EDC Bids Farewell to Jeanine Cogan

The Eating Disorder Coalition's (EDC) Policy Director Jeanine Cogan has announced her resignation. Jeanine was the founding Executive Director of the EDC and was instrumental in its leadership and direction for 14 years. She has decided to step aside now so the EDC can bring in new leadership as we undertake changing and growing opportunities on Capitol Hill. The EDC board accepted her resignation on February 28th and it will go into effect on March 21, 2014.

Under Jeanine's watch, the EDC has been able to influence Congress in a variety of ways including playing an important role in passing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and the introduction of the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act.  In the past 14 years, under Jeanine's guidance, the EDC has made certain that eating disorders language has been inserted in several bills that have been put before Congress. In addition, she was instrumental in making sure eating disorders issues have been included in Congressional Hearings, press conferences and town hall meetings across the United States.

Jeanine's most important legacy however is her commitment to training and empowering individuals affected by eating disorders to speak out. She planned, organized and led dozens of EDC Advocacy Training and Lobby Days and she has trained hundreds of citizen activists to share their stories and use their voices to educate Congress about eating disorders.  In addition to Lobby Day trainings Jeanine organized Congressional Briefings, receptions for EDC members and members of Congress and participated in countless meetings and committees in Washington, D.C. as part of the greater mental health community.

The EDC is sorry to lose Jeanine's skills and passion and she will be missed.  EDC President, Johanna Kandel expressed her gratitude and confidence that the EDC's work will continue; "We are extremely grateful for the pioneering work Jeanine has done to advance eating disorders as a public health priority on a federal level.  We look forward to continuing the life-saving work she accomplished and excited about this new chapter for the EDC."