Michelle Feng, Chief Clinical Officer of Los Angeles-based Executive Mental Health, has been named one of Behavioral Health Business’s 2023 Future Leaders in Mental Health — an elite group of rising stars under 40 who are reshaping the behavioral health landscape with innovation, dedication, and visionary leadership.
This prestigious recognition honors professionals nominated by their peers who exemplify high performance, a passion for advocacy, and the ability to translate vision into meaningful action. Michelle Feng’s journey, commitment to geropsychology, and advocacy for better behavioral health services truly set her apart among the Future Leaders in Mental Health.
A Personal and Professional Journey into Behavioral Health
Michelle Feng’s path to behavioral health was deeply intertwined with personal experience. While pursuing her undergraduate studies, she found herself caring for her grandmother, who suffered from dementia. This time was eye-opening and profound.
“While I was in college, I had to deal with my own medical issues that took me away from my studies for a semester. My parents were working, and I spent a lot of time with my grandmother,” Feng recalls. “What struck me was the way I saw our family deal with it: the cultural influences, what was not said, the stress and the love that can come out of all of that. I knew there was something special about that wasn’t being talked about enough.”
Her grandmother’s experience exposed her to the realities of aging, dementia, and the emotional complexity families face—especially within the cultural context that often shapes how illness and caregiving are perceived and handled. These insights planted the seed for her future focus on geropsychology, the psychological care of older adults.
This personal awakening was further nurtured during Feng’s graduate studies at the University of Southern California (USC), where she studied under Gerald Davison, a prominent chair in psychology and gerontology. There, she connected with leading researchers and clinicians, developing a strong clinical foundation that would propel her career.
“The clinical foundation was formed for me there and the opportunities that came with it. It was an inspiring time,” Feng says. The combination of personal experience and rigorous academic training helped Feng cultivate a unique perspective — one that integrates empathy, cultural awareness, and scientific rigor.
Lessons Learned: Recognizing the Value of Behavioral Health
One of the biggest lessons Feng has learned over her career is the importance of understanding and communicating the value of behavioral health services—not only in financial terms but also in the intrinsic worth these services provide to patients, families, and communities.
“In graduate school, clinicians in training don’t learn about the business aspects of our profession, which puts the field at a bit of a disadvantage,” Feng explains. “We don’t totally know our worth, and if we do, we don’t always have the practice of explaining it to others.”
She stresses that this is not due to a lack of intelligence or savvy among clinicians but rather a difference in mindset. Clinicians tend to focus on care delivery and patient well-being, while the business side of behavioral health is often overlooked. Bridging this gap is essential for advancing the field, improving funding, and advocating for better reimbursement policies.
Feng’s awareness of this challenge fuels her drive to educate both clinicians and stakeholders about the value behavioral health professionals bring to the healthcare system. She sees it as a vital step toward securing the resources needed to sustain and expand quality care.
As one of the Future Leaders in Mental Health, Feng emphasizes the need for professionals to understand their worth and to become confident advocates within the broader health care system.
Vision for a Better Behavioral Health Future
When asked what one thing she would change about behavioral health looking toward the future, Feng hesitated to limit herself to just one.
“There are so many critical areas, but if I had to highlight a few, I would say reimbursement, waitlists, and improved continuity of care,” she notes. These systemic challenges limit access to care, increase provider burnout, and ultimately harm patient outcomes.
Feng envisions an industry that evolves to meet these challenges head-on through innovation, policy change, and collaborative efforts among providers, payers, and patients.
Looking forward, Feng foresees an increasing differentiation of behavioral health services — a wider variety of treatment options tailored to diverse needs and preferences.
“There are many different ways to care for our mental health, and the services that will be offered will be more expansive,” Feng predicts. “That, coupled with a more savvy mindset from the public, will help people find the thing that works for them so that they can be healthy and live life. That will be a great thing.”
This future includes a more informed public and a more empowered consumer base that understands behavioral health and demands personalized care options.
If Feng had to sum up the future of behavioral health in a single word, she chooses “evolving.”
“It’s not a straight path to a perfect system. Progress isn’t linear. But things are moving. We are seeing changes happening,” she says. She believes the future will bring stronger clinician advocacy, more informed consumers, and ultimately a better match between patient needs and treatment options.
Michelle Feng, along with other Future Leaders in Mental Health, will play a key role in steering this evolution toward a more effective and compassionate system.
The Core Qualities of a Behavioral Health Business Future Leader
In her role as a Future Leader in Mental Health, Feng believes several qualities are essential to thriving in behavioral health today and tomorrow.
“Future Leaders are innovative thinkers who are grounded in integrity and curiosity. They also have an interest in connecting with others,” she says. These qualities enable leaders to navigate complex challenges, build collaborative relationships, and pioneer new solutions.
Feng’s own career reflects these values, as she balances clinical leadership with advocacy and business insight to push behavioral health forward. She serves as a shining example of the qualities that all Future Leaders in Mental Health must cultivate.
Closing Thoughts
Michelle Feng’s recognition as a Behavioral Health Business 2023 Future Leader in Mental Health highlights her remarkable contributions to geropsychology, her thoughtful leadership, and her passion for improving behavioral health care. Her unique blend of personal experience, academic excellence, and practical insight is helping transform the field and inspire the next generation of clinicians and advocates.
As behavioral health continues to evolve, leaders like Feng will be at the forefront—championing better care, greater awareness, and a future where mental health services truly meet the diverse needs of every individual.
The future is bright with committed Future Leaders in Mental Health like Michelle Feng driving positive change.
