ILLINOIS
CARBONDALE
Roki Abakoui, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618)713-7674
Self-referred.
I am a fat woman who is an activist for size acceptance. In my
private practice, I work with many issues including relationship
problems as well as body image concerns. I use a Health at
Every Size perspective with all my clients. I present and train
others from this perspective too. Though I do not take health
insurance (due to the privacy issues involved), I do offer a
sliding fee scale for those who cannot afford the full fee.
UPDATE Oct 07
Roki Abakoui is no longer in Carbondale. She is working at
Northwestern University now, and I don't know if she is still
seeing private clients as she did when she was working here in
Carbondale. Roki was an excellent source of support for me as I
began to explore size acceptance and Health at Every Size
principles, trying to incorporate them into my own life. She
was able to identify and articulate how multiple forms of
oppression intersect, and she treated me as a whole human being.
She also provided helpful reading recommendations on Health at
Every Size.
CHAMPAIGN
Mildred S. Nelson, Ob/Gyn
Cathy Hinton, CNM
Christie Clinic
101 W. University Ave.
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 366-1255
Recommendation for Mildred S. Nelson:
In addition to being fat friendly, she seems to be the clinic's
preferred doctor for difficult/multiple pregnancies.
Recommendation for Cathy Hinton:
Very friendly and accepting, never made me feel uncomfortable
about my size.
CHICAGO
Alexian Brothers hospital
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Anticipate your needs and do what it takes to make you
comfortable, accommodate your size and give quality healthcare.
-- Laura
Sara Atkinson, Holistic Practitioner,
Certified Holistic Therapeutic Nutritionist
Owner, Fit Forever Holistic Training
434 W. Wellington Ave # 101
Chicago, IL 60657
773-883-2627
www.fitforeverholistic.com
Self-referred
I am a Holistic Consultant and Therapeutic Nutritionist,
specializing in women's health issues. I teach my clients how
to CURE and PREVENT dis-ease by combining body, mind & spirit in
everyday life. Nutrition is the key to total-body wellness,
giving the body the right foods, which come from nature, and
staying away from pharmaceutical drugs which only treat
symptoms, suppress the immune response and destroy the liver.
My clients learn to become the doctor of their own body.
Lisa Breisch, Clinical Psychotherapist M.A., L.C.P.C.
815-399-6974
LisaBreisch@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/lisabreisch/myhomepage/index.html
I teach two classes on Body Image and the Larger Woman at the
College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. I also provide individual
therapy for men and women of size. Additionally, I am a Chicago
NAAFA officer.
Chicago Women's Health Center
3435 North Sheffield Avenue, Suite 206A
Chicago, IL 60657
773.935.6126
http://www.chicagowomenshealthcenter.org/index.html
From their website: Chicago Women's Health Center is a
collective of women that includes health workers, counselors,
outreach health educators, and doctors who work together to
provide health education and affordable, respectful, and
accessible gynecological and mental health care to women in the
Chicago area. Chicago Women's Health Center facilitates the
empowerment of women by providing access to gynecological health
care, alternative insemination, health education, and counseling
services in a respectful environment where women pay what they
can afford.
Stephanie Draus, ND, Naturopathic Practitioner
Stellaria Natural Health
Logan Square
Chicago, IL
773-486-3797
(fax) 773-486-3924
www.stellarianaturalhealth.com
Self-referred.
I am a Naturopathic Practitioner with a special interest in
chronic inflammation, joint injury, nutrition, and teaching the
joys of physical activity at any size or age. I firmly believe
that our society's obsession with weight "control" is fostering
negative body images for almost all of us, and that those
negative body images cause more damage than overeating or
obesity does. I help my patients to love, nurture, and heal
their bodies, as they are. My practice modalities include
nutritional counseling, herbal medicine, and others. Stellaria
Natural Health also offers acupuncture, Thai massage, and Yoga
classes, all in a relaxed and intimate setting.
David Ehrmann, endocrinology/general medicine
(he also runs clinical trials for PCOS treatments)
University of Chicago Hospitals
Chicago,IL
(773)702-1000
Dr. Ehrmann is a wonderful person! I have had some problems
with his clinic staff ("I don't want to be weighed!" "The doctor
will just weigh you later." Never mentioned by the doc!) And I
hate the Hospitals, they haven't a clue about human interaction,
or keeping records confidential. However, Dr. Ehrmann was the
first person to _ever_ put me at ease with my body.
