Bio

Clinical Focus

  • Mindfulness
  • Eating Disorders, Pediatric
  • Munchausen by Proxy
  • International Educational Exchange
  • Psychology

Academic Appointments

Professional Education

  • Internship:VA Medical Center Palo Alto (1985) CA
  • Memphis State University (1985) TN
  • Fellowship:Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (1991) CA
  • Ph.D., University of Memphis, Clinical Psychology (1985)

Community and International Work

  • Project Okurase, Ghana

    Topic

    Community Service

    Populations Served

    Vunerable Children, Village

    Location

    International

    Ongoing Project

    Yes

    Opportunities for Student Involvement

    Yes

Contact

    • Tel: (650) 723-5511
    • Tel: (650) 465-7263
    Fax: (650) 723-5531
  • CCP: Comprehensive Care Unit: El Camino Hospital 2500 Grant Road Mountain View, CA 94040
    • Tel: (650) 988-8381
    Fax: (650) 988-8372

Research & Scholarship

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

Dr. Sanders is the Program Director of the Comprehensive Care Unit at Stanford where she teaches and works with inpatients with eating disorders. She has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders for the past 25 years at Stanford. She has written extensively and presented nationally on the subject of the evaluation and treatment of eating disorders and also in the field of child abuse, specifically in the area of Munchausen by proxy.

Dr. Sanders is also involved with an international outreach project in Ghana called Project Okurase. This project involved an annual medical health outreach in the village. The project is also creating a model village which includes the building of a medical clinic, vocational school, and homes for families that take in orphans. The project is also involved with bringing safe water, building compost toilets, and bringing solar energy to the village.

Teaching

2017-18 Courses

Publications

All Publications

  • Forensic assessment of illness falsification, Munchausen by proxy, and factitious disorder, NOS. Child maltreatment Sanders, M. J., Bursch, B. 2002; 7 (2): 112-124

    Abstract

    The purpose of this article is to propose guidelines for the evaluation of possible Munchausen by proxy child abuse for the court systems. These assessments require the evaluator to have an understanding of the complexity involved when this type of abuse is alleged. The evaluator should have an appreciation of how falsification of illness may or may not occur, recognize the need for careful analysis of medical records, and understand the problems associated with the use of a profile in determining the validity of an abuse allegation. This article presents guidelines for gathering pertinent data, analyzing records, and evaluating psychological testing for forensic evaluations when the questions for the evaluation are the following: (a) Is there evidence that child abuse did occur? (b) Does the alleged perpetrator meet criteria forfactitious disorder, NOS (or factitious disorder by proxy)? and (c) What management and treatment recommendations should be made?

    View details for PubMedID 12020067

  • Body dissatisfaction and dieting in young children INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS Schur, E. A., Sanders, M., Steiner, H. 2000; 27 (1): 74-82

    Abstract

    To develop a broader understanding of young children's knowledge and beliefs about dieting and body dissatisfaction.Sixty-two third through sixth-grade boys and girls completed audiotaped interviews and questionnaires regarding eating behavior, attitudes toward dieting, and body dissatisfaction.Fifty percent of all children wanted to weigh less and 16% reported attempting weight loss. Children were well informed about dieting and were most likely to believe that dieting meant changing food choices and exercising as opposed to restricting intake. Their primary source of information was the family. Seventy-seven percent of children mentioned hearing about dieting from a family member, usually a parent.Young children are knowledgeable about dieting and the concept of dieting does not necessarily mean caloric restriction to them. These data suggest that the family can play a powerful role in countering the development of eating concerns and body dissatisfaction in children.

    View details for Web of Science ID 000084531300008

    View details for PubMedID 10590451

  • A MODEL FOR MANAGING CLINICAL AND PERSONNEL ISSUES IN C-L PSYCHIATRY - THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRIC PSYCHIATRY AT CHILDRENS-HOSPITAL-AT-STANFORD PSYCHOSOMATICS Steiner, H., Sanders, M., CANNING, E. H., Litt, I. 1994; 35 (1): 73-79

    View details for Web of Science ID A1994MN51600009

    View details for PubMedID 8134532

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