Adolescent Clinic

Dr. Roxanne Rockwell serves as the Assistant Clinical Director of the UC San Diego Health Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Director of Adolescent Services and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She has experience in the evaluation, treatment and research of eating disorders and obesity since 1999. She was one of the founding members of the UC San Diego Eating Disorders Center in 2005 and has been integrally involved in its development and expansion over the years. Dr. Rockwell played a primary role in devising and building the innovative individual and multi-family Intensive Family Therapy (IFT) programs as well as the adolescent partial hospital and intensive outpatient programs. As a certified Family Based Treatment (FBT) therapist, she served as the IFT program director for several years, and currently provides training and supervision in this modality for faculty, staff and trainees. Dr. Rockwell started the Eating Disorders Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and parent peer mentorship program in 2012 which continues to be a valued component of the multifamily program. University wide, she serves as a LEAD Fellow and Diversity Champion for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at UC San Diego.

Christin Conkle is a licensed marriage and family therapist who serves at a co-Program Manager at the UC San Diego Eating Disorder Clinic-Adolescent Program. Christin has been with UCSD since 2013. Holding an undergraduate degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Child Development from San Diego State University. Received her Master’s degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Alliant International University. Christin is an approved AAMFT clinical supervisor candidate. Christin is the lead for the multifamily component of the program, Tuesday/Thursday Multifamily meals, and the Multifamily Saturday Program. Christin manages our Parent Advisory Commitment (PAC) program and works with our parents/cares who dedicate their time and energy to volunteer as mentors to the current parents/cares in the program. Christin has received intensive training in DBT and FBT. She has diverse background working with co-morbid diagnoses, at risk youth, behavioral management and crisis intervention. Christin is a certified yoga instructor and enjoys bringing mindfulness and yoga together to her patients. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family, two doxies and golden retriever!

Julie Melekian is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working with families and individuals in the adolescent eating disorder program and facilitating the Parent Training and DBT Multifamily groups. Julie graduated with her Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego where she also previously received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She has been working at the UCSD treatment program since 2013 and has taken on various roles in the clinic including time spent on the adult and admissions teams. Julie is certified in the Kazdin Method of Parent Management Training and has participated in intensive training in both DBT and FBT. She has a diverse background working with adolescents and their families in a variety of settings, and her interests lie particularly in the areas of risk assessment, behavior modification, and contingency management. When not in the clinic, you can find Julie spending time at the beach with her family.

Dr. Mary Ellen Trunko, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, was one of the founding members of the UC San Diego Health Eating Disorders Center in 2005. Throughout the years and substantial growth of the organization, she has been a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for planning, developing, implementing and managing clinical services. As Medical Director of all adult, adolescent and pediatric treatment programs, Dr. Trunko leads the psychiatric/medical teams servicing PHP and IOP patients. She oversees all aspects of safety in the provision of care, performs comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and medication management, coordinates primary care and other medical services, and supervises and teaches junior faculty, staff and trainees. Dr. Trunko has been involved with clinical trials at the EDC investigating medication treatments for anorexia and bulimia, and is recognized nationally for her publications on pharmacological interventions for eating disorders.

Dr. Trunko earned her MD degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Following back-to-back residencies at UCSD in internal medicine and psychiatry, she became boarded in both specialties, an unusual combination that is highly relevant to the understanding and treatment of eating disorders.

Cosmina Ciobanu M.D. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist in the Pediatric and Adolescent Eating Disorders Program at the UCSD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research. She is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSD School of Medicine. She attended the University of Notre Dame on a full tennis scholarship and graduated Magna Cum Laude, double majoring in Science Preprofessional Studies and Anthropology. She completed medical school and her adult psychiatry residency at the University of California, San Diego. She received specialty training in child and adolescent psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she served as a chief fellow. She is double board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. She joined the UCSD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research in October 2019 and has greatly enjoyed working in a team based setting treating children and adolescents with eating disorders and other comorbid conditions.

Daphna Finn, M.D. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who joined the UC San Diego Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research in the summer of 2021 following the completion of her medical and subspecialty training. She cares for patients in the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSD School of Medicine. Dr. Finn has extensive training in the use of medications to treat pediatric mental health conditions as well as experience with evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, family-based therapy and motivational interviewing. She enjoys fostering openness, trust and curiosity with her patients and partnering with families to better understand their child and provide helpful treatment recommendations in challenging circumstances.

