OUR TEAM

DR. Jeremy Alford (PHD)

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, HYPNOTHERAPIST, NEUROFEEDBACK/BIOFEEDBACK THERAPIST

Dr. Jeremy Alford PhD, is a clinical psychologist with 20 years of mental health experience working with people from multicultural backgrounds. He founded MEEDA in 2009, after noticing that there were no specialized services nor proper guidelines to assist people suffering from eating disorders in Lebanon and the Middle East despite clear observations of increasing number of cases.Dr. Alford studied in England, he holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University College Kensington (UK), an MPhil in Psychology from the University College Kensington (UK), and a BA in Psychology. Between 2003 and 2014, he set up a behavioural health clinic in Lebanon. He consulted with several institutions namely Rizk Hospital, Bellevue Medical Center, Skoun Lebanese Addiction Centre. From 2009 to 2014, Dr. Alford also consulted in Kuwait at the Soor Centre, on a weekly basis. He has a multicultural experience and proven adaptability to international settings. He has experience in the application of learning in the UK and applying his knowledge in the Middle East and currently in Bali Indonesia since the end of 2014 where he offers a private personalized intensive integrative CBT and mindfulness based program. He consults with individuals, couples and families both in person and remotely.

As an eating disorders practitioner, he adopts an evidence based integrative approach and ensures his continued professional development through recognized organisations such as the NCFED, CEED, BPS; acquiring more skills such as CBT-E, DBT, ACT, EFT, along with other methods such as Clinical hypnotherapy, Biofeedback & others.

Carine El Khazen

VICE-PRESIDENT

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, PSYCHOTHERAPIST FAED, DESS, DEA

Carine el Khazen is a clinical psychologist. She has a Masters’ Degree in Clinical and Psychopathological Psychology (USJ), post-graduate degree (DESS) in Clinical and Psychopathological Psychology (University of Sorbonne), and diploma in Profound Studies (DEA) in Clinical Psychopathology (University of Jussieu,).

Carine has joined the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology (ACPN) in Dubai in 2011 and as an eating and weight disorders specialist, she has set up and is the director of a specialized multi-disciplinary outpatient Eating and Weight Disorders program. Carine is a CBT-E therapist, trainer and supervisor. The program is a CBT-E centre for excellence. She has co-authored with Dr Riccardo Dalle Grave the 1 st manual dedicated to parents with adolescents engaged in CBT-E “Cognitive Behaviour Therapy For Eating Disorders in Young People” a parent’s guide, published at Routledge Press.

Carine also serves as the clinical lead for the psychology services of the centre.

Carine is a fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED) and the Vice-President of the NGO MEEDA (the Middle East Eating Disorders Association) which is the Middle- Eastern chapter for the AED. She oversees and runs all the association’s daily operations dedicated to raising awareness, supporting sufferers and training the general public and professionals on the subject of eating and weight disorders.

DR. Joumana Warde Kamar

HEAD REPRESENTATIVE LEBANON

MEDICAL DOCTOR

Dr Joumana WARDÉ KAMAR is a Medical Doctor specialized in Obesity, Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders.She graduated from Necker Enfants-Malades Medical School (Paris V University) in Paris, and started her specialization in Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases in Paris at different hospitals affiliated with Paris V, Paris VI and Paris VII University Medical Schools.

She then completed her training in the Endocrinology and Obesity Department at Saint Luke’s Hospital Center (Columbia University) in New York, where she worked in the Adult and Pediatric Obesity & Metabolic Units. She also trained in the Bariatric Unit preparing obese patients for gastric surgery and taking their pre and post-surgical nutritional, medical and metabolic follow ups under her care. In that same hospital in New York, she also worked at the Obesity Research Center, conducting research studies in the Obesity and Metabolic fields.

To complete her knowledge about all pathologies related to Body Weight and Metabolic Management, she certified in Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders with the British Psychological Society Learning Centre and the National Centre for Eating Disorders (United Kingdom).

Florence Gillet

SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT

SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT

Florence Gillet is a size-inclusive Certified Eating Psychology & Body Image Coach. After recovering from a decade of disordered eating, Florence left a career in PR to train with the Institute for the Psychology of Eating as a coach. In 2018, she created Beyond Body Image Lifestyle Coaching, a Health At Every Size bilingual (French / English) coaching practice helping disordered eaters of all sizes reclaim their freedom of body and mind in order to transform their lives. In 2019, she joined MEEDA as a social media volunteer. Since 2020, Florence is also a podcast producer and host, working on the All In podcast and the MEEDA podcast.

