Eating Recovery Center’s Dr. Delia Aldridge Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

Skokie, Ill. — Eating Recovery Center Medical Director Delia Aldridge, MD, of Palatine, received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Nov. 3 at the Finding Freedom Gala for her outstanding contributions to the eating disorder field. The inaugural event, co-hosted by the Kirsten Haglund Foundation and Authentically You Eating Disorder Counseling, provided a night of connection, hope, networking, and raising financial aid funds to benefit those seeking treatment and freedom from eating disorders.

“Dr. Aldridge is a powerhouse,” said Mallory Silberman, LCSW, Co-Founder and Therapist at Authentically You and co-founder of the award. “She’s truly passionate about teaching others and helping those struggling with eating disorders.”

Silberman said when she and Iora Haglund, president of the Kirsten Haglund Foundation, created the Lifetime Achievement award, they wanted to honor someone who has dedicated their career and made significant contributions to the eating disorder community—they immediately thought of Dr. Aldridge.

“She has a heart of gold and is a blessing to the eating disorder community,” said Silberman. “Dr. Aldridge has served so many eating disorder patients throughout her years and is respected by so many professionals and patients.”

Silberman said Aldridge was “monumental” in her own path to recovery, noting Aldridge celebrated her successes and supported her aspiration for advocacy work.

“I owe a lot of my recovery to Dr. Aldridge, and I will forever be grateful for her,” she said.

Iora Haglund also noted Aldridge’s dedication to mentoring and helping others in the field to understand the complexities around eating disorders as a significant contribution to the field.

Aldridge is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with over 21 years of experience in treating adults and adolescents with eating disorders, PTSD, personality disorders, substance use, self-injury, mood, and anxiety disorders. Prior to joining ERC four years ago, she was the medical director for Ascension, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Medicine Institute – Center for Eating Disorders in Hoffman Estates. She is a clinical assistant professor at Rosalind Franklin University/The Chicago Medical School and adjunct assistant professor at Rush Medical College, teaching medical students, residents, and fellows about the medical complications of eating disorders; and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the Illinois Psychiatric Society, the International Association for Eating Disorders Professionals, and Academy for Eating Disorders.

In addition to the numerous articles and poster presentations she has co-authored, Dr. Aldridge published a chapter, “Eating Disorders and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: From Primary Care to Inpatient Hospitalization,” in the 2014 book “Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents.” She was also a clinical contributor to the book “Self-Injury: Simple Answers to Complex Questions.”

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Aldridge. “I have always been passionate about helping my patients on their road to recovery. But to see them carrying on, moving forward, blossoming in their lives, and in many cases seeing them become therapists and physicians fills me with so much pride. Recovery is possible.”