Our Team
Never Give Up
Our team is a diverse group of highly skilled, creative individuals each with distinctive histories, including working at renowned facilities from across the country. Together we form a uniquely comprehensive team of licensed therapists, registered nurses, registered dietitians, , certified fitness and yoga instructors, physicians, culinary experts, board certified specialists, and others, including Certified Eating Disorder Specialists and Supervisors.
We are a group of experienced, committed professionals, many who have recovered from eating disorders ourselves. Using everyday grace and empathy, we strive to help our clients find their inner courage. Each of us at ACED has witnessed the truth of recovery and commit to each client who enters our doors to fight alongside them until they are free.
Kelsey Adcock
Nursing Liaison
Kelsey came to ACED after working in women’s health as medical receptionist and then as a medical assistant for the same OB/GYN office. Kelsey brings a strong work ethic and fierce desire to help others to her position as Nursing Liaison. She works alongside our nursing staff to meet the needs of our clients with compassion and kindness.
Michele Baker
PhD
Executive Administrator and Co-Founder
Michele holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees; a doctorate in Basic Medical Science with a specialty in Physiology from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama; and post-doctoral research studies in Gastrointestinal Physiology at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas.
Leigh Bell
BA
Director of Communications
Leigh holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Creative Writing and French from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. She is a published author, journalist with 15 years of experience, and a freelance writer, specializing in corporate communications, website material, and technical writing.
Kendra Buckley M.Ed., LPC
Primary Therapist
We are so grateful to have Kendra as part of the ACED team. She brings to our community not only a gentle spirit but also a brave, bold, foundation of truth that is refreshing and purposeful in the care of those struggling with eating disorders.
Cameron earned her Undergraduate degrees in both Nutrition Sciences and Exercise Science at Auburn University and her master’s degree in Nutrition Science at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Before joining us at ACED, Cameron completed over 1200 supervised hours in dietetic internships specific to eating disorders, including ACED, and we deem ourselves beyond blessed to have her come onboard and join our team.
Cameron Cavenaugh MSN, LD, RD
Primary Dietitian
Callie Davis BS, 500-RYT
Dietary Tech Yoga Teacher
Callie completed her undergraduate degree in Dietetics at the University of Georgia and is currently earning her master’s degree in clinical nutrition at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to coming to ACED, she completed multiple rotations as an intern at eating disorder facilities. Callie is a true believer in intuitive eating and food freedom as a way of life and enthusiastic in sharing this hope for clients in their healing journey.
Claire Fierman
Chief Relational Officer
Claire earned her Undergraduate degree in Psychology and a master’s in education with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Montevallo. She brings a broad range of past experiences including her work as Clinical Director, Director of Business Development, and has shared her gifts with programs throughout the country by facilitating training and supervision for other clinicians desiring to grow in their professional development.
Gatsby Grace
Therapy Dog
Gatsby is a fabulous Border Collie puppy, or as we affectionately refer to her, ACED’s bundle of joy. She arrives at ACED each morning with a happy heart, making the rounds and ensuring she greets every person in the building
Grit and Grace
Primary Bunnies
Grit and Grace joined the ACED team excited to bring a little “hoppiness” to the recovery journey of each client along the way. They each bring their own unique spirit to the ACED landscape, providing opportunities to find joy in each moment.
Nettie Hightower
Milieu Supervisor
Nettie is a Mental Health Associate with 33 years of experience in the psychiatric field, 25 of which were at Brookwood Medical Center. Nettie is fundamental to ACED, assisting in the center's most critical facets like meal times, group therapy, weekly team meetings, patient interaction. and joint-commission compliance.
Lady Lake
Therapy Puppy in Training
Lake, Gatsby’s cousin, is our newest Border Collie puppy. Lake follows Gatsby about, learning all things ACED – making the rounds, meeting both staff and clients with her sweet disposition and affectionate kisses, checking for hidden or dropped food in the dining room, aka looking for snacks, and always finding ways to annoy Gatsby.
