The Center for Mood and Eating Disorders

William J. Simons MD. Susan E. Strain LCSW CEDS. Vesna Francis PA

Dr. Simons received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and earned his MD from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. Following his residency in Internal Medicine in 1975 Bill completed an Infectious Disease Fellowship at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1977 and his psychiatric residency at Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland in 1990. As part of his residency, Bill studied three months as the C.G. Jung Institute in Zuruch. Bill is Board Certified in Psychiatry, Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease. Patients benefit from his broad knowledge of the field of medicine and his knowledge of the relationship between psychiatric and medical illnesses.

Vesna Francis completing her BS in Chemistry and Biology from Mars Hill College, and received her medical training in Physician Assistant Studies at East Carolina University and Masters of Health and Science from Duke University School of Medicine. She is committed to providing excellent, quality mental health care. Working together with patients and their families, Vesna believes in developing a personal connection with each of her patients by offering the latest in the science and art of medicine. Vesna strives to engage patients in strategies of insight and coping skills that are synergistic with TMS.

Susan Strain completed her undergraduate degree at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and her MSW from Rutgers University in1982. She has gained extensive experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings, dealing with a wide range of populations and psychiatric conditions. A proponent of the bio-psycho-social model of illness and recovery, Susan believes that TMS, along with patient education offers the best opportunity for recovery. She assists her clients to maintain awareness of their condition and develop the motivation to maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle to minimize the chance or relapse. lifestyle to minimize the risks of relapse. At TMS of Asheville she provides a special focus the treatments of several co-occurring illnesses, including eating disorders. She is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist.Anorexia