Lisa Smith Kilpela, PhD

Lisa Smith Kilpela, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, where she also serves as Associate Director of the Center for Research to Advance Community Health (ReACH). Her research focuses on eating disorders and related mental health conditions, particularly among midlife and older adults—populations that have historically been underrepresented in eating disorder research.

Dr. Kilpela directs the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program in the Department of Psychiatry and has extensive clinical experience treating individuals with eating disorders and associated emotional and behavioral challenges. Her work explores the psychological and behavioral mechanisms underlying binge eating disorder, body image concerns, and disordered eating across the lifespan.

Her federally funded research examines the health and mental health impacts of binge eating, particularly among older women and individuals experiencing food insecurity. Through community-engaged research and clinical innovation, Dr. Kilpela develops and evaluates evidence-based interventions designed to improve treatment access, reduce stigma, and advance care for individuals affected by eating disorders.