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Mary Tantillo, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, FAED, CGP

Mary Tantillo, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, FAED, CGP

(Pronouns: she/her/hers)
  • Professor of Clinical Nursing

Education

  • PhD in Nursing, 1992. Adelphi University. Garden City, NY

Bio

Mary Tantillo is widely recognized for her clinical work and research related to the treatment of eating disorders. She has devoted more than 40 years to providing care and support to patients and families coping with eating disorders across the spectrum of clinical settings.

She has conducted research to evaluate an innovative relational/motivational approach to understanding and treating young adults with anorexia nervosa through the use of multifamily therapy group. She has also implemented prevention approaches that encourage partnerships among parents and school personnel to create home and school environments that foster wellness and reinforce positive body image.

Tantillo directs the Western New York Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders (WNYCCCED), one of three comprehensive care centers in New York State, which works to better coordinate care and services for patients and families and improve outcomes.

She is the founder and board member of a non-profit eating disorders facility for adults and adolescents, The Healing Connection, Inc., an affiliate of the WNYCCCED. She is a fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) and past AED board member. Her special interests include women's mental health, family-based treatment, and group treatment, especially multifamily therapy group treatment for eating disorders.


Awards

University of Rochester School of Nursing Most Outstanding Scholarly Practitioner Award
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2019

Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention Top 25 Articles Award
The Journal of Treatment and Prevention - Taylor and Francis, 2017

Dr. Jeremy A. Klainer Entrepreneurship Award
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2015

Hilda & Preston Davis Foundation Grant
Hilda and Preston Davis Foundation, 2014

John Romano Award
Mental Health Association of Rochester, 2012

Association for Creativity in Counseling Research Award 2011
Association for Creativity in Counseling , 2011

Meehan-Hartley Award for Public Service and Advocacy
Academy for Eating Disorders, 2010

Richard C. Palermo Quality Award
St. Joseph's Villa, 2009

Monroe Community College Alumni Contributing to the Community Award
Monroe Community College , 2008

Woman of Influence in Health Care
Girl Scout of Genesee Valley, Inc. , 2005

Fellow, Academy for Eating Disorders
Academy for Eating Disorders, 2003

Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Research Award
Sigma Theta Tau, Epsilon xi chapter, 1996

Annual Outstanding Nurse Award for Excellence in Patient and Family Nursing
University of Rochester Medical Center, Dept of Nursing, 1984

Nazareth Alumni Association Award
Nazareth College of Rochester, 1982

Excellence in Nursing Award
Monroe Community College , 1980

Presentations

School-Based Project ECHO Eating Disorders: A Telementoring Interprofessional Learning Model Promoting Prevention, Early Identification and Intervention
Taylor Starr DO and Jim Witmer LCSW
26th World Congress, International Congress of Psychosomatic Medicine, 2022
Rochester, New York

Reconnecting for Recovery: Leveraging the Power of Families Through Multifamily Therapy Group for Young Adults with Anorexia Nervosa
NA
26th World Congress, International Congress of Psychosomatic Medicine, 2022
Rochester, New York

Leveraging the Power of Families for Recovery: Multifamily Therapy Group
NA
31st Annual Renfrew Center Foundation Virtual Conference for Professionals: 2021 Perspectives on Feminism, Eating Disorders and Beyond, Renfrew Center Foundation, 2021
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Treating Eating Disorders at Midlife and Beyond: Forging Relational Hope
Margo Maine PhD, Karen Samuels PhD
Annual Renfrew Center Foundation Virtual Conference for Professionals, Renfrew Center Foundation, 2019
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Motivation and Mutuality: The Therapeutic Stance with Eating Disorders
NA
NY State Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders Annual Statewide Conference 2019, NY State Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders, 2019
Syracuse, New York

Project ECHO® Eating Disorders Clinic: Connecting Primary Care & Behavioral Health Providers to Eliminate Eating Disorders,
Richard Kreipe MD
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Annual Conference, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, 2019
Washington DC, Virginia

Understanding Teen Eating Disorders: Meeting New Demands for Multifaceted Treatment
Cris Haltom PhD
28th Annual Renfrew Center Foundation Conference for Professionals, Renfrew Center Foundation, 2018
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“Project ECHO Eating Disorders: Connecting Primary Care, College Health, and Behavioral Health Providers To Eliminate Eating Disorders
Richard Kreipe MD and Taylor Starr DO
International Conference on Eating Disorders, Academy for Eating Disorders, 2018
Chicago, Illinois

Disordered Eating and Body Image in Middle-Aged and Older Women: Research-and Evidence-Based approaches To Treatment
Margo Maine PhD and Niva Piran PhD
International Conference on Eating Disorders, Academy for Eating Disorders, 2018
Chicago, Illinois