Florence works in partnership with Dr Nicola Sykes Rinaldi, author of “No Period, Now What?” to help patients with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea restore their fertility and finally accept their bodies unconditionally . In 2021, Florence trained to offer a Guided Self-Help Programme to Binge Eating Disorder patients, under the supervision of Clinical Psychologist Carine El Khazen at ACPN in Dubai. Florence also supports parents wishing to nurture a positive body image in their children and is a regular presenter at Dubai schools on eating disorder prevention.

Claire El-Jo

INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR

INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR

Claire pursued a double major (BA Psychology and BS Nutrition and Dietetics – Coordinate Program) at the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Lebanon then travelled to London where she earned her MSc in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition with Distinction from University College London (UCL). Since then, she has been practicing as a licensed dietitian specialized in eating disorder recovery and lecturing part-time at the Lebanese American University.

Her clinical interests include eating disorders, disordered eating, body image, and prevention and enhancement of health through the Health at Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating frameworks.
​Her research interests include the cross-section of nutritional and psychological topics including eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image. She is also interested in positive psychology, specifically, self-compassion and its relation to health and wellbeing. She is currently at the start of her doctoral studies in Lyon, France.

Hiba Safieddine

NUTRITIONAL ADVISOR

A registered dietician, Hiba is a Founding member and Vice President of the Middle East Eating Disorder Association (MEEDA) and a member of the Lebanese Dietetic Association. After completing her BSc in Nutrition at Kings College London, where she focused on eating disorders, Hiba returned to Beirut in 2006 to set up her clinic aimed at helping people with weight issues and eating disorders.In addition to her dietary work, Hiba is a certified personal trainer and is the Co-Founder of Trainstation, a boutique fitness studio in Beirut. Based on her professional experience, Hiba is a strong believer in a holistic approach to a person’s well being which combines fitness and dietary treatments.

Deanne Jade

PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVISOR

Deanne is a psychologist and leading expert in eating and weight problems. She has a passionate commitment to help people to recover and has taught a generation of counsellors how to treat eating disorders such as compulsive eating, bulimia, anorexia and obesity. She is Founder & Principal of the National Center For Eating Disorders in the U.K. She belongs to professional organisations such as: The British Psychological Society, The European Health Psychology Society, the National Obesity Forum, The Royal Society of Medicine and an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Obesity. She assisted the development of treatment guidelines for eating disorders and obesity by The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

DR. Carole Chidiac

MEDICAL ADVISOR

Dr Carole Wehbe Chidiac is a Family Medicine Specialist and an Eating Disorder Practitioner with more than 10 years experience in the treatment of eating disorders and obesity. As an active member of MEEDA board of advisors since 2013, Dr Chidiac has been a consultant and a lecturer for health care professionals, schools, companies and the general public. As an active member of MEEDA board of advisors since 2013, Dr Chidiac has been a consultant and a lecturer for health care professionals, schools, companies and the general public. As a member of the international academy of eating disorders AED since June 2017, Dr Chidiac is part of two of its special interest groups, educating health care professionals, and increasing awareness via the distribution of its purple book.

DR. Michel Nawfal (MD) (MA)

PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVISOR

Dr. Michel Nawfal is a Mental Health Professional. He’s a Medical Doctor and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (Lebanese Ministry of Health License number 2018/3/46610) with a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He received his undergraduate education in premedical studies (BS: Bachelors of Science) at the American University of Beirut in 1998 after which he earned his medical degree (MD degree) in 2003 from St. George’s University School of Medicine with clinical rotations at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York, a Cornell University affiliate.

Dr. Nawfal had an interest in psychological disorders and their complexity. Deciding to practice in the Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, he has pursued graduate education again at the American university of Beirut to earn a master degree in psychology with an internship in psychotherapy from the American University of Beirut Medical Center in 2009. Dr. Nawfal was trained and supervised in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Beck Institute through the extra-mural program. With a post-graduate course in psychopharmacotherapy from Harvard Medical School and being a medical doctor registered at the Lebanese Order of Physicians (LOP registration number N/507). Dr. Nawfal is currently a Professional Colleague and Fellow Member of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT). Since 2005, Dr. Nawfal has been a full member of the American Psychological Association (APA). He served on the board of the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) for 2 consecutive mandates from 2011 to 2014 and then from 2014 to 2017. Dr. Nawfal was a Board Member of the Middle East Eating Disorders Association (MEEDA) from 2017 till 2019 as its Social Affairs Director and is currently on its board of advisers. He is also a board member of the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH) since September 2107. Dr. Nawfal is also the vice president of the Middle East Psychological Association (MEPA) since September 2017.

