Staff


Johanna Kandel, Founder and CEO
Author, Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder

After recovering from a ten-year-long battle with various eating disorders, Johanna founded The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Since its inception in 2000, The Alliance has brought information and awareness about eating disorders to more than 160,000 middle school, high school, and college students nationally and internationally. In addition, Johanna runs free weekly support groups, mentors individuals with eating disorders and their families through their treatment and recovery, helps thousands of people gain information and find the help they need, and advocates for legislation on the local, state, and national levels.

She is a member of the Eating Disorders Coalition Board of Directors, Florida state leader for NEDA’s STAR program, founding board member of the Eating Disorders Activist Network, and board member/Expert Advisory Committee member of GirlFuture, a website dedicated to educating and empowering girls ages 9 to 15. She is an active participant in National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, has received many awards for her ongoing outreach and advocacy work, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service©, MLB/People Magazine All Stars Among Us Finalist and Harlequin Enterprises’ More Than Words Award, and has appeared on national television programs including NBC Nightly News and The Today Show.

Johanna’s book, Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder, was released by Harlequin Nonfiction in September of 2010. Success to Johanna means helping even one person avoid traveling down the same road she did and continuing to use her voice in the fight against eating disorders.

 

For more information, please log on to www.johannakandel.com
To email Johanna, jkandel@allianceforeatingdisorders.com 

 

Joann Hendelman, PhD, RN, FAED, CEDS, Clinical Director

Dr. Joann Hendelman is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She is the Clincal Director for The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, and formerly served as Chief, Department of Psychology for St. Mary’s and Good Samaritan Medical Centers. Dr. Hendelman is also a Registered Nurse, a Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders, and a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist.

Dr. Hendelman arrived in Florida in 1988 when she was hired to develop an Outpatient Eating Disorders Program at Lake Hospital in Lake Worth. She started her private practice in 1989 specializing in eating disorders and adolescence as well as other therapeutic issues. Dr. Hendelman has worked in the treatment of eating disorders for more than 35 years and is recognized as a leader in the treatment of the disease in South Florida. She has spoken internationally on eating disorders and other topics.

Dr. Hendelman attended The University of Michigan where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. She received her Masters Degree in Clinical and School Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, and her doctorate from Cornell University.

 

Sharon Glynn, Director of Programming

Sharon was born and raised in New York City, NY.  She was previously employed at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc. Investment Management where she served as a Vice President of the firm and Manager of the Legal Department.
 
Sharon and her family moved to Wellington, FL in 2001.  It was her desire to pursue another avenue in life – her true passion - nursing.  Sharon returned to school and received her license as a practical nurse in 2004 from Palm Beach State College.  It is here that she continues her studies in the field of Science.
 
Sharon has held various positions in the medical field, both in direct patient care and administration.  Her primary focus has always been educating patients and patient advocacy issues.
 
Prior to joining the staff of The Alliance For Eating Disorders Awareness, Sharon was a valued volunteer with us at several of our past events.  She also assisted with the publication of our recent Florida Eating DisordersTreatment Provider Referral Guide.  Sharon displays an unbridled enthusiasm to aid our cause and be a voice for the spirit of hope and recovery.


To email Sharon, sglynn@allianceforeatingdisorders.com

 

 

Nicole Cruikshank, Director of Volunteers

Nicole graduated from the University of Denver with a BA in Sociology and French in 1997.  After interning with the United Way, she decided to move back east to be with her family.  In Washington D.C., she worked as a paralegal before entering into the retail industry.  Her creative talents in this field enticed her to return to school at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.  Nicole applied her educational skills working at a Bridal Salon, as well as an upscale clothing store chain.  Subsequent to a personal loss, Nicole relocated to Delray Beach, FL in 2005.
 
After falling prey to an eating disorder, Nicole decided to seek help and entered residential treatment.  Although it was not successful, she decided to not give up and sought treatment again for the second and last time.  Upon returning home, Nicole wanted to make a difference and help others.  She began volunteering for The Alliance, and today she holds the position of Director of Volunteers. Working with The Alliance, she hopes to continue educating others about eating disorders, and to help change public perception about the disease. 

To email Nicole, cruikshankrb@aol.com

  
Julia Morpurgo, Art Director and Blogger

Julia is a recent college graduate in media studies and journalism from New York University.  While at NYU, Julia's special interests included positive body image, magazine influences and media trivia. She has headed The Alliance’s 10-Year Anniversary redesign campaign, art directed both the Florida Eating Disorder Referral Guide and the US Treatment Center Referral Guide,  modeled in the annual re(Define) (Real)ity ™ Fashion Shows, and blogs about positive body image and eating disorders news on The Alliance’s Web site. In addition, Julia has interned with a number of national magazines and freelances as an editor, writer and graphic designer.

To email Julia, julia@allianceforeatingdisorders.com