Dr. Finn completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital, where she was a chief fellow and a clinical fellow of Harvard Medical School. She earned her medical degree and completed residency training at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She is double board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr. Adler has been attending psychiatrist since 2019 at both the eating disorders partial hospital program and at Rady Children’s Hospital as a consulting psychiatrist on the medical behavioral unit (MBU). She is a graduate of Cornell University and New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Adler trained in psychiatry at George Washington University in Washington, DC and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Venus Estepa-Morse, Registered Nurse welcomed the opportunity to work for the UCSD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research Program in December 2012. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and an Army Veteran. Her career as an RN includes sub-acute care, travel medicine and experience with adult, adolescent and pediatric eating disorder patients in a partial hospitalization setting. At UCSD, she is the Adolescent and Pediatric program charge nurse, attends to the medical needs of the patients and assisting the physicians to coordinate care throughout the patient’s treatment process. Venus enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Breanna Strong, Registered Nurse joined the UCSD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research in November 2019. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Medical Anthropology from California State University, San Marcos. Her career as a nurse includes both inpatient and outpatient experience in Medical/Surgical Oncology and ambulatory care in Family Medicine. At UCSD, she attends to the medical needs of the patients in the Adolescent and Pediatric Programs along with assisting the physicians to coordinate care throughout the patient’s treatment process. She enjoys working on an interdisciplinary team of professionals and supports UCSD Health’s mission and vision to maintain a patient and family centered health outlook through teaching, research, and clinical excellence. Breanna spends her free time hiking, exploring new restaurants, and traveling with family and friends.

Amanda Reddy, Registered Nurse joined the UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program in November 2019. She received a Master's Degree in Nursing from the University of San Diego in 2012. Her career as a nurse includes adult acute care experience at SHARP Memorial and pediatric acute care experience at Rady Children's Hospital, including caring for eating disorder patients on the Medical Behavioral Unit. At UCSD she attends to the medical needs of patients in the Adult, Adolescent and Pediatric Programs along with assisting the physicians to coordinate care throughout the patient’s treatment process. Amanda enjoys spending time outside and traveling with her family.

Dr. Wierenga is an Associate Professor and Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego. She is an expert in the neurobiology of eating disorders, in particular related to the neural circuitry supporting cognition and behavior. She Co-Directs the Research Program at the UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program, where she conducts neuroimaging and neuropsychological research examining the brain basis of disordered eating, with an emphasis on cognitive control, reward processing, and interoception. She is also heavily involved in treatment development efforts for eating disorders guided by a neurobiological understanding of behavior, as well as treatment outcome studies. She is a CA licensed Clinical Psychologist and supervises clinical trainees in the Adolescent Program and conducts neuropsychological assessments in both the Adolescent and Adult Programs. She serves as faculty in the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and the UCSD Clinical Psychology APA approved Internship and is actively involved in training graduate students, pre-doctoral clinical interns, and post-doctoral fellows. She has been funded by the National Eating Disorders Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dr. Anna Karam Jones is a staff psychologist at the UC San Diego Health’s (UCSDH) Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research (EDC). Dr. Karam Jones received her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. Her predoctoral clinical internship was comprised of rotations at Rady Children’s Hospital’s Medical Behavioral Unit (i.e., an inpatient unit for the medical stabilization of eating disorders) as well as the EDC, where she worked in both the adolescent and adult clinics. Dr. Karam Jones has received broad and comprehensive training in the evidence-based treatment of psychological disorders including eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders, with an emphasis in the areas of eating and weight-related disorders. Her research interests include examining predictors, moderators, and mediators/mechanisms of evidence-based treatment for eating disorders, as well as the best methods for dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatments for eating disorders, with the ultimate goal to enhance and increase access to eating disorder care. Dr. Karam Jones is passionate about combining her research and clinical interests in the area of eating disorders, and she loves getting to do just that at UCSDH EDC!

Cassandra received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Miami University and a Masters of Education degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kent State University. She has previous experience working with adults and adolescents in partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient settings. Her role at UCSD includes working closely with the staff and patients throughout the treatment process. Outside of work, Cassandra enjoys traveling and being outdoors.

Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She came to the program with experience treating eating disorder patients in residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient settings. As a Milieu Therapist at UCSD, she works with the Adolescent Day Treatment program to assist with needs of the patients and their families, along with assisting the clinical staff to coordinate care throughout the patients' treatment.

Gina Brunelli is an Licensed Marital and Family Therapist working in the Adolescent Program. She earned her Master’s Degree in Marital and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego in August 2020. She earned her B.A. in Psychology at the University of San Diego as well. Gina completed her practicum in the Pediatric Clinic at UCSD Eating Disorder Center where she found a passion for treating children with eating disorders. When she’s not working, Gina spends all her time outside walking her dog and going to the beach. With years of experience working with young people, Gina is excited to continue her training in the Adolescent Clinic of the UCSD Eating Disorders Center.