Sophia Lal
DO
Medical Director
Sophia holds a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of North Texas, Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas. She completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cari Marbutt
RN
Nursing Director
Cari brings a wide variety of nursing experience to her job at ACED. In her long nursing career she has worked in a variety of healthcare setting including, surgical, oncology, outpatient care, orthopedics, women’s health as well as Residential Treatment for Eating Disorders.
Cindy McCarty
RYT-500
Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher
Cindy is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher. She studied under Akasha Ellis, focusing on the following yoga practices: Ashtanga, Kundalini, and Vinyasa Krama.
Holly-Renée Miller
MA, LMFT, CEDS-S
Founder, Executive Clinical Director
After winning a near-fatal and years-long battle with anorexia, Holly-Renée devotes her professional life to helping others fully recover from eating disorders. Empowering others "to recover for life," she says.
Robert Miller
BA
Executive Chef
Robert earned a bachelor's degree in hospitality and restaurant management from the University of Alabama. Robert makes scrumptious meals for our staff and clients, but his greatest strength is pastries, which makes us very happy.
Michelle Spitzer Phillips
Nutrition Liason
Michelle is a native Alabamian and earned her Undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is currently enrolled in the Master’s in Nutrition Science Program there as well. She remains on track to become a registered dietician where she hopes to work with clients struggling with both eating disorders and type-1 diabetes, and we hope she will choose us as her long term collaborator in that endeavor.
Valencia Pruitt, LICSW
Lead Primary Therapist
Valencia initially found her way to ACED during her internship and training for her master’s degree. She holds both an undergraduate degree a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, (UAB) where she was also employed. Go Blazers! Valencia has since retired from the same university after working 27 years as a social work medical care coordinator in women's healthcare.
Christianne Strang
PhD, ATR-BC, CEDCAT-S
Art Therapist
Christianne (Chris) is an artist, art therapist, scientist and current president of the American Art Therapy Association. She holds a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from Vermont College of Norwich University in Montpelier, Vermont, and a Doctorate in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Bryce Thompson MSN, LD, RD
Director of Nutrition Services
Bryce earned her Undergraduate degree in Nutrition at the University of Georgia and her master’s degree in Nutrition at the University of Saint Joseph. Prior to coming to ACED, Bryce worked as a dietetic Intern at Walden in Connecticut, where she solidified her desire to work eating disorder clients. She brings a wonderful sense of humor of sports nutrition and genuine honesty to the ACED family, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have her join our team
Stewart Waddell
MD
Psychiatrist
Dr. Waddell earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama Medical College and was a resident in psychiatry and a fellow in child/adolescent psychiatry at North Carolina Memorial Hospital (UNC), in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is board certified in general psychiatry and child/adolescent psychiatry.
Caroline West
MA, LPC, NBCC
Community Therapist
Caroline holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Caroline is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, and trained in EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing) and PBSP (Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor).
Katie White
MEd, LPC, CEDS
Assistant Clinical Director, Adolescent Specialist, Primary Therapist
Katie graduated from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia and earned a master’s degree in community agency counseling from Montevallo University in Montevallo, Alabama.
Jenny Joseph Williamson
NSCA, RYT-200
Fitness Integration Coach
Jenny Joseph Williamson has been as a certified personal trainer for almost 15 years, during which time she worked for Health magazine, appeared in Shape magazine and became a top trainer at one of the country’s best and largest gyms. She is a National Strength and Condition Association certified personal trainer and has additional certifications in kettlebells, yoga, Pilates, TRX, VIPR and CPR/AED. Jenny is the owner and founder of Jenny Williamson Fitness.
Elizabeth (Lisa) Wilson
MBA, LPC
Program Director Primary Therapist
Lisa brings over fifteen years of experience in administrative, fiscal and human resource management. She has a distinct background in financial data analysis and budget projections, grants and contracts administration, and business operations. Her expertise in small business development is a welcome opportunity as ACED grows.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”
