Debra K. Katzman

Director Research, Adolescent Medicine Residency Training Program Committee, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics

Competency Committee Chair, Adolescent Medicine Residency Training Program Committee

Senior Associate Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences

Dr. Debra K. Katzman earned her MD from McMaster University and completed her residency training in paediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh. She was a postdoctoral fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson General Pediatric Academic Development Program (Specialty in Adolescent Medicine) in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University. She was Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (1988–1991). She joined the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto in 1991 and is currently a Professor and Clinician Investigator in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Temerty Faculty of Medicine of the University of Toronto and a Senior Associate Scientist in Child Health Evaluative Science, SickKids Research Institute. She was the Head, Division of Adolescent Medicine (2004–2012) and the Director of the Eating Disorder Program (1993–2011) at SickKids. She was also the Director of Health Science Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto (2014–2021). She is currently the Pediatric Lead for Eating Disorders Ontario. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; a Fellow of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine; and a Fellow of Academy for Eating Disorders.

Research

The focus of Dr. Katzman’s research program has been to study and understand the unique physiologic and developmental issues in children and adolescent with eating disorders. She has been particularly interested in the medical complications associated with paediatric eating disorders, in particular osteoporosis, brain structure and function, and amenorrhea. New research priorities include exploration and improvement in the current diagnostic classification of eating disorders in children and adolescents.

Dr. Katzman has published over 300 articles, abstracts, book chapters, and editorials. Dr. Katzman co-edited a book for parents on eating disorders, “Help for Eating Disorder: A Parent’s Guide to Symptoms, Causes and Treatment”.  In addition, she is the editor-in-chief for the adolescent medicine textbook, “Adolescent and Young Adult Health Care: A Practical Guide 7^th edition”. 

Education and experience

• 1986–1988: Postdoctoral Fellow, Robert Wood Johnson General Pediatric Academic Development Program, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
• 1984–1986: Residency, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 1983–1984: Internship, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 1980–1983: Doctor of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

University appointments

• 2014–2021: Director, Health Science Research, MD Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2008–Present: Professor of Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2005–Present: Senior Associate Scientist, SickKids Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Hospital appointments

• 2004–2012: Head, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 2003–2004: Acting Head, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 2000: Acting Head, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 1998–Present: Staff Physician, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 1993–2011: Medical Director, Eating Disorders Program, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON

Cross appointments

• 2000–Present: Faculty Member, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Other appointments

• 2023–Present: Pediatric Lead, Eating Disorders Ontario, Ministry of Health, Ontario

Achievements

Academy for Eating Disorders

• 2012–2015: Chair, Scientific and Awards Committee 
• 2011–2012: Deputy Chair, Scientific Committee including TJ’s Fund for Biological Research in Eating Disorders
• 2011–2012: Chair, Nominating Committee
• 2010–2011: President
• 2009–2010: Chair, Advisory Board
• 2007–2010: Chair, Clinician Scholarship Program, Chair
• 2007–2009: Treasurer
• 2004–2006: Co-Chair, Education and Training Council
• 2003: Fellow

Adolescent Health Care 7^th Edition

• 2017–Present: Editor-in-Chief

American Psychiatric Association, DSM Review Committee

• 2016–Present: Invited Member, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) Review Committee on Body Systems Disorders [Feeding and Eating, Elimination, Sleep-Wake, Sexual Dysfunction, Gender Dysphoria]

Eating Disorders Ontario

• 2023–Present: Pediatric Lead
• 1995–Present: Steering Committee, Steering Committee Member

Ministry of Health – Ontario Health

• 2023–Present: Eating Disorder Expert Panel Member for Out-of-Country Prior Approval (OOC PA) Program, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
• 2023: Invited Expert Panel Member (Eating Disorders), Guidance for Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care (Mental Health and Addictions)

Canadian National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Rounds

• 2011: Founder and Chair

International Journal of Eating Disorders

• 2013–Present: Editorial Board Member

Journal of Adolescent Health

• 2021–Present: Associate Editor, Medicine and Health Services

Journal of Eating Disorders

• 2020–Present: Senior Editor

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

• 2022–2024: Past-Chair Representative, Exam Board Committee, Adolescent Medicine
• 2022–2023: Exam Board Chair Representative, Specialty Committee in Adolescent Medicine
• 2016–2022: Chair, Exam Board Committee, Adolescent Medicine
• 2014–2015: Deputy Chair, Exam Committee, Adolescent Medicine
• 2010: Founder Designation, Specialty Committee in Adolescent Medicine
• 2008–2014: Chair, Specialty Committee in Adolescent Medicine
• 2007–2008: Chair, Working Group in Adolescent Medicine
• 2005–2007: Chair, Working Group for the application for the accreditation of Adolescent Medicine as Pediatric Subspecialty in Canada

Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

• 2019–Present: Co-chair, SAHM Multidisciplinary Membership Committee
• 2019–2022: Publication Editorial Board, Member
• 2016–2019: Past President’s Council Representative to the SAHM Board of Directors
• 2016: Invited Chair, Journal of Adolescent Health, Editor-in-Chief Search Committee / Recused myself as I am on the SAHM BOD
• 2016: Co-Founder, Lawrence S. Neinstein Award in Young Adult Health
• 2014–2015: Chair, Nominations Committee
• 2014–Present: SAHM, Past-President
• 2012–2013: SAHM, President Elect
• 2007–2010: SAHM Health Professional Student Travel Scholarships, Co-Chair
• 2007–2009: Director of Programs, Annual Scientific Meeting
• 2006–2008: Multi-Organizational Conference on Adolescent
• 2005–2007: Associate Program Director, Annual Scientific Meeting
• 2000–2006: Director of Publications
• 1999–2000: Deputy Director of Publications
• 1999: Fellow, Society for Adolescent Medicine
• 1997–2000: SAHM Newsletter, Editor
• 1994–1996: Eating Disorder Special Interest Group, Co-Chair
• 1993–1996: Journal Advisory Committee, Journal of Adolescent Health, Member
• 1992–1995: Adolescent Eating Disorder Study Group/Position and Background Paper, Member
• 1989–Present: Fellow, RCPS(C)

Temerty School of Medicine, University of Toronto

• 2023–Present: Promotions Committee, Department of Paediatrics
• 2014–2021: Chair, Health Science Research Committee
• 2014–2021: Director, Health Science Research

SickKids Research Institute

• 2005–2007: Chair, SickKids Summer Research Program (SSuRe) formerly the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Summer Student Program/Summer Student Research Program, Research Training Centre
• 2003–2005: Co-Chair, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Summer Student Program, Research Training Centre

Honours and awards

• 2022: International Journal of Eating Disorders’ Best Review Paper by an Early Career Scholar (Dan Devoe). Devoe DJ, Han A, Anderson A, Katzman DK, Patten SB, Soumbasis A, Flanagan J, Paslakis G, Vyver E, Marcoux G, Dimitropoulos G. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorders: A systematic review. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2022 Apr 5;56(1):5-25. doi: 10.1002/eat.23704. Epub 2022 Apr 5. PMID: 35384016; PMCID: PMC9087369
• 2021–2022: Teaching Award For Excellence, MD Program, Temetry School of Medicine, University of Toronto
• 2020: Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Lawrence S. Neinstein Award in Young Adult Health
• 2017: British Medical Association Medical Book of the Year 2017 and British Medical Association First Prize Award in Pediatrics for Neinstein’s Adolescent and Young Adult Health Care: A Practical Guide, 6th Edition. Lawrence S Neinstein, Debra K Katzman (Senior Associate Editor), S Todd Callahan, Catherine M Gordon, Alain Joffe and Vaughn I Rickert—Wolters Kluwer, March 2016
• 2014: Outstanding Scientific Contribution in the International Journal of Eating Disorders in 2014. Faje AT, Fazeli PK, Miller KK, Katzman DK, Ebrahimi S, Lee H, Mendes N, Snelgrove D, Meenaghan E, B Misra M, Klibanski A. Fracture Risk and Areal Bone Mineral Density in Adolescent Females with Anorexia Nervosa. Int J Eat Disord. 2014 Jul; 47(5):458-66.
• 2014: American Pediatric Society (APS) nominated by peers and elected as an active member
• 2013: Academy for Eating Disorders’ Leadership Award for Clinical, Administrative or Educational Service
• 2012: McMaster University Alumni Gallery, Inductee
• 2008: Eating Disorder Champion Award, Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders
• 2005: Nominated for an Award for Excellence in Teaching at the 11^th National Conference of the Canadian Association for Adolescent Health, Toronto, ON
• 1991: Clinical Service and Teaching Appreciation Award, Stanford Pediatric House Staff, Stanford University School of Medicine

1. Katzman DK, Dimitropoulos G, Vyver E, Singh M, Austin A, Marcoux-Louie G, Patten SB. Hospitalizations for Eating Disorders and Other Mental, Behavioral, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Before and During COVID-19 in Canada. J Adolesc Health. 2024 Dec 15:S1054-139X(24)00461-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.09.027. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39692684.
2. Vyver E, Katzman DK. First-time hospitalizations for anorexia nervosa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program 2023 Results. 
3. Obeid N, Coelho JS, Booij L, Dimitropoulos G, Silva-Roy P, Bartram M, Clement F, de Oliveira C, Katzman DK. Estimating additional health and social costs in eating disorder care for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for surveillance and system transformation. J Eat Disord. 2024 Apr 26;12(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s40337-024-01003-1. PMID: 38671494; PMCID: PMC11047001.
4. Obeid N, Silva-Roy P, Booij L, Coelho JS, Dimitropoulos G, Katzman DK. The financial and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth with eating disorders, their families, clinicians and the mental health system: a mixed methods cost analysis. J Eat Disord. 2024 Mar 29;12(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s40337-024-00986-1. PMID: 38553730; PMCID: PMC10979568.
5. Katzman DK, McCradden MD. Capacity for Preferences: Adolescents With AN-PLUS. J Adolesc Health. 2023 Jun;72(6):827-828. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.02.020. Epub 2023 Apr 8. PMID: 37032212.

See a full list of Debra Katzman's publications.