Contact Communications@thenationalcouncil.org or 202.684.7457, ext. 228 to interview national experts and psychiatrists on leadership and clinical practice improvement.

February 18, 2009, Washington DC—The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) has announced the ten psychiatrists chosen for the 2009 Psychiatric Leadership Program (see list below), an executive development and mentoring program for medical directors in community behavioral health organizations. The program is part of the National Council’s wide-ranging efforts to address the industry’s pressing workforce challenges and to improve the quality of care for people with mental illnesses and addictions in a time of increasing service demand and decreasing resources.

“Psychiatrists in executive positions in community mental health and addictions organizations are usually underpaid and overworked — struggling to manage growing caseloads along with administrative responsibilities, yet passionate about making a difference. The National Council has an obligation to highlight their struggles. And we step in to offer them the skills and supports they need to become leaders in our industry,” said National Council President and CEO Linda Rosenberg.

The National Council Psychiatric Leadership Program gives medical directors an opportunity to look beyond day-to-day survival and engage in designing, implementing, and improving innovative treatment and support services.

The program’s comprehensive curriculum focuses on the development of leadership skills for participants, including:
• Assessment and development of personal leadership
• Applying knowledge and skills for transformational leadership
• Human resource development, financial management, strategic planning, performance improvement and team, organizational and inter-organizational dynamics
• Conflict resolution, group facilitation, negotiation, and communication
• Concepts and implementation of recovery, change management, person-centered planning, data-based decision making and developing strategic alliances

The program also nurtures participating psychiatrists as leaders that can inform public policy in their agency and the broader behavioral health system.

The Psychiatric Leadership Program enjoys the ongoing support of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The ten psychiatrists chosen to participate in the 2009 Psychiatric Leadership Development Program are
David L. Beck, MD, Kitsap Mental Health Services, Bremerton, WA
Robert Davis, MD, Catholic Charities, Dioses of Trenton, Behavioral Health Services, Cherry Hill, NJ
Edward M. Gentile, DO, MBA, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Lynna Hollis, MD, Regional Medical Authority for Davidson County Centerstone, Nashville, TN
Mathew O. Hurford, MD, Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Center, Philadelphia, PA
Norma Josef, MD, Macomb County Community Mental Health, Clinton Township, MI
Linda Lefler, MD, Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health. Inc., St. Petersburg, FL
Jon C. Rubenow, DO, Avita Community Partners, Flowery Branch, GA
John Santopetro, MD, Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, CT
Jeannie Tse, MD, FRCPC, Institute for Community Living, New York, NY                                                                     

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) association of 1,600 behavioral healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addictions disorders to nearly six million adults, children and families in communities across the country.