November 2009

Volume I, Issue 1

People with Impact

Professionals Making a Difference in Sustainable Recovery Philip S. Mehler,
MD/FACEP, CEDS While treating a severely medically compromised eating disorder patient is typically a once-in-a-career experience for the average physician, for Dr. Philip S. Mehler, Chief Medical Officer at Denver Health Medical Center, interaction with these patients is a daily occurrence. An author, lecturer and avid researcher, Mehler is widely recognized as the nations foremost expert on the medical complications associated with eating disorders. Mehlers interest in the treatment of medically compromised eating disorder patients materialized early in his career. Twenty years ago, Dr. Kenneth Weiner, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eating Recovery Center, opened his first eating disorder program at Columbine Psychiatric Center, where Mehler specialized as an internist. The medical centers new influx of eating disorder patients, coupled with an apparent lack of research, published materials and other resources on the medical complications associated with the diseases, offered Mehler a unique opportunity. I had the opportunity to build this expertise myself, explains Mehler. Im very rigorous about staying current. I read a lot, write a lot, give lectures and offer workshops. Today, with 20 years of research, hands-on experience and professional outreach under his belt, Mehler is recognized as the preeminent expert in the field. This experience has led to the development of a tremendous body of research, published materials and other work that has enabled members of the eating disorder field to gain a more thorough understanding of the unique medical complications associated with these diseases. This work led directly to the development of Mehlers A.C.U.T.E. Center for Eating Disorders at Denver Health Medical Center. Opened in 2008, A.C.U.T.E. is an inpatient medical service for patients whose eating disorders have become life threatening. It is one of the only hospital-based treatment programs in the nation able to care for the most complex medical complications of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, regardless of patients percentage below ideal body weight. Mehler continues to lecture extensively around the United States and was recently named one of Denvers Top Docs by 5280 magazine. A new version of his book, Eating Disorders: A Guide to Medical Care and Complications, will be released by John Hopkins University Press in December 2009. Building understanding of the critical need for specialized care of medically compromised eating disorder patients remains one of his key priorities. For clinicians and medical professionals faced with these unique patients, Mehler offers the following three recommendations:

Philip S. Mehler, MD/FACP, CEDS, a Denver native, is the Chief Medical Officer of Denver Health. A Phi Beta Kappa and Honors Graduate of the University of Colorado and an Alpha Omega Alpha Graduate of the CU Medical School, Mehler has been at Denver Health since training there as a resident in the early 1980s. He served as Chief of Internal Medicine from 1993-2003 and was named Denver Healths Associate Medical Director in 2003. He served in that position until 2008, when he was promoted to Chief Medical Officer for Denver Health. Philip Mehler is also a Professor of Medicine at the CU Medical School where he holds the Glassman Endowed Chair of Medicine. This was the first ever endowed chair at a public hospital.

1. Recognize these patients before they become more chronic. 2. Understand the truths and myths of medical complications associated with eating disorders, including refeeding, osteoporosis, stomach complaints, dehydration and low potassium. 3. Understand when these rare patients need to be treated by someone with expertise dealing with medical complications.

These disorders inherently have a whole litany of medical complications associated with them. The average physician may only see a few of these in his or her career, explains Mehler. If youre not familiar with the complications that can arise, the medical issues can quickly escalate.

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