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. She holds a current certification with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.