"Collaborative Conversations: Getting to know Mindy Elliott" was originally a blog posted on Veritas Collaborative's website found here: 
 http://veritascollaborative.com/blog/2016/08/building-a-life-worth-living-part-4 At Veritas Collaborative, we promise to drive a new standard of care in eating disorders treatment so individuals and families can thrive. The multidisciplinary treatment team members of Veritas Collaborative share a passion and a mission inspired by a collaborative community of care. Veritas Collaborative has three treatment center locations in Atlanta, GA, Durham, NC, and Richmond, VA. http://veritascollaborative.com/

1. Getting To Know Mindy Elliott
Name: Mindy Elliott, BA, NBCT
Title: Hospital Education Manager.

2. As the new school year begins, our Education
Coordinators are hard at work, contacting schools
and helping patients maintain academic progress
during treatment.
Mindy Elliott, a former Education Coordinator
herself, recently accepted a new position as Hospital
Education Manager to lead the Veritas Collaborative
Education Program. Read ahead to learn more about
her and the leadership role she plays at Veritas.

3. Tell us about your experience working as an
education coordinator.
As a hospital teacher, I have had the opportunity to
work closely with students and families during a
challenging time in their lives. I am honored to have
the responsibility of facilitating each patient’s
coursework and helping them to stay on track with
their schoolwork while seeking treatment.

4. Tell us about your experience working as an
education coordinator.
As a hospital teacher, I have had the opportunity to
work closely with students and families during a
challenging time in their lives. I am honored to have
the responsibility of facilitating each patient’s
coursework and helping them to stay on track with
their schoolwork while seeking treatment.

5. Tell us about your experience working as an
education coordinator (cont.).
I also enjoy the unique collaborative atmosphere
between the staff at Veritas as we all work together
towards each patient’s recovery. There are countless
patients that I will never forget, and I hope my role in
their treatment made a positive impact in their
journey.

6. What interested you in working at Veritas
Collaborative?
School issues can often become a barrier to seeking
treatment for an eating disorder. When I first learned
about Veritas Collaborative, I was fascinated by the
comprehensive treatment program including
individual, family, culinary and academic
programming. At Veritas, we believe in treating the
whole person.

7. What interested you in working at Veritas
Collaborative (cont.)?
School plays an important part in every adolescent’s
life; therefore, an integrated academic program
during treatment assists in the success of the
recovery process. In the educator role, I am able to
guide the patients and families on a reasonable
academic path that includes the patient’s academic
and career goals, as well as their recovery and health
goals.

8. As the new Hospital Education Manager, what is
your vision for the Education Program at Veritas?
I am so excited to accept the Hospital Education
Manager position in order to expand the role in
which our Education Coordinators are already
excelling.

9. As the new Hospital Education Manager, what is
your vision for the Education Program at Veritas?
(Cont.)
In addition to working collaboratively with the
patient’s school, family, and clinicians during
treatment, I look forward to expanding our transition
assistance and meeting directly with schools in the
field to ensure smooth transitions for our patients as
they discharge home. I also look forward to visiting
more schools and professional organizations to
facilitate conversations about eating disorders in the
school environment.

10. What do you enjoy most about your job?
My job offers endless opportunities to educate
educators on eating disorders. When I speak to
teachers, counselors, and school administrators, I am
able to raise awareness about eating disorders and
dispel common myths and stereotypes.

11. What do you enjoy most about your job (Cont.)?
As an educator myself, I understand the many roles
an educator juggles in the halls of a school and the
challenges they face each day. I offer those educators
information and tools to understand and identify
eating disorder behaviors and create a positive
environment for their students. I love that I get to
start this conversation with my fellow comrades in
order to spread awareness about this illness.

12. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Most of my free time is spent with my family. My
husband and I are true partners as we guide our own
adolescent daughters in life. My favorite thing we do
during our free time is read and boogie board at the
beach on Pleasure Island, NC.

13. What is your favorite recovery or inspirational
quote?
All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether
we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has
something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one
of the things that connects us as neighbors—in our
own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.
-Mister Rogers