Sue Hungerford, OB/GYN
Association For Women's Health Care
30 North Michigan Avenue Suite 300
Chicago
(312) 726-3917
Dr. Hungerford has been my gynecologist for 2 years and is very
fat-friendly and happens to be fat herself. She doesn't bring up
my weight, unless it has some impact on the dosage or type of
birth control I am taking and then is only mentioning it in a
very straight forward, informative context. She is very relaxed
and helps make a very uncomfortable experience as painless and
quick as possible. I also love to look at all the pictures in
her office of the babies she has helped deliver. There is also a
vast diversity in body size amongst the mother's photographed,
as well. I plan on going to her if I were to ever become
pregnant. --Summer
Leyna Inberg, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Chicago, IL
linbergcc@gmail.com
self-referred.
I am a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who considers being body
positive/fat friendly imperative to building a relationship with
patients. A person's weight is so often tied to their most
sensitive issues of value, acceptance, and control, all of which
influence mental health and mental illness. I deeply understand
that developing self-love, rather than shame, is the only thing
that can create real change. I follow/have been helped by the
body positive movement, in recovery myself. Note: Nurse
Practitioners assess, diagnose, and treat illness. My role, as a
psychiatric NP, is the same as a psychiatrist. I have been told
I take more time with patients and provide more education that
is usually the case with psychiatrists.
Elaine Leboff-Ries, Internal Medicine/GP
Michigan Avenue Internists, LLC
Affiliated with Northwestern Memorial Hospital
200 S Michigan Avenue Suite 805 Chicago IL 60604
312.922.3815
Dr. Leboff has been my general physician for about 8 years, and
has not once brought up my weight unless I bring it up. She also
NEVER assumes my complaints about ailments have to do with my
weight. I had an erratic heartbeat for a time and while most
doctors would automatically assume it was related to my weight,
she "dug in" and discovered other symptoms I had not associated
with my heartbeat and ultimately helped me discover a heart
issue that has NO relationship with weight. also stood up for me
after sending me to one cardiologist who WAS a typical size-ist
doctor and took one look at me, told me I needed to "move more
and stop drinking sugary drinks (like the one I had in my
hand... orange juice!)" and then left the room. Dr. Leboff was
enraged when she heard his follow-up report, called me
immediately and me find a very kind, thoughtful cardiologist who
ultimately helped figure out the real issue. --Summer
Debbie McDermitt, LCSW, CYT
Stellaria Natural Health Clinic
2519 N. California Ave 2nd Floor
Chicago IL 60647
(773) 486-3797 Office
(847) 344-3928 Cell
Web site: www.stellarianaturalhealth.com
Self-referred.
I am a therapist who has been working with children,
adolescents, families, and individuals for the past 11 years. I
have extensive experience working with children and families
involved in adoptions, with ADD/ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder,
and Major Depressive Disorder. I believe in working with
individuals (and family in the case of children) to identify
their strengths and talents, address areas of difficulties, and
make meaningful changes in lives. I have had the opportunity to
witness the devastating impact of our society's obsession with
thinness on the psyche of today's young women, and growingly
young men as well. In addition to counseling services, I
provide yoga classes in individual sessions or small group
classes. My yoga philosophy focuses on gaining the health
benefits from a practice--body, mind, and spirit--which focuses
on acceptance of where you are and moving in the direction of
where you want to go. I provide modifications for any pose and
encourage the use of props to help everybody gain the benefits
of a pose, not matter what the form looks like.
Dr. Mutlu, pulmonologist
Northwestern Memorial hospital
Chicago, IL
I got the most successful treatment for sleep apnea from Dr.
Mutlu. He is a pulmonologist. He raised the issue of weight loss
to me the first time I saw him, but was courteous and did not
keep harping about it. -- Paul (PStreeter@Chicago.US.Mensa.Org)
Jose Oberholzer, MD, MHCM, FACS - Renal Transplant Surgeon
Chicago, IL - University of Illinois
Hospital & Health Sciences System
312-996-6771
http://hospital.uillinois.edu/Patient_Care_Services/Transplant/Kidney_Transplant.html
Self-referred.
Several years ago, UIC transplant surgeons realized that obese
patients are denied access to transplantation by the vast
majority of transplant centers. They developed a new robotic
technique that makes it possible to do a kidney transplant
through a very small incision and avoid the risk of wound
complications seen so often in obese patients. To date, they
have performed over 100 of such transplants in very obese
patients, with great outcomes. They are the ONLY program in the
world to offer robotic kidney transplantation to obese patients.
We can safely do a kidney transplant, in particular if the
patient has a living donor.
CHICAGO HEIGHTS
Denise Bockwoldt, APN, Family Nurse Practitioner
WellGroup Health Partners
333 Dixie Highway
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Denise.Bockwoldt@ssfhs.org
http://www.wellgroup.org
Self-referred.
Offers compassionate, friendly, primary care for the overweight
patient including pap smears, breast exams, and treatment of
weight-related problems like edema, joint pain, skin problems.
