ABOUT ANDREA, DORIS, & TOM SMELTZER:

Andrea Smeltzer died in her sleep at the age of 19 after a one-year struggle with bulimia. Andrea's parents, Tom and Doris Smeltzer, now devote their time to eating disorder prevention through Andrea's Voice Foundation. Tom and Doris Smeltzer are Andrea’s parents. Tom with a Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Doris with a Master's in Counseling Psychology are career educators. Now retired from the local school district, Doris devotes 100% of her time to eating disorder prevention through Andrea's Voice Foundation. Tom, too, focuses more attention on their non-profit’s efforts following his retirement as a Professor from a local college in Northern California.

Doris authored Andrea's Voice: Silenced by Bulimia and wrote for 7 years a popular "Advice for Parents" blog for her publishers, Gürze Books, until focusing on her own A Joyful Journey blog. She hosted the VoiceAmerica™ Radio Show, Savor Yourself...beyond skin deep, has been named a Community Hero by both her hometown of Napa, and the NorthBay ED organization, EDRS, and awarded the Soroptimist Ruby Award for Women Helping Women. Together, Doris and Tom co-authored an Article in the book, Treatment of Eating Disorders: Bridging the Research-Practice Gap, (Academic Press, 2010), and appeared in the 2007 award-winning documentary, "America the Beautiful: Is America Obsessed with Beauty?"

Andrea Lynn Smeltzer, 19, was trained in opera, enjoyed the theater, was an avid dancer and masterful at making jewelry and crafting poetry. After studying in Spain for a year at the age of fourteen, she spoke Spanish fluently. At the time of her death she was studying German, with a plan to master Japanese next. Prior to college, Andrea was elected president of her high school's Amnesty International group and was an outspoken advocate for human rights. At Pitzer College, she was awarded the prestigious Fletcher Jones Scholarship, worked as a Resident Assistant and Mentor, majored in International Business and Politics - and looked forward to saving the world. She died tragically after thirteen months of bulimic behaviors on June 16, 1999.

Since Andrea's death, Doris and Tom have created various eating disorder educational presentations and outreach efforts (locally, nationwide, and internationally), have appeared in popular media (TV, radio, film), authored numerous published articles, books. blogs, and their web site, all with the intent to educate and inform others on the need for research, prevention, early recognition, immediate intervention, and the skilled treatment of eating disorders. Doris and Tom created Andrea's Voice Foundation (AVF) dedicated to promoting education and understanding toward the prevention, identification, diagnosis, treatment of disordered eating and related issues, and transforming perspectives...one person at a time.

Doris and Tom continue their outreach efforts in the local community and beyond via presentations and workshops at school districts, colleges, universities, professional organizations, and treatment centers. When not educating on disordered eating and providing training on bully prevention and character education, gardens, and works on projects with Tom in their Northern California home, which they share with their cats and llamas. Doris especially enjoys spending time with her daughter Jocelyn and son - in - law, Tracy, and dancing with her infant grandson, Fischer Lynn.

CONNECT WITH DORIS & TOM SMELTZER:

• Visit Andrea’s Voice Foundation website

• Follow Andrea’s Voice Foundation on Facebook

• Purchase a copy of Andrea’s Voice: Silenced by Bulimia

• Listen to Doris and Tom’s other speaking engagements and press

• View a list of past and current presentations

ABOUT THE HOST

Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS has been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for over 20 years and has been specializing in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders since 2005. To learn more about Karin and her center’s services, you can visit karinlewisedc.com. You can connect with Karin on social media by following her on Facebook and Instagram.

Are you interested in becoming a guest on our show? If so, please fill out our Guest Application.

If you enjoyed the podcast, we would be so grateful if you would please take a minute to leave us a rating/review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you!