Building the “WE” from the Beginning: An Inter-Professional Eating Disorder Training Model for Psychiatry Residents and Graduate Students Across Multiple Disciplines
Michelle Morales and Linda Mazur
Binge Eating Disorders/National Eating Disorders Association Annual National Conference, Binge Eating Disorders/National Eating Disorders Association, 2017
New York, New York

Publications

  • Tantillo, M., McGraw, J. S., & Le Grange, D. (2021). Multifamily Therapy Group for Young Adults with Anorexia Nervosa: Reconnecting for Recovery. Routledge. DOI: 10.1002/eat.23097

  • Tantillo, M., Starr, T., & Kreipe, R. (2019). The recruitment and acceptability of a project ECHO(R) eating disorders clinic: a pilot study of telementoring for primary medical and behavioral health care practitioners.. Eating Disorders. PMID: 30829141 DOI: 10.1080/10640266.2019.1580125

  • Tantillo, M., Sanftner, J., McGregor Lavigne, H., Brasch, J. & Le Grange, D. (2019). A pilot study of multifamily therapy group for young adults with anorexia nervosa: Reconnecting for recovery. International Journal of Eating Disorders. PMID: 31150141 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23097

  • Tantillo, M., Marconi, M.A., Rideout, K., Anson, E.A., & Reifenstein, K.A. (2017). Creating a Nursing Student Center for Academic and Professional Success. Journal of Nursing Education. DOI: 10.3928/01484834-20170323-09

  • Maine, M. D., Samuels, K.L., & Tantillo, M. (2015). Eating Disorders in adult women: Biopsychosocial, developmental, and clinical considerations.. Advances in Eating Disorders: Theory, Research and Practice, DOI: 10.1080/21662630.2014.999103. DOI: 10.1080/21662630.2014.999103

  • Tantillo, M. (2013). The patient-family-clinician-researcher quest for quality care. A Collaborative Approach to Eating Disorders. DOI: 10.4324/9780203816691

  • Tantillo, M., Sanftner, J., & Hauenstein, E. (2013). Restoring connection in the face of disconnection: an integrative approach to understanding and treating anorexia nervosa, Advances in Eating Disorders: Theory, Research and Practice. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/21662630.2013.742980

  • Sanftner, J. L., & Tantillo, M. (2011). Body image and eating disorders: A compelling source of shame for women. In R. Dearing & J. P. Tangney (Eds.), Shame in the therapy hour. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.. Shame in the Therapy Hour. DOI: 10.1037/12326-012

  • Tantillo, M., & Kreipe, R.E. (2011). Improving Connections for Adolescents Across High-Intensity Settings for the. Eating disorders in children and adolescents: a clinical handbook.

  • Sanftner, J.L. & Tantillo, M. (2010). Measuring perceived mutuality in women: Further validation of the connection-disconnection scale. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2010.527785

  • Tantillo, M., & Sanftner, J.L. (2010). Mutuality and Motivation: Connecting with Patients and Families for Change in the Treatment of Eating Disorders. Treatment of Eating Disorders Bridging the Research - Practice Gap. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-375668-8.10019-1

  • Tantillo, M., McDowell, S., Anson, E., Taillie, E., & Cole, R. (2009). Combining supported housing and partial hospitalization to improve eating disorder symptoms, perceived health atatus, and health related quality of life for women with eating disorders. Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention. DOI: 10.1080/10640260903210172

  • Tantillo, M., & Kreipe, R. E (2006). The impact of gender socialization on group treatment of eating disorders. Group: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society.

  • Tantillo, M. (2006). A Relational Approach to Eating Disorders Multifamily Therapy Group: Moving from Difference and. , Families, Systems, & Health, 24 (1), 82-102.

  • Tantillo, M. (2004). The therapist's use of self-disclosure in a Relational Therapy approach for eating disorders. Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention. DOI: 10.1080/10640260490267760

  • Tantillo, M. & Sanftner, J. (2002). The relationship between perceived mutuality and bulimic symptoms, depression, and therapeutic change in group. Eating Behavior. DOI: 10.1016/S1471-0153(02)00077-6

  • Tantillo, M., Nappa Bitter, C., & Adams, B. (2001). Enhancing readiness for eating disorder treatment: A relational/motivational group model for change.. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. DOI: 10.1080/106402601753183760

  • Tantillo, M. D (2000). Short-term relational therapy for women with bulimia nervosa.. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. DOI: 10.1080/10640260008251218

  • Tantillo, M. (1998). A relational approach to group therapy for women with bulimia nervosa: Moving from understanding to action. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 48 (4), 477-498. PMID: 9766090 DOI: 10.1080/00207284.1998.11491568

  • Tantillo, M. (1994). Ricoeurean hermeneutics: Its application in developing a contextual understanding of human experience. Advances in Methods of Inquiry for Nursing.