PLANO EATING DISORDER PROGRAM

Nicholas Ciancioso, M.A

Nicholas Ciancioso has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in counselor education from The University of Central Florida. Nicholas’ interests include: playing and watching sports, going to the dog park, traveling, and playing video games. A lifelong Florida native, Nicholas is now branching out into Texas and is excited about the opportunity for growth.

Nicholas first discovered his passion for helping others during his volunteer experience at the Alachua County Crisis Center, where he assisted in operating a 1-800-SUICIDE hotline. Since that experience, He has also worked with: college students, children in the foster care system, incarcerated teenage males, adults with severe mood/psychotic disorders, and adults with substance abuse issues. Nicholas has worked with residential, partial-hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels of care. He is now working as the program director of Center for Discovery’s RTC Dallas program where he is motivated to help his team reach their potential as professionals, and ultimately provide the best care possible for the center’s clients.

Dr. Tae Lee, MD

Dr. Tae Lee is a child and adolescent psychiatrist in the DFW area. Dr. Lee obtained his medical degree from U.T. Southwestern. Dr. Lee’s clinical training in adult psychiatry was at John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, and Parkland Hospital, Dallas, TX. Following his training in adult psychiatry, Dr. Lee was a fellow at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, where he had the opportunity to serve as the chief resident in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program. It was at Children’s Medical Center where Dr. Lee developed a passion for treating eating disorders.

Dr. Lee is also the medical director at Innovations Child and Adolescent partial hospitalization program in Fort Worth, TX. He is also faculty at Children’s Health in Dallas, TX.

Past endeavors include research involving pediatric and adolescent depression with Dr. Graham Emslie at UT Southwestern and collaboration with The Renfrew Center.

Away from his clinical duties Dr. Lee has given several talks about Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety disorders, Video games, ADHD as well as the use of medication in children to several of the school districts as well as the Texas School Nurse Administrators Association.

McKenzie Ramirez, RD, LD

McKenzie Ramirez is a Registered Dietitian specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, emotional eating, unhealthy relationships with food and exercise, and other disordered eating patterns. McKenzie graduated from the Texas A&M University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics. She also completed her clinical dietetic internship through Texas A&M University.

McKenzie believes in a Health at Every Size® approach and considers herself an “anti-diet” dietitian. Her approach stems from the philosophy that all foods fit: meaning that all foods can fit in balance, variety, and moderation. McKenzie enjoys working with adolescents and their families or loved ones to improve and accept their relationship with food and their bodies. McKenzie aims to create a safe place for people of any body shape or size.

McKenzie’s passion for treating eating disorders stems from her experience at all levels of care including her work with Center for Discovery’s Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, and Adolescent Residential Treatment.

McKenzie’s mission as a clinician is to provide professional, warm, and compassionate individualized nutritional counseling to help her clients rebuild and nurture a healthy relationship with food and their body.