GRAYSLAKE
Satnam Singh, family practice
Grayslake, Illinois
(847) 223-4440
I have had the same doctor for years. She is very fat friendly,
doesnt give weight loss lectures and doesnt relate all ilness to
weight. The office has several armless chairs and not being
weighed isnt a problem. I am an extremely large woman and feel
very comfortable in her care. She has a great bedside manner and
great office hours and can always be reached.
HIGHLAND PARK
Doctors listed in this town are no longer in practice.
MOLINE
Professionals listed in this town are no longer in practice.
MAYWOOD
Mary Ann Emanuele, Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, IL
(708) 216-6200
MORRISON
Mark Woods
Morrison, Illinois
Clinton, Iowa
He has been my Dr. for 5 years now, I am 245 lbs at 5'2" and I
have always had complete respect there. He also has a wonderful
nurse practitioner, Becca West, in the Morrison office.
QUAD CITY AREA
Jennifer Cook-DeRosa, CPD, Certified Postpartum Doula
(309) 796-3000
cookderosa@aol.com
Self-referred.
Special emphasis on pregnancy, birth, postpartum and lactation
support.
See full entry under Moline.
SKOKIE
Anne Borkowski, Reproductive Endocrinologist
North Shore Fertility
4711 Golf Road, Suite 405
Skokie, IL 60076
847-763-8850
She also has an office in Schaumburg: 847-517-7570
She does all sorts of OB/GYN stuff. If you call the office, they
say it's a fertility clinic, but they do all of it. -- Vicki
Second recommendation:
Anne Borkowski is MOST DEFINITELY fat friendly. I went to her
for fertility treatments, and it was the first time I had ever
been treated as a human being. I was actually shocked at how
much a non-issue my weight was, how she looked at all types of
different issues, and how, overall, she looked at my total
health, not just my weight.
Third recommendation:
I have been seeing Dr. Anne Borkowski for over a year. I found
her here on this Fat Friendly Health Professionals website. She
has been helpful, professional, friendly, upbeat and confident.
I first started seeing Dr. Borkowski as a gynecologist. When I
was recently ready to proceed with fertility, she was very
positive, and never pushed me into anything I didn't want. She
assisted in surgery that I had to have and it made the process
more pleasant. I am a super size individual. Dr. Borkowski has
always treated me with the utmost respect and has never made me
feel bad about myself. I have never been weighed, and the staff
goes out of their way to make sure I am comfortable. The chairs
in the waiting room do not have arms, and I have seen quite a
few plus size people in her office. She has never been
judgmental, and if I ask her questions about my weight, she is
always sincere and positive, and has assured me that we can
overcome any obstacles relating to fertility. She is aggressive
with treatment, but will only go as far as you want her to. I
highly, highly recommend her!!! -- Lisa Z.(Dmjll@aol.com)
Catherine Dillon, M.D., OBGYN
9669 N. Kenton Suite 550, Skokie IL 60076
847-933-3956
The office is described as "Comprehensive Healthcare for Women."
Never once was I made to feel ashamed about my weight. She
really cares about providing good medical care and listens to
her patients. Weighing in is necessary, but not uncomfortable.
Judith Matz, LCSW
5225 Old Orchard Rd., Suite 6
Skokie, IL 60077
847.267.1200
judmatz@aol.com
Self-referred.
I am a therapist who specializes in the treatment of compulsive
eating and body image issues. I use the Health At Every Size
model, which means that issues related to physical and
psychological well-being are not based on weight. I work with
people of all sizes, both individually and in groups. I am the
co-author of two books that look at the hazards of dieting and
teach a non-diet approach to eating: The Diet Survivor's
Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care
(http://www.dietsurvivors.com/) and Beyond a Shadow of a Diet:
The Therapist's Guide to Treating Compulsive Eating
(http://www.dietsurvivors.com/)> I also see people for issues
such as depression, relationship problems and self-esteem.
Pauline Shipley, endocrinology
No longer in practice.
WESTCHESTER
Corinne (Cory) Rydzewski Kalat, MS, LCPC, CADC, TAS, CHt
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Counseling ~ Psychotherapy ~ Hypnosis
One Westbrook Corporate Center
Tower One ~~ Suite 300
Westchester, IL 60154-5709
22nd and Wolf Road, 3 miles east of Oak Brook Shopping Center
Phone: 630 / 263-8888
Email: crkalat@aol.com
Self-referred.
Want to discuss size issues with a professional counselor?
Someone who is large herself with a healthy self-concept? I help
clients with adult counseling services for size, self-esteem,
life, family, emotional and other personal problems. Direct
billing to your health insurance can be done, and health
spending/flex medical accounts, debit cards and credit cards may
also be used. The size-friendly office is conveniently located
and easy-to-reach. Ample free parking is available and the
office is also accessible by public transportation.
Informational brochures available.
Back to United States page
Back to Fat Friendly Health Professionals