Owner/CEO - Carolyn Hodges Chaffee, MSRD
Carolyn is owner and director of the Nutrition Clinic and Sol Stone Center, freestanding outpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs for eating disorders, and has over 20 years of experience in the field of eating disorders. These programs have served over 5000 patients. In addition, she helped design and implement a campus-wide multidisciplinary eating disorder program at Cornell University. She has consulted at several colleges and universities in the North East and was the nutritional consultant for the 2004 women’s Olympic crew team. Carolyn also regularly presents at regional and national conferences on eating disorders.

Program Director - Clare Brown, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, LCAT
For over 25 years, Clare Brown has served in the mental health field by designing, directing and implementing inpatient, partial hospitalization and outpatient psychiatric programs. Ms. Brown earned a BA in both Psychology as well as Art from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY in 1978, and in 1981, and an MA degree in Art Therapy from the University of Louisville, KY, Institute of Expressive Therapies. In 1983, after serving as art therapist for 2 years at Genesee Hospital, Rochester, NY, Ms. Brown became Program Director, designing and coordinating the clinical program for its 32-bed adult/adolescent psychiatric unit. In 2000, Ms. Brown became a board certified art therapist and a licensed professional counselor. She assumed duties as Behavioral Health Practitioner at Robert Packer Hospitals’ outpatient Clinic, where she conducted individual, couples, and group therapies. She also joined the adjunct faculty of Elmira College, where she continues to teach part time. In 2005, Ms. Brown became Program Director of Sol Stone Center.

Medical Director - Sophia Bezirganian, MD
Dr. Bezirganian is medical director of Sol Stone. Prior to coming to Sol Stone, Dr. Bezirganian was medical director at Family and Children Services in Ithaca, NY and Chemung County ARC (Adult Retarded Citizens) in Elmira. She has had several years experience working with children, adolescents and adult eating disorder patients. She has also provided outpatient psychiatric care to eating disorder patients in private practice setting. She has been a presenter at regional conferences on psychiatry and medical management on eating disorder patients. She has published articles on mother/daughter relationships and personality disorders in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Medical Consultant - Dr. Marc Immerman, MD
Dr. Marc Immerman has been Medical Director for the Nutrition Clinic for the past 15 years. He is board certified in family practice and has extensive experience with the medical management of the eating disorder patient

Nutrition Director - Bruce Brennan, MSRD
Bruce has been the Nutrition Director since the inception of Sol Stone Center. Prior to coming to Sol Stone, he had been in the hospitality field for 20 years. One of the unique aspects of this program is the quality and presentation of the meals. Having worked in the hospitality field for 20 years, Bruce helps patients enjoy eating and supervises the nutritional support of the patients. He also works in the outpatient services for the Nutrition Clinic. He is a nutrition consultant for Cornell University and is the outpatient provider for the intensive outpatient program of the Nutrition Clinic, located in Syracuse.

Therapist - Amy Whitney, MA, MFA, LMT
To her work with Sol Stone patients, Amy brings her background in the visual and literary arts, integrative training in counseling psychology, and years in holistic adult education. She works with patients individually and in groups, providing creative art therapies, recovery education, and skills training based in Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavior Therapies. She also offers the option of individual bodywork sessions designed to assist patients in reconnecting body, mind and spirit. Her areas of special study include: eating disorders; imaginal and depth psychologies; poetry therapy; therapeutic massage and Zen shiatsu; movement therapies; mindfulness practices; dream, symbol, and myth; and gender and identity issues. Amy joined the Sol Stone staff in 2006.

EMDR Specialist - Nancy Van Cleave, MA, LMFT
Ms. Van Cleave has had over 20 years of experience working with eating disorder patients. She has worked in outpatient clinics, private practice, and campus programs. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and has training in Touch for Health and Professional Kinesiology Practice. She has been a member of the Chemung County Task Force on Children and Families, Family Violence subcommittee..

Nutritionist - Erin Roth, MS
Erin received her BS in Food and Nutrition Science with an emphasis in Dietetics at San Jose State University in 2010. Her interest in working with individuals with eating disorders peaked when she worked as a diet technician at Center for Discovery and Adolescent Change, a residential eating disorder treatment center in Palo Alto, California. Following her graduation from SJSU, Erin received her MS in Community Nutrition from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 2011. Her dietetic internship was completed at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, New York.

Clinical Case Manager - John Polasko, MA
John received his Masters in psychology from Marist College, with a concentration in community psychology and counseling. He has experience working at the Hudson River Psychiatric Center and the Elmira Psychiatric Center. As a clinical case manager, John conducts assessments, orients new patients to the program and, upon discharge, links patients to the individualized and ongoing treatment and support needed to continue their journey through recovery.

Program Case Manager - Charlie Jenkins
Ms. Jenkins has been a strong advocate for eating disorder patients since she began working for Avalon Centers in 2000. In 2004, she came to Sol Stone Center and assisted in the design and implementation of the partial hospitalization program. Charlie has extensive experience working with third party payors and accessing benefits for the appropriate level of care for clients. She case manages not only the Sol Stone and Nutrition Clinic clients but is an invaluable resource for patients nationwide.

Nutritionist - Barbara Parker, RD
Barbara has been working in the dietetic field for over 30 years. She has specialized in the nutritional support of the hospitalized patient and has been with Sol Stone Center since its inception.

Program Cook - Jeanne Dryden
Ms. Dryden has worked in the hospitality field for over 20 years and makes all Sol Stone Center meals from scratch. Menus are planned on a weekly basis. Only fresh wholesome foods are used. Meals are served buffet style and patients eat as a community.