Mirasol's Eating Disorder Professionals

Jeanne Rust, PhD, LPC: CEO and Founder
Jeanne specializes in eating disorders and is an expert in the treatment of adult trauma. She holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Saybrook Graduate School, a Master's Degree in Counseling, and a Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. Jeanne is licensed by the State of Arizona as a Professional Counselor. She has received comprehensive training in Gestalt and other expressive therapies, as well as Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and she is a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner. Jeanne was a therapist in private practice for many years before founding Mirasol. She has worked with the University of Arizona athletic department to meet the therapeutic needs of athletes with eating disorders, has taught courses at the university level, and provides training and education for health care professionals in her areas of expertise.

Dr. Dawn Bantel, NMD: Medical Director and Staff Physician
Dr. Bantel is a licensed Naturopathic Physician. She obtained her degree at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, with a special emphasis in the treatment of women and children. She is a local community lecturer, presenting talks on natural medicine, menopausal options, detoxification, chronic fatigue, and digestion. Dr. Bantel is also a professor at the Asian Institute of Medical Studies, where she teaches students the western models of disease and treatment in the subject areas of cardiology, pulmonology, dermatology, and urology. She also instructs students in physiology at the Providence Institute for Massage and Shiatsu.

Sharon Meglathery, MD: Psychiatrist
Sharon Meglathery grew up in Connecticut and attended Brown University. She became interested in the field of mental health during a year abroad in England working with juvenile delinquents. Prior to medical school, she worked for two years as a research assistant in the Biological Psychiatry Branch of the National Insitute of Mental Health, comparing the efficacy of pharmacological agents for bipolar disorder. She obtained her medical degree from Oregon Health Sciences University in 1996 and completed internships in internal medicine and psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, followed by internal medicine and psychiatry residencies at the Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann University (now Drexel University). She became board-certified in internal medicine in 2000 and in psychiatry in 2003. Sharon enjoyed working as an emergency psychiatric attending for Philadelphia-area hospitals for five years before moving to Arizona in 2005. Since then, Sharon has worked as a child and adult psychiatrist for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and as the psychiatrist for Mirasol's primary residential treatment center. "I believe that an eating disorder must be treated as an entire system that has gone awry," says Sharon, "and I feel that Mirasol does a better job of healing the whole person — including family systems, identity disturbances and developmental issues — than most other eating disorder programs."

Diane Ryan, MA, CPT: Clinical Director
Diane Ryan received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and her Master's in Counseling and Psychology with a specialty certification in Adventure-Based Psychotherapy. She is trained in experiential methods including psychodrama, expressive arts and challenge course activities, and is passionate about accessing the power of outdoor and wilderness experiences as healing modalities. She currently serves as a member of an international consortium evaluating current research on exercise and eating disorders. She also continues to explore the impact of wilderness interventions as measured by changes in brain wave patterns.

Jill Sprecher, MA: Primary Therapist
Jill Sprecher received her undergraduate degree in Recreation Therapy at the University of Tennessee. She was an All-American swimmer in high school and college. Being an athlete in recovery for an eating disorder, Jill decided to help other young women in athletics. Jill worked at Sierra Tucson for four years as a Recreation Therapist and a Fitness Instructor. During this time, she obtained her personal trainer certificate and her certificate to teach water aerobics. Jill now has a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Prescott College. Jill's specialty is counseling women with compulsive exercise tendencies.

Emily Mason, RD: Registered Dietitian
Emily received a BS in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Arizona in 1983, then completed a graduate level internship at University Medical Center to become a registered dietitian. She has worked as a dietitian for over 20 years in residential treatment centers, acute care hospitals and outpatient clinics in Tucson, Denver and Northern California. She has also taught nutrition in several community colleges. Her expertise is in using nutrition to treat and heal bodies from long-term illnesses such as heart disease, gastrointestinal problems and diabetes. After nine years away from Tucson, she is happy to return to its beautiful desert and warm sunshine.

Ann Twilley, MA, LAC: Continuing Care Coordinator
Ann completed her BA in Psychology at the University of Arizona and her MA in Counseling. Ann is passionate about her work with eating disorder relapse prevention and re-entry. Having recovered from an eating disorder herself, she is compassionate and understands the complexity of this illness. She sets up the Mirasol client's entire aftercare plan and supports the clients after they leave treatment.

Diane M. Notarianni Ph.D. L.Ac Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM).: Acupuncturist*
For over a decade Diane worked as an anthropologist, professor and researcher with Native Americans, especially Arizona's Hopi Indians. In 2001 she was inspired to study Traditional Chinese Medicine, a vast system of healing both indigenous in nature and scientific in application. Today, as Mirasol's staff acupuncturist, she applies her knowledge of both anthropology and oriental medicine to the treatment of women with eating disorders. "Practitioners of Oriental Medicine believe that everything about the way we live and the way we have lived since childhood has an influence on our health," says Notarianni. "We don't just look at the symptoms, we look at the whole person, including her way of conducting herself in the world and her relationships with the other people."

Duncan Eidse: Maintenance Manager
After studying facility management on the East Coast, Duncan arrived in sunny Arizona in October, 2005, and has been with us ever since. Born in Manitoba, Canada, Duncan lived outside of Philadelphia for 20 years, honing his handyman skills while aquiring his Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University. He is an avid golfer and sports fan, and he really enjoys working the clients and staff at Mirasol to make it a safe and enjoyable place to be.

Chuck Gross: Chef
Chuck came to Mirasol in 2001. As Kitchen Manager and Chef, he oversees the operation of the adult residence kitchen and maintains the inventory of supplies for our busy household. Before joining Mirasol, Chuck enjoyed many years in the food and beverage industry as well as the music business. A self-taught chef and avid student of the craft, he also sings and plays guitar, worships his grandson, and aspires to cook his best meal ever every time he sets foot in the kitchen.

Karen Patch: Chef
After retiring from a 24-year career with the US Air Force, Karen attended Scottsdale Culinary School, and worked in the banquest department at Westward Look Resort for six years. Karen joined Mirasol in October, 2005, and is working on a degree as a Dietetic Technician through Central Arizona College. Karen loves cooking, camping, and helping women in recovery learn how to have a healthier and more enjoyable relationship with food and cooking.

Sarah Ronhovde, EEG Technician
Sara attended Seattle Pacific University where she received her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science. Her journey at Mirasol began as a counseling assistant and office supervisor. In 2007, Sara finished her Master's degree in Psychology and began working as a neurofeedback practitioner. She currently conducts QEEGs (brain maps) and Brainmaster and Roshi sessions for the women at Mirasol. Sarah enjoys working on rebalancing brain waves to alleviate psychological and physical symptoms.

Lori Key: Counselor Assistant Supervisor
The bulk of Lori's experience has been a combination of administrative and medical support positions. She worked at Remuda Ranch in Wickenburg Arizona as a Mental Health Technician in the year 2000 until 2002 dealing with teen girls and women with eating disorders. Lori's main responsibilities included taking orthostatic vitals, EKGs, charting medical behaviors, accompany patients to therapy programs, and monitoring eating behavior disorders. She moved to Tucson in 2002 and worked for Intermountain Centers for Human Development as a Psych, Technician, dealing with adolescent boys and girls who were emotionally and physiologically disabled. A number of different things led her to working at Mirasol. Lori loves her job and the people she works with.