Three members of the F.E.A.S.T. Board of Directors attended the 2010 EDIC organized by b-eat. Executive Director, Laura Collins, flew in from Washington. Board Chair, Christopher Berka, came to London from California, and our U.K. Board member Fiona Bromelow travelled to the conference from her home in Gloucestershire.

After a brief visit to the Maudsley Hospital to see the birthplace of Family-Based Therapy on March 10, F.E.A.S.T. board members met with a larger group of F.E.A.S.T. parents and supporters for supper. We were joined by the Chief Executive of b-eat, Susan Ringwood, a F.E.A.S.T. professional advisor. June Alexander, the author of a recently published book featuring some F.E.A.S.T. families, was with us as well.

Delegates from dozens of countries and many fields came together for the EDIC conference March 11-12.  F.E.A.S.T. Professional Advisor, Dr Cynthia Bulik, delivered a very well-received Keynote presentation titled “The intricate dance of genes and environment in eating disorders.“

Later that day, Bromelow and Collins made a brief presentation on “The international community of parent activists: how the Internet can inform and empower parents and carers.”

On Saturday, b-eat held a National Family Network Day, at which Collins and Bromelow served as Table Hosts for a lunchtime networking lunch. The audience on this day was primarily parents and carers so board members had the opportunity to meet several F.E.A.S.T. members and other families.

Berka, Bromelow, and Collins agreed the conference – to be held every other year in London – was an excellent opportunity to better understand the parent/carer perspective in the UK and to expand the network of F.E.A.S.T. relationships.

Also see: Laura Collins' personal journal of the trip