Executive Committee

 

Chairwoman

Dr. Ulrike Smrekar

 

Deputy Chairwoman

Prof.(FH) Mag. Dr. Karin Waldherr

 

Cashier

former Chairman Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schüssler

Email:gerhard.schuessler@i-med.ac.at

 

Deputy Cashier

Dr. Martina Brauns

 

Secretary

Mag. (FH) Ursula Prinz

 

Deputy Secretary

Ass.-Prof. Mag. Karin Labek, PhD

 

Auditor

Mag. Maria Seiwald

 

Regulatory Body

Cash audit through tax accountancy Mag. Barbara Guggenberger  (Pro West)

 

Chairwoman

Ulrike Smrekar, Dr.

Psychotherapist, Clinical and Health Psychologist

Many years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of adolescents with eating disorders and their families (1982–1994 at the University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Innsbruck), as well as adults affected by eating disorders at the University Clinic for Medical Psychology. Established and led the specialized outpatient clinic for eating disorders at the Department of Medical Psychology (1994–2020). Conceptualization and regular implementation of a group program for relatives of patients with eating disorders.

Numerous regular teaching and training activities (nursing education, medical studies and continuing medical education for physicians, Course “Clinical Psychology”), as well as lecturing at congresses and conferences, particularly in the professional focus areas of eating disorders and living with a chronic illness, especially cystic fibrosis.

Founding and long-standing board member of the Association Network for Eating Disorders and the Austrian Society for Eating Disorders, as well as other associations and professional societies in the field of psychotherapy and the treatment/care of patients with cystic fibrosis.

 

Deputy Chairwoman

Karin Waldherr, Prof. (FH) Mag. Dr., Clinical Psychologist and Health Psychologist; additional qualification: International Continuing Education-Curriculum in the Treatment of Eating Disorders.

Head of Research & Development at Ferdinand Porsche Distance-Learning University of Applied Sciences (FernFH), Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Program Director of the postgraduate course “Evaluation in the Health, Social and Education Sectors.”

From 2013 to 2019, together with Prof. Günther Rathner, Scientific Director of the annually held International Scientific Conference “Eating Disorders Congress” in Alpbach. Scientific Director of the 1st International Webinar of the Network for Eating Disorders in December 2020.

Currently President of the Austrian Society for Eating Disorders (ÖGES), member of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), and since 2016 representative of ÖGES on the AED “Partnership, Chapter and Affiliate Committee”.

Member of the COST network “Appearance Matters” (www.appearancematters.eu) from 2013 to 2017. Member of the consortium and Task Leader for the Stakeholder Survey in the Horizon 2020 project “ICare – Integrating Technology into Mental Health Care Delivery in Europe” (www.icare-online.eu; Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Corinna Jacobi).

Guest Editor of the special issue “Eating Disorders and Associated Disorders in Adolescents” of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Eating Disorders and Associated Disorders in Adolescents | IJERPH | MDPI).

Email: karin.waldherr@fernfh.ac.at

 

Founding Chairman and former Chair of the Board

Günther Rathner, Univ. Prof. Dr. (Founding President of the Austrian Society for Eating Disorders – ÖGES)

University Professor of Medical Psychology, Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics; Psychotherapist (Systemic Family Therapy, Client-Centered Psychotherapy; Training Therapist at the Milan School of Systemic Family Therapy, Milan/Italy); Clinical and Health Psychologist; Supervisor and consultant in the development of counseling centers and specialized outpatient clinics for eating disorders. Over 25 years of experience in the diagnosis, treatment, and research of eating disorders in adolescents and adults. Established and directed the Specialized Outpatient Clinic for Eating Disorders at the University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Innsbruck (1984–2002); currently practicing at the University Clinic for Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck. Private practice “Center for Eating Disorders” in Innsbruck. Principal investigator of numerous research projects on eating disorders. Founder and Chair of the Network for Eating Disorders/Innsbruck (since 1990); President of the Austrian Society for Eating Disorders (ÖGES) since 2000. Founding member of the European Council on Eating Disorders (ECED) and member of the Eating Disorders Research Society (EDRS), USA. Member of the editorial boards of the professional journals European Eating Disorders Review and Eating & Weight Disorders. Scientific Director of the International Scientific Congresses “Eating Disorders” in Alpbach, Austria. Director of the accredited postgraduate training curriculum “Treatment of Eating Disorders” (offered since 2000). Scientific Director and host of the IXth European Council on Eating Disorders (ECED), Innsbruck 2005.

Andreas Karwautz,Univ. Prof. Dr. med., Specialist in Psychiatry and Neurology; Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine; Specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine. Senior Consultant at the University Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Professor of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry at the General Hospital of Vienna (AKH Vienna).

Former Chairman Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schüssler