Tania Heller, M.D., F.A.A.P., Medical Director is a board-certified pediatrician who completed her pediatric residency at Georgetown University Hospital. She then became a partner in a large pediatric practice where she practiced pediatric and adolescent medicine for almost fifteen years, while on staff at Inova Hospital for Children. Dr. Heller later served as Medical Director of Nighttime Pediatrics, Suburban Hospital's after-hours urgent care center. She started the Suburban Center for Eating Disorders and Adolescent Obesity and served as its Medical Director for four years and is now Medical Director of the Washington Center for Eating Disorders and Adolescent Obesity. Dr. Heller hosted an educational pediatric radio program for three years, published a number of medical articles and has written the following books: "Eating Disorders. A Handbook for Teens, Families and Teachers", "Overweight. A Handbook for Teens and Parents" and "Pregnant! What can I do?" published by McFarland. Her latest book, "On Becoming a Doctor" (2009) is published by Sourcebooks. Dr. Heller is on the staff of Suburban Hospital and is a clinical assistant professor at Georgetown University Hospital. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Obesity Society.

Carolyn S. Weiss, MS, APRN/PMH Assistant Director, is a board certified advanced practice registered nurse, psychotherapist who provides assessments and therapy for patients with numerous concerns, including but not limited to eating disorders, obesity, depression and anxiety disorders. Carolyn uses both cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic principles in the treatment of eating disorders. She received her Master of Science in Psychiatric Nursing at the University of Wisconsin and her Post Master of Science in advanced practice psychiatric nursing at the University of Maryland. She has experience in individual, group and family therapy and has developed, organized and implemented a treatment program that served as a prototype for adolescent clinical operations.
Carolyn has also reviewed psychiatric partial hospital programs, substance abuse programs and residential centers nation wide.

Marilou G. Tablang-Jimenez, M.D. is a board-certified psychiatrist who trained at Georgetown University for general psychiatry and at John Hopkins University for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Her affiliation with John Hopkins continues as a staff psychiatrist of Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Her most recent experience with the institute included leading several school-based multidisciplinary treatment teams in providing care to emotionally and neurodevelopmentally handicapped lower and middle school students. She has worked with Sheppard Pratt Health Systems in their residential treatment center and outpatient clinic until her recent departure to start private practice. She continues to be involved with the Sheppard Pratt Health System, providing weekend coverage in all their child and adolescent units on a monthly basis.
A resident of Germantown, Maryland for the past 14 years, she has witnessed the growth of this small town to become one of the most populous areas in the state. She is well acquainted with the community and its needs. She is currently involved with the Department of Juvenile Justice through state and federal grants since March 2000. In addition to this, she has done forensic evaluations for the justice system. Her specialty deals with disorders that appear in childhood such as Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD), Delinquency, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, as well as disorders seen in the general population such as Mood Disorders, Anxiety and Eating Disorders.

Menikina Pesce, M.D., F.A.A.P. is a board-certified pediatrician who completed her residency at Yale University School of Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital Program. She served as chief resident in her pediatric residency program. Dr. Pesce has been practicing pediatric and adolescent medicine in Maryland for the past 11 years. She currently serves as Vice President of Pediatric Health Partners, a pediatric wellness center in Germantown, MD. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Philippine Medical Association of Washington, D.C. and is involved in other organizations promoting healthcare and medical information both locally and internationally. Dr. Pesce is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Kathy A. Toepfer, R.D, L.D. Is a registered and licensed dietitian who received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Research and Clinical Dietetics from the University of Maryland and is currently in private practice in the DC metro area. Ms. Toepfer has worked extensively in the treatment and prevention of obesity and diabetes. She has been a clinical dietitian at Suburban Hospital, and has conducted seminars, health fairs, wellness education programs, and cooking demonstrations for public nutrition education. Ms. Toepfer has been quoted by the Washington Times Newspaper, and writes for several nutrition related websites. She is also a member of the American Dietetic Association and the District of Columbia Dietetic Association. Ms. Toepfer provides Medical Nutrition Therapy for obesity, type1 and 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and disordered eating. She works with individuals and families to improve their nutritional status through specialized meal planning, behavior modification strategies, and basic nutrition education about food choices and nutritional needs.

Linda Blackman, LCSW-C, Is a board certified, licensed social worker who provides family and individual therapy for patients with eating disorders, obesity, and a variety of other disorders. Linda received her degree at the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York and completed the child and adolescent training program at the Jewish Social Service Agency. She also completed the object relations couples and family therapy program at the Washington School of Psychiatry.
Ms. Blackman has worked extensively with families, individual, and couples, and has supervised social work students as well as psychiatry residents in family therapy. The involvement of a family therapist enhances our team, as working with families is an integral part of our patients' recovery.

Katherine Reyes, LCSW-C, is a clinical social worker licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia. She graduated with her MSW degree from the Catholic University of America in 1986. As Clinical Coordinator of a 17-bed Inpatient Eating Disorder Unit at the Washington Hospital Center, Ms. Reyes worked with individuals, groups and families from 1986-1990. She then worked at the George Washington University Ambulatory Care Center in the Outpatient Eating Disorders Program as a psychotherapist until 1996. Currently, Ms. Reyes is a Family and Individual Therapist at the Washington Center where she brings her expertise to the treatment of adolescent obesity and other eating disorders. She also maintains a private practice in Rockville where she provides individual, couples and group therapy. Ms. Reyes has presented workshops on eating disorders to the Northern Virginia Professional Counselors, the Baptist Home for Children (now the National Center for Children and Families) and to families of patients with eating disorders. She conducts parenting workshops at local schools and has also facilitated seminars for adolescent students on assertiveness, personal boundaries and self awareness.

Veronica R. Everett, LCSW-C is a psychotherapist with extensive experience working with children, adolescents, young adults and families coping with medical conditions and other life-altering issues, including eating disorders, anxiety and depression. A social worker since 1999, most recently she has been at Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C. Veronica Everett received her Masters in Social Work at the Simmons College School of Social Work in Boston Massachusetts in 1999 with fellowships in the areas of emotionally disturbed adolescents, adults with cancer, and children with cystic fibrosis. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Union College, in Schenectady NY in 1995. She joined the Washington Center for Eating Disorders and Adolescent Obesity in July 2008.

Barbara J. Novak, M.D. is a board-certified psychiatrist who attended medical school at the University of Virginia and completed her residency training at The Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Having trained at the Baltimore Washington Institute for Psychoanalysis, she is a board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychoanalyst. She has been in private practice in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for 25 years. In addition to treating patients with eating disorders, she specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, character pathology, and trauma in children, adolescents and adults. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and a Training, Supervising and Teaching Psychoanalyst with the Baltimore Washington Institute for Psychoanalysis. She joined the medical team of the Washington Center for Eating Disorders and Adolescent Obesity in April 2010.


Carly Blackstone, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families coping with eating disorders, obesity, and a variety of other mental health disorders.
She received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University and her doctorate degree from George Washington University in 2005. Currently, Dr. Blackstone is a Family and Individual therapist at The Washington Center.  She also works as part of a private practice in Arlington, VA where she provides individual and couples therapy and treats a variety of mental health struggles.  Dr. Blackstone also performs psychological evaluations to help uncover intellectual and/or emotional barriers to growth.