Michael Anderson, M.D., Ph.D.
Medical Director,
Clinical Director,
President

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 the President of the River Centre Clinic, Dr. Anderson has responsibilities in administration, supervision, program development, and research. As medical director, he 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's strong research skills are evidenced by more than 50 publications in the area of neuroscience. He is deeply devoted to the 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., (1)
Director, Partial Hospitalization Program
Psychology Assistant

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.

Brithany H. Pawloski, Psy.D.
Associate Clinical Director
Staff Psychologist

Dr. Pawloski received her doctorate from Wright State University, School of Professional Psychology. She obtained her B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies from The Ohio State University. Her previous clinical experience with eating disorders was obtained through training at the University of Dayton and Clemson University Counseling Centers. Dr. Pawloski’s clinical interests focus on women’s health, body image, multicultural issues, anxiety, and sexual health. Her administrative interests are program development, supervision, and marketing.  Her primary responsibilities at the clinic are providing individual, group and family therapy in both the Partial Hospitalization and the Adolescent Residential Programs.

Stephanie Page, MSW (1)
Staff Social Worker
Partial Hospitalization Program
Assistant

Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree from Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts and her Master’s degree in social work from the University of Toledo.  She has a background in working with women who are survivors of violence and sexual abuse.  She is active in the Toledo community response to violence against women and is an active member of the Toledo Take Back the Night Consortium. At the River Centre Clinic, Ms Page is involved in providing group and individual therapy and is interested in the cultural and spiritual forces impacting eating disorders and recovery.

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.

Meggan Schneider, MSW (1)
Director, Adolescent Program
Assistant

Ms. Schneider has been a staff member of the River Centre Clinic for over six years. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Toledo and is currently completing a graduate degree in social work at the University of Toledo. Ms. Schneider provides direct care services to both the adolescent and adult patients. She specializes in teaching psychoeducational components of our program and works closely with the adolescent and aduld program directors and therapists carrying out a range of administrative functions.

 

Administrative Staff

David M. Garner, Ph.D.
Administrative Director

Dr. Garner is the Founder and Administrative Director of the River Centre Clinic.  His current position at the River Centre Clinic involves strictly administrative, teaching and research duties; it does not involve any clinical practice. 

Past academic appointments include Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto; Scholar of the Medical Research Council of Canada; Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Research for the Eating Disorder Program at Michigan State University; Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies at the University of Toledo and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Bowling Green State University. 

Garner has published over 170 scientific articles and book chapters, and has co-authored or co-edited 7 books on eating disorders.  With colleagues he has developed two widely used psychometric instruments, the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI, EDI-2 & EDI-3) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT).  He has been recognized by Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) as one of the most highly cited researchers in the social sciences.

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Garner has given over 400 lectures or workshops on a range of different topics related to eating disorders and obesity.  Dr. Garner's primary research and teaching interests relate to theoretical issues concerning obesity, eating disorders, assessment, diagnosis, treatment outcome, psychopathology, and the biology of weight regulation.

Arline Soncrant, B.A.
Director, Financial Operations

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

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 according to Ohio Psychology Law.