Elaine Rosen, MD, FAAP
Dr. Rosen brings to California Center for Healthy Living fifteen years’ experience in our community as a general pediatrician, as well as a mountain of passion for bringing her longstanding vision of a comprehensive treatment center for overweight children to life.

A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Rosen completed her undergraduate degree at Rice University and her medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she completed her residency in Pediatrics at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. Following her training, she moved her home base to Tarzana, where she has been practicing since 1993. She has been heavily involved over the last several years with administrative work at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, having just served a three-year term as Vice Chief of Pediatrics, heading the Peer and Chart Review Committee.

Known as a comprehensive, thorough physician with a keen sensitivity for the psychological dynamics underneath the surface of her patients’ lives, Dr. Rosen has always known that her strengths lie more in the depth of her encounters with families rather than in seeing the volume of patients that is necessary as a general pediatrician.

For this reason, but most importantly because of the vast need she saw in the arena of pediatric weight management, Dr. Rosen has left her practice and is now pursuing this endeavor full time. The final piece to the puzzle is the experience she brings as a mother, having parented and fed three daughters and a son to their current ages of 8, 12, 14 and 16—together with her husband Lee.

Dr. Rosen is thrilled to see the fruition of what has been a ten-year vision, and is honored to be sharing the experience with a team of such exceptional professional colleagues.

Shani Verchick, R.D.

Shani received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition at California State University, Northridge. She is eligible to become a registered dietitian in July 2009.

Shani has a professional culinary certification from Westlake Culinary Institute and owned and operated a Los Angeles based bakery and catering company. She enjoys teaching culinary classes to both children and adults.  She comes with a wealth of knowledge about creating and preparing healthy recipes and balanced meals for family’s to enjoy.

Shani is currently finishing her dietetic internship at the Los Angeles VA Healthcare System where she has had an opportunity to educate patients on healthy nutrition, utilizing medical nutrition therapy when necessary. She has volunteered her time in the nutrition department at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.  She has taught nutrition classes at local elementary schools.   She is thrilled to be able to combine her culinary background with dietetics and help inspire children, teens, and their parents to create healthy relationships to food and nutrition.

Lori Schur, RN, PhD
Dr. Schur is a licensed psychologist and registered nurse. She has over twenty years of experience in the treatment of eating disordered adolescents and adults in medical inpatient, residential and outpatient care settings. She has a private practice in Woodland Hills, California and serves as a consultant at The Bella Vita Treatment Center in Woodland Hills, CA. She is also on staff at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance, California where she is part of their treatment team for eating disordered patients who are medically compromised. In addition, she served as a consultant and educator in several local private and public schools. Dr. Schur received her PhD in counseling psychology and Masters Degree in educational psychology from the University of Southern California.

Julie works collaboratively with clients who have a broad range of issues and goals. Much of her practice involves assisting adolescents and young people in transition, but she also sees couples and families. Her areas of interest include grief and loss and parenting concerns. After being diagnosed with diabetes eight years ago, Julie works to help others manage their own chronic or acute medical problems, working towards creating balance in all aspects of their lives (emotional, social, and physical) while giving clients the tools to find appropriate levels of self-care and other-care. Julie also leads several groups devoted to the needs of new moms.

Julie’s past speaking engagements include discussions on various topics, from “The Emotional Roller Coaster of Managing Chronic Illness” to “How to Really Be There for Your Teen,” and “Coping with Stress in a Struggling Economy.”

Michael Toussaint
Michael has been a certified personal fitness trainer and gym owner and for about 15 years. He opened Gym Spot because he wanted to take the personal training gym to the next level. The full service health and fitness gym in Tarzana has more than 20 certified personal fitness trainers. Gym Spot offers a high level environment in which clients become fit and toned…as well as adjunct services of massage and beauty treatments.

Michael trains people from all walks of life; however, he specializes in the extreme ends of the fitness spectrum. He helps many high-level athletes to improve their overall performance in competition. He also assists in the rehabilitation of handicapped and elderly clients. Michael’s fitness mission also includes helping overweight clients of all ages to set realistic, healthy goals while increasing their functional strength and endurance.

Cheryl Ecker, MA, OTR/L, BCP, SWC
Cheryl is a national board certified pediatric occupational therapist. She has also acquired specialty certification for feeding and swallowing through the California Board of Occupational Therapy. She has been practicing in occupational therapy with specialization in sensory integration and feeding for almost 20 years.