David M. Garner, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Founder, President, & Chief Executive Officer
River Centre Clinic

Dr. Garner is a fellow and a founding member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and a member of the editorial board of Eating and Weight Disorders Journal. He has previously served as a scientific consultant for the National Screening Program for Eating Disorders and as a member of the editorial boards for the International Journal of Eating Disorders, Body Image: An International Journal, and the Healthy Weight Journal. Past appointments include professor of psychiatry and director of research for the Eating Disorder Program at Michigan State University; professor in the departments of psychiatry, psychology, and the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto; and scholar of the Medical Research Council of Canada; adjunct professor at Bowling Green State University (Psychology); and adjunct professor (Psychology and Women's Studies) at the University of Toledo.

Dr. Garner has published more than 160 scientific articles and book chapters, and has co-authored or co-edited seven books on eating disorders including the Handbook of Psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia and the Handbook of Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders, published in 1997 by Guilford Press. He and his colleagues have developed two widely used psychometric instruments, the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI, EDI-2, and EDI-3) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT and EAT-26). According to the Institute of Scientific Information, he is one of the most cited authors in the social sciences.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Garner has given over 400 lectures or workshops on a range of different topics related to eating disorders and obesity. His primary research interests are in the areas of obesity and eating disorders, including assessment, diagnosis, psychopathology, and the biology of weight regulation.


Amy Hanson-Akins, M.S.W., L.I.S.W.
Clinical Director, River Centre Clinic
Interim Director, Adolescent Residential Program

Ms. Hanson-Akins has extensive administrative and clinical experience in intake and utilization management. Before joining River Centre Clinic, Ms. Hanson-Akins developed a hospital department that provided case management and utilization review for patients with acute and chronic illness in a medical setting. She has always been active in providing direct clinical care, clinical intake evaluations, and individual, group, and family therapy. She has training and experience working with individuals who have eating disorders as well as other clinical problems in both community mental health and private practice settings. Ms. Hanson-Akins received her B.A. in sociology / behavioral science from Midland Lutheran College and received her masters in social work from the University of Wyoming.


Denise Litterer, Ph.D.
Associate Director, River Centre Clinic
Psychologist
Partial Hospitalization Program
Outpatient Program

Dr. Litterer treated students suffering from eating disorders in a college campus setting before joining River Centre Clinic. In her current role, Dr. Litterer provides staff supervision, clinical administration, and direct patient care for outpatients and Partial Hospitalization Program participants. She has a special interest in treating body image disturbances in those suffering from eating disorders. She received her masters and doctorate degrees in counseling psychology from Iowa State University.


Michael Anderson, M.D., Ph.D.
Medical Director
River Centre Clinic

Dr. Anderson earned his B.A., M.D., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota. He has held academic appointments with medical schools of the University of Alabama-Birmingham, the University of Vermont, and the University of Minnesota, where he later held an academic faculty appointment.  Dr. Anderson's training in psychiatric medicine was secured from highly regarded University of Maryland/Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital (Baltimore, Maryland), where he was awarded the Janssen Commendation Award of Merit for excellence in emergency psychiatry. Dr. Anderson's neuron-physiological research in central nervous system vision was conducted at a prestigious laboratory associated with Nobel Prize winners in both medicine and physiology. Dr. Anderson has excellent training in emergency medicine and the application of the bio-psychosocial approach in the practice of psychiatry.

As medical director, Dr. Andersen coordinates all aspects of the medical and psychopharmacological treatments provided by River Centre Clinic. He is also involved in direct patient care: conducting assessments, individual therapy, group therapy, dietary recommendations, and medication management. Dr. Anderson also has responsibilities in administration, supervision, program development, and research. His strong research skills are evidenced by more than 50 publications in the area of neuroscience. Dr. Anderson shares River Centre Clinic's values of being progressive, innovative, efficient, and dedicated to the highest standards of patient-friendly care.


Julie J. Desai, M.A., L.L.P. (1)
Psychology Assistant
Director, Partial Hospitalization Program

Ms. Desai is one of the original founding staff members of River Centre Clinic. She is experienced in individual, group, and family counseling with eating disorders and has extensive training in psychoeducational treatment approaches for eating disorders. Ms. Desai has been a co-author of a number of eating disorder publications. She completed her bachelors degree in psychology at the University of Michigan and received her M.A. in clinical psychology from University of Detroit Mercy.


Christine Ellis, M.D.
Consulting Physician
Partial Hospitalization Program
Adolescent Residential Program

Dr. Ellis attended Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts and graduated from the Medical College of Ohio. Dr. Ellis is Board certified in Family Practice as well as certified in Addiction Medicine. She provides medical consultations and assessments for River Centre Clinic.


Arline Soncrant, B.A.
Chief Financial Officer
River Centre Clinic

Ms. Soncrant is one of the original founding staff members of River Centre Clinic. She plays a key role in general operations and fiscal management, and financial policy development. She has a B.A. in business administration from the University of Toledo.


Tracey R. Darrington
Operations & Quality Assurance Manager
River Centre Clinic

Ms. Darrington supervises all aspects of quality assurance, develops policies and procedures required to maintain certification and licensure through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and CARF, performs insurance contract negotiations, and performs Human Resource functions at River Centre Clinic. Ms. Darrington has a strong background in regulatory compliance and benefit administration.

(1) Supervised by Dr. Denise Litterer according to Ohio Psychology Law.