Walter H. Kaye

Dr. Walter H. Kaye is the Founder & Executive Director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of California, San Diego, where he is also a Professor of Psychiatry.

As a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Kaye instructs medical students and residents. His research seeks to understand why individuals develop eating disorders and to use what is learned to develop more effective treatments.

An internationally recognized leader in the field, his research has identified genes that contribute to the development of anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

As Executive Director of the Eating Disorders program, Dr. Kaye and his clinical team are treating anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders with an innovative, intensive program that approaches the problem on multiple levels, including medical, psychological, psycho-educational and counseling of the family as a key support group.

Dr. Kaye’s current research is focused on exploring the relationship between brain and behavior using brain imaging and applying these insights to develop more effective psychotherapies and medication for Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa.

Following the completion of his degree, Dr. Kaye was a fellow and research physician at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for 7 years. There, he conducted research on appetite regulation, behavior, and treatment for eating disorders.

Today, Dr. Kaye is a principal investigator for an international multi-site collaboration on the genetics of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Dr. Kaye has an international reputation in the field of eating disorders and is the author of more than 400 articles and publications.