Eating disorders. New threats to health.

I feel honored by this opportunity to pay tribute to my former chief, Tom Hackett. I was indeed fortunate to know Tom. He was a major influence in my life. He knew of my interest in eating disorders and was instrumental in helping me start the Eating Disorders Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. The clinic was opened in 1981, and in the 10 years hence we have evaluated more than 2,500 adolescent and adult patients with eating disorders. At the outset Tom was not particularly interested in eating disorders, yet he was always willing to put time into my projects. He assisted me in developing a curriculum for a top-notch course on eating disorders and helped me obtain necessary funding for eating disorder research. Tom always encouraged me to embrace new challenges. I will be eternally grateful to him, and I miss him.