Female Athlete Conference Featuring Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Heather Mitts to Address Health and Performance Issues On and Off the Field

BOSTON, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Women and girls are playing sports in increasing numbers, which helps to improve their overall health, self-esteem and career success. To learn more about issues facing female athletes, behavioral health professionals, doctors, coaches, athletes, parents and trainers are invited to attend the first ever "The Female Athlete: Strategies for Optimal Health and Performance" two-day conference, June 8 and 9, 2013, at Babson College, 231 Forest Street, Wellesley, Mass.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110727/CG42761LOGO)

Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center and Babson College are sponsoring the conference that is presented by the Female Athlete Program in the Division of Sports Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital and Eating for Life Alliance (ELA). The conference will provide participants with cutting-edge strategies and information for treating and preventing common physical and psychological sports health concerns. CMEs and CEUs will be provided for medical doctors and clinicians.

"We are proud to have world-renowned experts presenting on more than 20 different topics concerning female athletes," said Whitney Post, president and co-founder of ELA. "This event is a great opportunity to educate athletes and the professionals that support them in cutting-edge treatment and prevention strategies."

The keynote speaker at the conference is Heather Mitts, three-time Olympic gold medalist in USA Soccer. Mitts, along with other world-renowned experts in the areas of sports medicine, sports psychology, nutrition and body image, will empower and educate attendees on keeping female athletes healthy on and off the field.

A topic emphasized at the conference is the female athlete triad, which is often found to be co-occurring with eating disorders. Topics covered at the conference will include: nutrition in female athletes, exercise and pregnancy, strategies for improving body image in athletes, running biomechanics, ACL injuries and much more.

Kim Dennis, MD, board-certified psychiatrist, CEO and medical director at Timberline Knolls, will speak on exercise addiction, what it looks like and what to do about it. In addition, Juliet Zuercher, RD, faculty member of Timberline Knolls Clinical Development Institute, will co-present with Jen Brickley, NASM-CPT, CSCS, and Brittany Phelps, Med, CPT, on transitioning from a competitive athlete to an adult exerciser with a job.

Proceeds will go towards female athlete research, with a portion also going to the One Fund for Boston Marathon victims and their families.

To register or find more information on the conference, please visit
www.bostonchildrens.org/femaleathleteconference or contact Lesley Niccolini at Lesley.niccolini@childrens.harvard.edu

About the Female Athlete Program in the Division of Sports Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital:
Led by Dr. Kathryn Ackerman and Dr. Martha Murray, the Female Athlete Program is comprised of leaders in sports medicine and cares for athletes of all ages—from elite professionals to eager novices.  It stands out in the nation for its specialized care and research in areas such as the Female Athlete Triad, knee and ACL injuries, stress fractures, bone health and nutrition.

About Eating for Life Alliance:
The mission of Eating for Life Alliance (ELA) is to provide educational resources to colleges and universities nationwide on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. For comprehensive information on eating disorders from experts in the field, visit www.eatingforlife.org. ELA is a fiscally sponsored project of the NORMAL non-profit, www.normal-life.org.

About Timberline Knolls:
Timberline Knolls is a leading private residential treatment center for women and adolescent girls (ages 12 – 65+) with eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, mood and co-occurring disorders.  Located in suburban Chicago, residents receive excellent clinical care from a highly trained professional staff on a picturesque 43-acre wooded campus.  Women and families seeking Christian treatment can opt for specialized Christian-based therapy.  For more information on Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, call us at 877.257.9611. We are also on Facebook – Timberline Knolls, and LinkedIn – Timberline Knolls.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Kim Dennis
http://www.profnetconnect.com/kimdennis

Contact:
Mary Anne Morrow
mmorrow@timberlineknolls.com
Tel: 602-359-6989

SOURCE Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center