by Cynthia Bulik, PhD

Back in the early 2000s, a remarkable and deeply determined mother laid the groundwork for what would become the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (CEED). One mother. On February 14, 2021, Marguerite (Rita) Lovett Robbins passed peacefully in her Chapel Hill home. Without Rita, CEED would not exist.

Rita’s daughter, the late Jennifer McLamb Whitaker, had to be flown to New York to receive treatment for her eating disorder. The process of securing care was an ordeal—one Rita was determined no other North Carolina mother should have to endure. So, she set out to change things.

Rita went straight to the North Carolina State Legislature, to the office of the late State Senator John Kerr, and described how unjust it was that families in North Carolina had to send their children as far as New York for eating disorders treatment. At that time, there were no comprehensive programs on the east coast between New York and Florida. Senator Kerr encouraged her to contact then-Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Robert Golden, MD, to ask what would be needed to start a treatment program at UNC. Dr. Golden suggested establishing an endowed professorship in eating disorders to attract top talent to the state and build a world-class program.

What came next is history. Rita founded a nonprofit with a singular mission: to raise funds to endow a professorship in eating disorders—the first of its kind in the country. She reached out to everyone she knew, shared her story, and passionately invited them to contribute to the endowment as a crucial first step toward building a comprehensive treatment center in North Carolina. She established a Board to drive the fundraising effort, and succeeded. The William and Jeanne Jordan Distinguished Professorship in Eating Disorders was established.

Dr. Golden then conducted a national search to find the person who would bring Rita’s vision to life. My decision to move to Chapel Hill and take on this challenge was motivated by Rita’s story. Her determination and passion reflected both the urgency and the unwavering commitment that existed in the state to make this program a reality—and I felt compelled to try.

At the opening ceremony for what was then called the UNC Eating Disorders Program, Rita and Jennifer officially cut the ribbon, joined by Dr. Golden and Senator Kerr. Together, we set a plan in motion to ensure that people in North Carolina could access high-quality eating disorders care—at home.

From our opening in 2003 until the pandemic, I had lunch with Rita nearly every year—usually over fried green tomatoes at the Weathervane. She would always ask about our progress in clinical care, teaching, and research. She always wanted to know: did we have what we needed to fulfill the mission? Was her dream still being realized?

Rita faced profound losses. Jennifer recovered from her eating disorder and thrived as a social worker, until her life was cut short by a rare form of cancer. Rita also mourned the deaths of three infant grandchildren. Even in the face of these unimaginable tragedies, Rita remained steadfast—an unwavering supporter of what is now the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders.

In 2019, we honored Rita with a commemorative plaque that reads:
“The UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders honors Marguerite (Rita) Robbins. Her vision has saved lives.”
Regrettably, with the onset of the pandemic, that was the last time I saw her.

Let Rita’s life be a lesson to us all. She transformed personal pain into collective progress. She reached out with courage to strangers and leaders alike, driven by her values. She taught us that one person—with heart, conviction, and vision—can change everything.

To Rita’s family: my heart is with you. And I thank you. Thank you for sharing your mother with me. Rita changed the course of my life. Through me, and through UNC CEED, she empowered the careers of countless clinicians, educators, and researchers dedicated to eating disorders. She saved lives. And she fulfilled her dream: access to comprehensive treatment, right here in her beloved North Carolina.

May Rita rest in peace, and may we always remember the enduring impact she made. She is proof that one person…one mother…can change the world.