Adult Programs Staff
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Mary Ellen Trunko, M.D.Medical Director, Adult Programs Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Program Dr. Mary Ellen Trunko has worked with the UCSD eating disorders program since its inception, and has been involved in planning and development of services, delivery of patient care, and supervision and teaching of junior staff members. As assistant clinical professor and medical director, Dr. Trunko performs comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, handles medication management, coordinates primary care and other medical services, and educates patients and their families on physiological, medical and psychological aspects of eating disorders. She also runs an outpatient practice that includes individuals with eating disorders as well as those with general psychiatric needs. Dr. Trunko is board certified in both psychiatry and internal medicine, an unusual combination that is highly relevant to the understanding and treatment of eating disorders. She has used this specialty knowledge to advise primary care providers on the care of eating-disordered patients through presentations and consultation. She has written review papers and clinical case reports on pharmacological interventions for eating disorders. Dr. Trunko earned her MD degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, and completed separate residencies in internal medicine and psychiatry at UCSD. |
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Julie Trim, Ph.D.Administrative Director of Adult Day Treatment Dr. Julie Trim is a clinical psychologist at the UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Arizona State University and completed her internship from UCSD’s Counseling & Psychological Services. Dr. Trim has treated eating disorders in inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization (PHP) settings and plans to continue to specialize in eating disorders. |
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Liana Abascal, Ph.D., MPHAdministrative Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program Dr. Liana Abascal is a clinical psychologist and the program manager of the Adult Intensive Outpatient Program at the UCSD Eating Disorders Research and Treatment Program. She is a graduate of the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and completed her clinical internship at the UCLA Semel Institute. Since 2000, she has been involved in both research and clinical work related to chronic disease prevention and management especially related to diabetes, obesity, and eating disorders. |
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Leslie Karwoski Anderson, Ph.D.Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Leslie Karwoski Anderson is a clinical assistant professor and director of the DBT program at the UCSD Eating Disorder Program. She is a graduate of the University of Kansas, and completed her clinical internship at Duke University Medical Center. Before coming to UCSD, she held a clinical faculty appointment at the University of Washington and was a staff psychologist at the DBT Center of Seattle. She runs DBT groups for both adolescents and adults with eating disorders, and sees patients in the eating disorder program for family based and individual treatment of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS. Her research interests are in treatment development, evaluation, and outcomes. |
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Kristie Bergmann, B.A.Kristie Bergmann is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University. She is currently working as a behavior interventionist for both the FRESH and ROC studies. Additionally, she is a third year practicum student at the UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Program and provides individual and group therapy to adults with eating disorders. Her research interests include DBT as an intervention for adolescent weight loss and clinical interests include treatment of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and EDNOS. |
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Gina M. Bongiorno, M.A., IMFTherapist Gina M. Bongiorno is a full time therapist with the Adult Day Treatment Program at the UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic. She obtained her Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego, where she was the recipient of the Award of Distinction, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the University of San Diego and a consultant for trauma-informed care. Gina’s clinical expertise is in the treatment of trauma and eating disorders, as well as severe mental illness, substance use and grief. Gina has specialized training in EMDR, dialectical behavior therapy, couple and family therapy, and motivational interviewing. |
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Emiley Dailey, L.C.S.W.Therapist Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Program Emily Dailey is a licensed clinical social worker who has specialized in DBT for over 6 years. She has worked with individuals, groups and families. Emily graduated from University of Southern California and did her clinical internship at Harbor UCLA’s DBT outpatient program. She has treated eating disorders in residential, intensive out-patient, and partial hospitalization. |
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Lauren Gomez, M.S., MFTiMilieu Therapist/Psychiatric Technician Lauren recently joined the UCSD treatment team as a Milieu Therapist/ Psychiatric Technician. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and received her B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University. Lauren has worked with individuals with eating disorders in various settings over the past three years. Previously, Lauren interned at Starlight Community Services while providing individual and group therapy to at risk youth, as well as individual and couple therapy at San Francisco State Psychology clinic. Lauren’s interest in working with eating disorders began during undergraduate while volunteering at an eating disorder treatment facility. Lauren currently provides group therapy to adults with eating disorders in the Adult Day/Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program. |
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Danielle Gonzales, B.A.Practicum Student Danielle Gonzales is pursuing her Psy. D in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University. Currently, she is a third year practicum student at the UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Program and provides individual and group therapy to adults. Her clinical experiences include substance abuse, addiction, trauma, and co-occurring disorders. Her clinical interests include Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing as her primary theoretical orientation within eating disorders and substance abuse populations. Danielle also serves on the San Diego Psychological Association (SDPA) Graduate Student Committee as Student Liaison. |
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Tiffany Nakamura, MA, PCCIMilieu Therapist/Psychiatric Technician Tiffany recently joined the UCSD treatment team as a Milieu Therapist/Psychiatric Technician. She will be graduating with a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Asian American Mental Health from University of San Diego summer of 2012. She received her BA in Psychology also from the University of San Diego and previously interned at Urban Corps of San Diego providing individual and group counseling for at risk young adults. Her interest in eating disorders began in undergraduate and has continued through her graduate program. Tiffany currently provides individual, family, and group therapies to adults with eating disorders in the Adult Day/Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program. |
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Jessie Menzel, M.A.Therapist Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Program Jessie is a psychology intern completing her final year of training to earn her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida. She obtained her Master of Arts from the University of South Florida in clinical psychology and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Jessie is working as a therapist with the UCSD treatment team has been working with eating disorders in a research and clinical setting for over 5 years. She has specialized training experiences in cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, exposure and response prevention, and motivational interviewing. Jessie’s clinical interests include OCD and anxiety in eating disorders and the use of evidence-based treatments for eating disorders. Her research interests include developing, implementing, and evaluating treatment and prevention programs for eating disorders, obesity, and body image disturbance. She currently provides individual, group and family therapy for the Adult Day Treatment and Intensive Outpatient Program. |
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Danica Torres, RN, B.S.NRegistered Nurse Danica Torres, Registered Nurse joined the UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program in December 2010. Her career as a nurse includes acute care experience and experience with adults and adolescent eating disorder patients in residential, inpatient and partial hospitalization settings. At UCSD, she attends to the medical needs of the patients along with assisting the physicians to coordinate care throughout the patient’s treatment process. |
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