Ana is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working with families and individual patients. She facilitates multifamily groups and Spanish support groups for families at UCSD Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research (EDC). Ana graduated from the University of San Diego with a Masters of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy where she also received her Bachelors degree. While completing her masters and practicum training in 2021 at UCSD EDC adolescent program, Ana developed training in evidenced-based treatment such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Family Based Therapy. Her interests lie in behavior modification, parent management training, and Emotion and Response Prevention Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Claire Brandeburg is a Marriage and Family Therapist working with families and individuals in the adolescent eating disorder program. Claire graduated from the University of San Diego with her Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy. You will see Claire around the clinic on groups, meals, and on the multi-family Saturday program. In her free time, you can find Claire at home listening to Taylor Swift with a book and her cats.

Hala is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist at UCSD Eating Disorder Center with extensive experience in eating disorder treatments across the life span. Her experience includes working as a therapist for children, adolescents, adults and their families with various eating disorders and co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and OCD. Hala began her experience in working with eating disorders at the UCSD Eating Disorder Center in the pediatric program.

Prior to joining the adolescent program, Hala was a therapist at the Center for Discovery, a residential treatment facility for adults. Hala looks forward to working each day, with opportunities to gain new insights and learn from her patients through their work together. She utilizes evidence-based treatment modalities such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Family Based Treatment (FBT) and strengths-based therapy to help her clients and families meet their goals. Hala received her Master’s degree in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Alyssa Herwatt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the UC San Diego Health’s Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research (EDC). Alyssa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Community Action and Social Change and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan. As a former D1 athlete, Alyssa has a strong passion for working with adolescents with eating disorders who identify as athletes and engage in compulsive/compensatory movement. Prior to working at the EDC, Alyssa gained extensive training at Michigan Medicine working within a variety of psychiatric levels or care (inpatient, PHP, IOP, and outpatient), treating children and adolescents with various mental health diagnoses (anxiety, depression, OCD, ASD, ADHD), and utilizing evidence-based treatment modalities (DBT, FBT, ACT, CBT, and PMT). When not working, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her family, cheering for Michigan football, and going to the beach.

Gaby Bagnara is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the UC San Diego Health’s Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research (EDC). Dr. Bagnara received her Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2017 from Boston College and graduated with her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from Loma Linda University in June 2022. Her predoctoral clinical internship was comprised of rotations throughout Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital in both inpatient and intensive outpatient settings across the lifespan. Dr. Bagnara has received extensive evidence-based training in acute care environments, with an emphasis on high-risk adolescents navigating suicidal ideation and self-harm. She is passionate about the delivery of skills-oriented and supportive behavioral-based interventions, such as DBT, CBT, and ACT, to youth and families with a high level of need. Her research interests take an implementation science lens to explore barriers to help-seeking behavior and access to care, particularly related to the influence of stigma and shame. Dr. Bagnara is excited to continue to hone her clinical skillset with high-risk behaviors in the realm of feeding and eating disorder treatment. She is grateful for spaces in which she can bring irreverence, authenticity, and validation to her work and approach to life both in and outside of the clinic. When not at work, Gaby can be found on a walk by the water or faithfully quoting Taylor Swift lyrics.

Dr. Lilly Parks is a postdoctoral fellow at the UCSD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research in the Adolescent Program. She earned her B.S. in Developmental Psychology and Minor in Education Studies from the University of California, San Diego. Prior to continuing her education, Dr. Parks worked as a research assistant at the UCSD Eating Disorders Center where she gained experience in the assessment and diagnosis of eating disorders. She then received her M.A. and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from CSPP at Alliant International University, San Diego. Her predoctoral research involved childhood trauma, self-esteem, and disordered eating behaviors. During her predoctoral internship, Dr. Parks worked in an outpatient setting at California State University, San Marcos, where she treated students navigating depression, anxiety, adjustment difficulties, and the impacts of trauma. She also developed group therapy curriculums focused on building and maintaining positive body image and co-led the campus Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group. She has been trained in DBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy. Dr. Parks integrates various evidence-based treatments in her work with patients while incorporating a multiculturally sensitive lens in conceptualization. In her free time, Dr. Parks enjoys swimming, traveling, painting, and going to live music concerts. She is always looking for restaurant recommendations and places to explore with her dog/fur child.

