Meet The Structure House Team

Katie Rickel, PhD, CEO

Chief Executive Officer, Clinical Psychologist

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Dr. Katie Rickel graduated summa cum laude from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Florida. She completed an APA-accredited clinical internship in health psychology at Duke University Medical Center, with advanced training in behavioral and bariatric obesity treatment as well as the psychological management of chronic pain and illness. Dr. Rickel also has expertise in treating anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobias. Her research has been presented at various professional conferences and published in scientific journals. Dr. Rickel has also appeared on “The Dr. Oz Show” and has been quoted in several popular media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Health magazine, Yahoo! Health, Women’s Health magazine, Weight Watchers magazine, and abcnews.com.

Digital publications:

How to Stay Healthy, Even When You’re Traveling, Curvy Girl Health

“DNA Diets”: Miracle or Scam?, Curvy Girl Health

Conquering Your Gym Phobia, Curvy Girl Health

Taking the Scary Out of the Scale, Curvy Girl Health

Interview With Dr. Katie Rickel: “Weight loss is not just about eating less and moving more”, HealthReporter

Journal publications:

Featured in:

Selected published abstracts and conference presentations:

  • Rickel, K.A., Gibbons, L.M., Milsom, V.A., DeBraganza, N., Murawski, M.E., Nackers, L.M. & Perri, M. G. (2007). Racial/ethnic differences in the effectiveness of extended care following lifestyle intervention for obesity. Poster presented at the 28th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Washington, D.C. (Published Abstract).
  • Rickel, K.A., Durning, P.E., Debraganza, N., Milsom, V.A., Murawski, M.E., Gibbons, L.M., & Perri, M.G. (2006). Treatment of Obesity in Underserved Rural Settings (TOURS): Changes in physical activity and physical fitness in African-American and Caucasian women. Poster presented at the 27th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. San Francisco, CA.  (Published Abstract).
  • Rickel, K.A., Milsom, V.A., Murawski, M.E., DeBraganza, N., Fox, L.D. Durning, P.E., Janicke, D.M., & Perri, M.G. (2005). Do self-reported changes in diet or exercise predict weight loss in lifestyle treatment of obesity? Poster presented at the 18th Annual College of Public Health and Health Professions Research Day. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
  • Rickel, K.A., Durning, P.E., & Perri, M.G. (2004). Treatment Preference and Perceived Difficulty as Predictors of Exercise Adherence. Poster presented at the 25th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Baltimore, MD. (Published Abstract).
  • Milsom, V.A., Rickel, K.A., DeBraganza, N., Gibbons, L.M., Nackers, L.M., Durning, P.E., & Perri, M. G. (2007). Contributions of weight loss and physical activity to improvements in fitness and metabolic profile. Poster presented at the 28th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Washington, D.C. (Published Abstract).
  • Gibbons, L.M., DeBraganza, N., Milsom, V.A., Murawski, M.E., Nackers, L.M., Rickel, K.A., Durning, P.E., & Perri, M. G. (2007). Do the benefits of weight-loss treatment outweigh the risks for elderly, obese women? Poster presented at the 28th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Washington, D.C. (Published Abstract).
  • Nackers, L.M., Milsom, V.A., Gibbons, L.M., DeBraganza, N., Rickel, K.A., & Perri, M.G. (2007). Is it better to have lost and regained than to never have lost at all? The impact of weight regain on metabolic risk factors. Poster presented at the 28th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Washington, D.C. (Published Abstract).
  • Milsom, V.A., Gibbons, L.M., Debraganza, N., Rickel, K.A., Murawski, M.E., Durning, P.E., & Perri, M.G. (2006). What constitutes a successful weight-loss outcome? The impact of 5% and 10% weight reduction on metabolic risk factors for disease. Poster presented at the 27th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. San Francisco, CA. (Published Abstract).
  • Gibbons, L.M., Milsom, V.A., Murawski, M.E., Debraganza, N., Rickel, K.A., Durning, P.E., & Perri, M.G. (2006). Length of treatment and successful outcome in the management of obesity.  Poster presented at the 27th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. San Francisco, CA. (Published Abstract).
  • Lutes, L.D., Perri, M.G., Dale, M.S., Milsom, V.A., Debraganza, N., Rickel, K.A., Durning, P.E. & Bobroff, L.B. (2005). Treatment of Obesity in Underserved Rural Settings (TOURS): Changes in nutritional intake in African-American and Caucasian women. Poster presented at the 27th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. San Francisco, CA. (Published Abstract).
  • Fennell, E.B., Kelly, K.G. & Rickel, K.A. (2005). Pediatric case studies in neurocognitive sequelae of familial Myelomeningocele. Poster presented at the 33rd annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society. (Published Abstract).
  • Murawski, M.E., DeBraganza, N., Rickel, K.A., Milsom, V.A., Durning, P. E., Fox, L.D., Janicke, D. M., & Perri, M. G. (2005). Treatment of Obesity in Underserved Rural Settings (TOURS): Effects on quality of life. Poster presented at the 26th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Boston, MA. (Published Abstract).
  • Milsom, V.A., Rickel, K.A., Murawski, M.E., DeBraganza, N., & Perri, M.G. (2005). Weight loss improves functional mobility in older obese women. Poster presented at the 26th annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Boston, MA. (Published Abstract).
  • Aranda, M., Meisel, F., Bearn, L., Rickel, K., & Ferrante, F.M. (2001). The effect of ethnicity on the treatment of low back pain. Abstract presented at the 2001 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. New Orleans, LA.

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