Erin N. Harrop, PhD, MSW, LICSW, EDCS

Erin N. Harrop, they/them, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Denver and licensed medical social worker. Erin’s research focuses on eating disorders, weight stigma, and weight-inclusive healthcare. Erin centers marginalized populations (e.g., queer, trans, higher weight, lower SES, BIPOC communities), incorporating mixed methods, arts-based, and lived experience research methods. In addition to studying the impact of stigma on these groups, Erin is also investigating interventions to reduce stigma. They recently received funding to evaluate a weight-inclusive support group protocol for patients with eating disorders in a randomized wait-list controlled trial. Additionally, they also design and evaluate interventions targeting stigma at the healthcare provider level, introducing interprofessional clinicians to weight-inclusive practices that honor patients’ unique intersecting identities. As a lived experience researcher themself, Erin also written about their own experiences in eating disorder treatment, and utilized their personal story in policy work to advocate for improved coverage and more equitable care.