Dr. Ron A. Thompson	Dr. Roberta Sherman

Clinical Work:

Drs. Thompson and Sherman first began working with eating disorder patients in 1979 and 1983, respectively. They have specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1986. In 1988, they co-founded a hospital-based, intensive outpatient eating disorder treatment program, which they co-directed at Bloomington Hospital for 15 years.

Currently, Drs. Thompson and Sherman specialize in the assessment and treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Although they also treat patients with binge eating disorder, they do not treat obesity. They also work with athletes on their psychological issues, especially those that relate to eating and exercise. Typically, they work with male and female patients on an individual basis, but may also provide couples, family, and group therapy when appropriate.

Clinically, Drs. Thompson and Sherman work primarily from a treatment model that incorporates aspects of cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal psychotherapy. They view eating disorders as being multidimensional and multi-determined, requiring that treatment also be multidimensional. In that regard, treatment focuses on the modification of the patient’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are contributing to his or her difficulties. Treatment will often involve dietary/nutritional counseling and the use of psychotropic medications as an adjunct. Thus, treatment frequently involves a treatment team that may include a dietitian and a psychiatrist, as well as the patient’s primary care physician.

Publications:

Drs. Sherman and Thompson have published extensively in the area of eating disorders. Included in their publications is the book Bulimia: A Guide for Family and Friends, which has been translated into Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. They also co-authored Helping Athletes with Eating Disorders, which was one of the first books to deal specifically with how to identify, manage, treat, and prevent eating disorders in athletes. In addition, Dr. Sherman has served on the editorial board of a journal specializing in eating disorders called Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention since 1998 and served as a “special co-editor” for the Special Issue: Athletes and Eating Disorders in 1999.

Because their list of publications is extensive, a partial list is available in the below links:

Dr. Sherman’s publications

Dr. Thompson’s publications

Teaching and Lecturing:

Drs. Sherman and Thompson have presented more than 60 invited lectures at regional, national, and international professional meetings. In addition, they were invited faculty for a five-day in-depth course on eating disorders in Verona, Italy, with two internationally known eating disorder treatment specialists. Participants in the course included healthcare professionals from throughout Europe, as well as the U.S.

Drs. Sherman and Thompson are also members of the Health and Safety Speakers List of the NCAA and in that capacity visit NCAA member institutions to provide educational programs to athletes, coaches, and other sport personnel regarding eating disorders. For more information about lecture topics or services to athletic departments, please contact either Dr. Thompson or Dr. Sherman.

Professional Activities:

Drs. Sherman and Thompson have been involved in a variety of professional activities focused on eating disorders and related issues.

The list below briefly describes some of their projects:

The Eating Disorder Task Force of Indiana (EDTFI): In 1986, Drs. Sherman and Thompson founded the EDTFI with other eating disorder treatments specialists in the state. In that capacity, they have helped organize five regional eating disorder conferences in Indiana, as well as having presented workshops at each conference.

Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics: In 1987, they began a consulting relationship with IU’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, a relationship that continues today. In that capacity they have worked with student-athletes, as well as providing coaches and staff with education and training.

NCAA: Drs. Sherman and Thompson have consulted with the NCAA on projects involving athletes and disordered eating. These projects included a survey of NCAA coaches’ attitudes and behaviors regarding their female athletes’ eating. Additionally, in conjunction with the NCAA they developed a coaches handbook on the Female Athlete Triad (disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis)

Female Athlete Triad Coalition: Again, continuing with their work with athletes, they were asked to participate in a national task force on the Female Athlete Triad in 2002. This small group of professionals continues to meet on a yearly basis.

Academy for Eating Disorders (AED): With a continued interest in athletes as a special population, they formed the Athlete Special Interest Group in 2001 through the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), an international organization of eating disorder treatment specialists. Drs. Sherman and Thompson have been AED members since 1995, and were elected as fellows in 2004.

International Olympic Committee: Drs. Sherman and Thompson were two of the five co-authors who co-authored a position stand on the Female Athlete Triad for the IOC Medical Commission.

Indiana State Department of Health: In 1996, in conjunction with the Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana University television station WTIU, and the Bloomington Hospital Foundation, Drs. Sherman and Thompson donated their time to the development of an educational videotape entitled, “Eating Disorders: A Reality Check,” in which they appeared. A programmed learning component to be used in classes, in addition to the videotape, was provided free of charge to all middle and high schools in the state of Indiana.