wellbeing, a weight-inclusive group nutrition practice in Gorham, where she provides outpatient eating disorder care via a Health at Every Size® lens. Alison brings both clinical depth and humanity into her work, emphasizing nourishment, safety, and trust rather than weight, rules, or “fixing” bodies. Outside of work, Alison is a creative at heart and values humor, honesty, and warmth in both life and practice. She believes meaningful change happens when people feel safe, understood, and not alone.