The landscape of behavioral health is evolving, and with that, we are seeing significant behavioral health leadership changes across various organizations. These transitions are shaping the future of mental health care, autism treatment, and substance use disorder (SUD) services. As leaders in the field pass the torch and new voices emerge, they bring fresh perspectives and a vision for continued growth and innovation in the industry.
The Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence (BHCOE) Transitions Leadership
The behavioral health leadership changes at the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence (BHCOE) mark a significant milestone in the organization’s evolution. Anya Perea, previously the president of BHCOE, has now been named the company’s new CEO. Perea’s background in social work and her previous role as vice president of integrations at Refresh Mental Health position her to lead BHCOE into its next phase of growth.
“The opportunity to lead BHCOE in this next phase of the organization’s evolution is an immense honor,” Perea shared. “Our success will be a result of aligned values and collaboration – not only within the BHCOE team, but within our larger community, including oversight committees, providers, parent groups, and individuals with autism.”
BHCOE’s founder, Sara Litvak, will remain an advisor to the company, continuing to provide her expertise as the organization moves forward. These behavioral health leadership changes signal a commitment to enhancing the standards of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and autism treatment.
Trip Hofer Joins .406 Ventures, Continuing His Leadership in Behavioral Health
In another prominent behavioral health leadership change, Trip Hofer, the former CEO of Optum Behavioral Health Solutions, has joined the health care venture capital firm .406 Ventures as a venture partner. Hofer’s extensive background in healthcare leadership, including previous roles at AbleTo, CVS Health, and UnitedHealth Group, will contribute significantly to .406 Ventures’ ongoing success.
Liam Donohue, co-founder and managing partner of .406 Ventures, spoke highly of Hofer’s expertise: “Working with Trip as an executive leader in our portfolio over the past 20 years has been both fun and successful. He is one of the most admired executives in U.S. healthcare and will add enormous domain and operating expertise to our investment work.”
This behavioral health leadership change strengthens .406 Ventures’ ability to shape the future of healthcare and improve outcomes in behavioral health.
Path Mental Health Expands Its Leadership Team
Path Mental Health, a leading therapy and psychiatric service provider, is undergoing its own behavioral health leadership changes with the appointment of three new executives. Jay Meyers joins as the company’s new chief commercial officer, tasked with driving payer partnership growth and expanding Path’s covered lives.
David Katcher has been named chief operating officer, bringing his experience in hyper-growth startups like Lyft to help scale Path’s services nationwide. Meanwhile, Tracey Scraba joins as the first general counsel, bringing extensive legal and regulatory expertise from her work at Signify Health and CVS Health.
These leadership transitions come at a pivotal moment for Path Mental Health as they look to expand their services and address the growing demand for mental health support. The company is poised to scale, with these behavioral health leadership changes playing a crucial role in their ongoing efforts.
Charlie Health Appoints Two New Executives to Tackle the Mental Health Crisis
Charlie Health, a company focused on youth mental health, has also seen behavioral health leadership changes with the hiring of Udi Milo as chief product officer and Donald Johnson as head of digital innovation. Milo, who co-founded and served as CEO of Fibo, brings a wealth of experience in tech-enabled services, while Johnson, a former executive at Optum, will lead Charlie’s digital innovation efforts.
These new appointments are expected to further Charlie Health’s mission to address the nationwide mental health crisis, with the addition of experienced leaders who are committed to improving treatment options and the overall mental health experience for their clients.
Compass Pathways Welcomes a New CFO Amid Growing Demand for Mental Health Solutions
Compass Pathways, a leading organization in mental health treatment, has named Teri Loxam as its new chief financial officer. Loxam’s strategic and financial expertise, previously demonstrated in her roles at Gameto and Kira Pharmaceuticals, will be instrumental in guiding the company through its next phase of growth and innovation in mental health treatment.
“We are excited to bring Teri Loxam on board,” said Compass Pathways in a statement. “Her extensive experience in financial and operational leadership will help steer our company toward continued success and innovation in mental health care.”
Loxam’s appointment is another example of behavioral health leadership changes that reflect the industry’s commitment to expanding access to care and improving treatment outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions.
Flourish Behavioral Health’s New Chief Clinical Officer
Flourish Behavioral Health, a provider of partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), IOPs, and outpatient services, has named Angela Swolsky its new chief clinical officer. Swolsky, who previously worked at Tal Behavioral Health and as a clinician at other behavioral health organizations, is excited to take on this new leadership role.
“I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted the position of Chief Clinical Officer at Flourish Behavioral Health,” Swolsky shared. “It’s an honor to collaborate with such dedicated and innovative professionals who share my vision and values of creating a positive and lasting impact in the behavioral health industry.”
These behavioral health leadership changes are pivotal for Flourish as the company continues to expand its services and improve patient outcomes in behavioral health.
YourPath Appoints New COO to Lead Expansion
YourPath, a provider of substance use disorder treatment services, has made its own behavioral health leadership changes by appointing Philip Rutherford as the new chief operating officer. Rutherford brings a wealth of experience from his previous work at Faces & Voices of Recovery and has held roles in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors.
Rutherford’s leadership is expected to support YourPath’s continued expansion and its mission to provide comprehensive, equitable substance use disorder treatment. His appointment reflects the growing focus on leadership in substance use disorder treatment and care coordination.
These behavioral health leadership changes reflect an exciting period of growth and transformation in the mental health and addiction treatment sectors. As organizations like BHCOE, Path Mental Health, and Compass Pathways appoint new leaders, they are poised to have a lasting impact on the quality and accessibility of care for individuals struggling with mental health and substance use issues.
