Sentari Minor, Vice President of Strategy and Chief of Staff at EvolvedMD, has been honored as a 2024 Future Leader in Behavioral Health by Behavioral Health Business. This prestigious recognition is awarded to high-performing individuals under the age of 40 who demonstrate a commitment to behavioral health services, are passionate about creating positive change, and are advocates for both the patients who need care and the professionals who provide it. Minor’s selection highlights his exceptional contributions to the industry and his dedication to making a lasting impact in the behavioral health space, making him a prime example of Future Leaders in Behavioral Health.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, EvolvedMD is at the forefront of transforming behavioral health care by partnering with primary care providers to implement psychiatric collaborative care management (CoCM) models. These models place behavioral health specialists directly within medical practices, improving access to care and enhancing the integration of mental health services into primary care settings. Minor, who joined EvolvedMD in 2020 after an extensive career as an executive consultant, has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s impact in the sector. In an interview with Behavioral Health Business, Minor shared his thoughts on the rapidly changing landscape of behavioral health, the challenges he’s encountered, and his vision for the future of the industry.
A Personal Connection to Behavioral Health
Minor’s journey into behavioral health is not just professional but deeply personal. He has been in therapy since his mid-20s and has long been an outspoken advocate for mental health, particularly for men—a group that often faces societal stigma when seeking care. Minor’s focus on encouraging Black men to access mental health services is central to his advocacy efforts. “I’ve been a very vocal proponent and champion for men in mental health—men accessing mental health, and especially Black men,” he said.
While this is Minor’s first experience working directly in healthcare, his personal connection to the field of behavioral health made the transition an easy and natural one. When he was presented with the opportunity to join EvolvedMD, he didn’t hesitate. “This is my first foray into healthcare, but once I had the opportunity to be in behavioral health, it became something I was passionate about,” Minor shared. Over the past four years at EvolvedMD, Minor has gained a wealth of knowledge about the industry, continually learning and growing in his role. He exemplifies the qualities that make Future Leaders in Behavioral Health stand out.
Learning from the Industry’s Challenges
One of the most valuable lessons Minor has learned since entering the behavioral health industry is the reality of how slowly change happens within healthcare. “It takes a while for things to change, and that’s just not something I ever experienced before,” he reflected. In healthcare, innovation is often embraced in theory, but actual disruption and change can be slow and difficult to implement. “You can be disruptive, but you have to really articulate your value around disruption,” he continued. This can be frustrating, as the healthcare industry tends to be cautious in adopting new ideas and models.
Despite these challenges, Minor remains optimistic about the impact that thoughtful, well-articulated innovations can have in the long run. “You have to be patient and know that your idea and approach is going to be the idea or approach that wins,” he explained. For Minor, the key to driving change lies in persistence, clear communication of the value of new ideas, and the ability to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. His approach reflects what Future Leaders in Behavioral Health can achieve when they combine vision with persistence.
Advocating for Collaboration and Outcomes
Looking toward the future, Minor sees collaboration as the cornerstone of progress in behavioral health. “Behavioral health has to become more collaborative, more outcomes-focused,” he stressed. Too often in traditional behavioral health care, the great work being done isn’t quantified or measured, making it difficult to assess its true impact. Minor believes that to make a significant, lasting difference, the sector needs to start focusing on measurable outcomes to determine whether individuals are truly improving and receiving the care they need.
The integration of physical and behavioral health is another key area where Minor sees a significant opportunity for improvement. “We have to marry both the physical and the behavioral health because those two things impact each other so much,” he noted. By breaking down the silos between physical and behavioral health, providers will be able to offer more comprehensive care that leads to better outcomes for patients. Minor is committed to ensuring that these two aspects of healthcare work in harmony to address the full spectrum of patients’ needs. He believes that this collaborative approach is what will define the next generation of Future Leaders in Behavioral Health.
Shaping the Future of Behavioral Health
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Minor believes the behavioral health industry will become more integrated and collaborative, with a stronger emphasis on outcomes. “The sector is starting to understand that integration is the best way to scale, and that we must collaborate to ensure the best outcome,” he said. At EvolvedMD, Minor and his team are already working toward this vision of a more collaborative and integrated future, where the various sectors of healthcare work together to improve patient care.
Another shift Minor anticipates is the increasing role of virtual therapy in meeting the needs of individuals in underserved areas. “Virtual therapy and virtual services have a place in the market,” Minor acknowledged, especially in rural areas and small towns where access to in-person care can be limited. However, he also believes that for behavioral health to have the most significant impact, in-person care is still crucial. “For true impact to happen, I think behavioral health has to happen more in-person than virtual,” he stated, recognizing the importance of face-to-face interactions in building trust and creating meaningful therapeutic relationships.
Collaborative Leadership for a Changing Industry
Minor’s leadership style reflects his belief in the power of collaboration and adaptability. When asked about the qualities that all Future Leaders in Behavioral Health should possess, he emphasized the importance of adaptability. “Things are going to happen,” Minor said. “As slow-moving as healthcare is, it’s also very fast-paced, and you have to be open to accepting new ideas, new strategies, and adapting.” The ability to adjust to the rapid changes in the industry while remaining focused on long-term goals will be essential for leaders in the years to come.
If Minor could give advice to his younger self on his first day in the behavioral health industry, it would be to take the time to observe and learn. “Understand the people, why they do what they do, and how to best support them,” he recommended. Minor emphasized the importance of understanding what motivates the clinicians and providers in the field, as well as the need to balance passion for the work with a focus on outcomes. “It was enlightening and rewarding to see our clinicians are so passionate about the work that they do. How do we best support them while also being outcomes-based and evidence-driven?” he asked.
Minor’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and collaboration in driving change. As a 2024 Future Leader, he is leading the way in making behavioral health care more integrated, collaborative, and outcomes-focused. With leaders like Minor at the helm, the future of behavioral health looks promising, and his work will continue to shape the industry for years to come, inspiring other Future Leaders in Behavioral Health to follow in his footsteps.