Huguette Abou Khalil

NUTRITIONAL ADVISOR

Huguette Abou Khalil is a Clinical Nutritionist specialized in Eating Disorders and Eating Psychology who owns Mind Body Nutrition Clinic in Lebanon. She got her BS in Nutrition and Dietetics and MS in Food Technology from the American University of Beirut. She did her dietetic internship at Mount-Lebanon Hospital. She also got a certification in Eating Psychology from The Institute of Psychology of Eating in Colorado. She was trained with MEEDA for Nutrition Counseling for Eating Disorders. With MEEDA, she is the Awareness Campaign Director in Lebanon, responsible to increase education and awareness on the subject of Eating Disorders and the dangers of dieting.

DR. Aimee Karam (PHD)

PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVISOR

Dr Aimee Karam received her PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2001 from St. Joseph University Beirut – Lebanon. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Cognitive Therapy Studies, leading to an Award of the University of Oxford and has completed her specialty in CBT at the Beck Institute for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy in Pennsylvania, US. She is a Diplomat of the Academy for Cognitive Therapy (ACT). Dr Aimee Karam is working as a Clinical Psychologist at the Medical Institute for Neuropsychological Disorders (MIND) in the Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology at St George Hospital University Medical Center / Faculty of Medicine, Balamand University, Beirut, Lebanon. Dr Aimee Karam is also a founding member of IDRAAC (Institute for Development Research, Advocacy and Applied Care) an NGO dedicated to research and training in Mental Health. She has authored several research articles and book chapters.

Caroll Mounzer Najem

NUTRITIONAL ADVISOR

Caroll Mounzer Najem is a Licensed Dietitian who received her bachelor degree from Universite Saint Joseph. Her post grad MS diploma was focused on eating disorders. She has had a private practice for 8 years displaying a vast diversity of clientele seeking her expertise in ED, sports nutrition and therapeutic cases. She continues her education at various conferences and seminars throughout the country.She focuses mainly on wellness, gastrointestinal distress, food allergies and ED. Caroll has several years of personal and professional experience. She is the owner of “ON DIET nutrition clinic” which is a clinic that handles all nutrition therapeutic cases and has a focus on ED and nutrition for professional athletes; in addition Caroll is the Head of the Nutrition Department at HOPITAL LIBANAIS-GEITAWI. Caroll is an instructor in her field in different local universities: USJ- NDU- LIU- BALAMAND.

Rayane Chami

SUPPORT ADVISOR

Dr. Nadine Zeeni is a full-time assistant professor at the Lebanese American University (LAU) since 2009. She was the first Faculty member in Nutrition at LAU and is now coordinator of the Nutrition Program. She studied Nutrition and Dietetics in Lebanon, before getting her Masters from McGill in Canada and her PhD from AgroParisTech in France. She was part of the NuSISCO (Nutrient Sensing in Satiety control and Obesity) project funded by the European Union that aimed at better understanding the growing obesity problem in Europe. As part of her research, Nadine discovered that long-term exposure to a high-fat diet reduces feelings of fullness. Her research currently focuses on the areas of hunger regulation as well as the etiology of obesity and eating disorders in the Arab region.

Nadine Zeeni

NUTRITIONAL ADVISOR

Dr. Nadine Zeeni is a full-time assistant professor at the Lebanese American University (LAU) since 2009. She was the first Faculty member in Nutrition at LAU and is now coordinator of the Nutrition Program. She studied Nutrition and Dietetics in Lebanon, before getting her Masters from McGill in Canada and her PhD from AgroParisTech in France. She was part of the NuSISCO (Nutrient Sensing in Satiety control and Obesity) project funded by the European Union that aimed at better understanding the growing obesity problem in Europe. As part of her research, Nadine discovered that long-term exposure to a high-fat diet reduces feelings of fullness. Her research currently focuses on the areas of hunger regulation as well as the etiology of obesity and eating disorders in the Arab region.