Natalie is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist at UCSD Eating Disorder Center with widespread experience in eating disorder treatment. Her experience includes working as a therapist adolescents and their families with various eating disorders and co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and OCD. Natalie began her experience in working with eating disorders at the UCSD Eating Disorder Center in the adolescent program. Prior to joining the adolescent program, Natalie received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2019 and her Masters in Marriage in Family Therapy in 2022 from The University of San Diego. Natalie enjoys working with her patients each day and learning from them through their work together. She utilizes evidence-based treatment modalities such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Family Based Treatment (FBT) to help her clients and families meet their goals. Natalie is passionate about the work that she does and always interested in learning more in the area of eating disorders, and she is grateful she gets to pursue that at UCSD EDC!

Maddy is a doctoral psychology intern at the University of California (UC) San Diego Eating Disorder Center and Rady Children's Hospital Medical Behavioral Unit. Currently, Maddy is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at The University of South Florida and previously graduated from Drexel University with a combined BS/MS degree in Psychology. Maddy has treated adolescents and adults with mood and anxiety disorders, restrictive eating disorders, and binge-spectrum eating disorders using Exposure and Response Prevention and both Dialectical and Cognitive behavioral approaches across various levels of care. In graduate school, with Dr. Diana Rancourt, she has studied psychosocial correlates and predictors of maladaptive exercise and disordered eating behaviors among both community samples and athletes. Her doctoral dissertation investigates exercise identity and peer exercise norms as predictors of the development of compulsive exercise and the relationship between compulsive exercise and eating disorder symptoms among first-year college students. In the future, Maddy intends to continue studying psychosocial factors related to disordered eating and exercise behaviors with the goal of informing the development of preventative interventions and treatment protocols.

Samantha is originally from San Diego and is a therapist doing her MFT practicum in the UCSD EDC adolescent program. She graduated from UC San Diego in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology and went on to work in various mental health non-profits around San Diego, furthering her interest in counseling, especially youth mental health, before returning to school to obtain her master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego starting in 2022. Outside of work, Samantha enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new restaurants, and continuing to learn more about San Diego.

Joshua Rauchwerger is originally from San Francisco, CA, and is a Marital and Family Therapist trainee working in the Adolescent Program at the UCSD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research. He graduated in 2020 from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. As soon as he graduated, he knew he had to pursue a career in counseling, so he began volunteering for the Institute on Aging’s Friendship Line, providing crisis and emotional support services for older adults and people with disabilities and mental health conditions. He also volunteers his time with the Trevor Project, providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth nationwide on LGBTQ specific and non-specific issues. He is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, dancing, watching movies and TV shows, and exploring new places and restaurants in San Diego.

Lindsey is originally from Seattle, WA and is completing her advanced MFT training at the UCSD Eating Disorder Center in the Adolescent Program. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies in 2020 at Loyola Marymount University. Post graduation, she worked in inpatient psychiatry where she assisted adults with severe mental illnesses, which only strengthened her passion for mental health care. She is currently pursuing her masters in Marital and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, playing the piano, and exploring beautiful San Diego.

Samantha Warsh is Registered Dietitian with the adolescent and pediatric programs. Samantha is originally from Michigan and earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Michigan State University and completed her dietetic internship at Wayne State University in Detroit. Samantha has a diverse background in clinical and community nutrition, with previous work experience at a hospital, dialysis clinic and community outreach program. Samantha was interested in working with eating disorders early in her career and gained experience with this population during her education and internship. Samantha has always enjoyed working with children and teens and was excited to join the team at UCSD in 2016. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys traveling and exploring all things San Diego with her husband and dog.

Mackenzie Bowman is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics who joined the UCSD EDC team as Clinical Nutrition Manager in May 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics with a minor in Psychology from the University of Delaware before completing her dietetic internship through Aramark. Mackenzie earned her Master’s Degree in Applied Nutrition and Physical Activity at Virginia Tech where she completed research on probiotic intake among student-athletes and its impact on gut health. She has experience at a variety of levels of care for eating disorder treatment, including inpatient, PHP, IOP, and OP. Mackenzie also has experience working in with collegiate athletics and received training as a Female Athlete Body Project facilitator. As an East Coast native, Mackenzie enjoys exploring Southern California in her free time. Her hobbies include yoga, reading, and trying new recipes.

Markayla Stroubakis is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who joined the EDC after working in inpatient pediatrics and management. She received her B.S. in Nutrition from UC Berkeley and completed her dietetic internship with UC San Diego. She is a native San Diegan and has a passion for working with adolescents and their families.

Georgianna earned her Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Food Science and joined the Eating Disorders Center in March 2023. She works alongside the registered dietitians in the adolescent program and has become passionate about helping patients in their recovery process. When she is not at work she enjoys any outdoor activity and spending time with friends and family.