Press Release

Behavioral Healthcare Announces 2016 Champions

Four industry executives recognized for demonstrated innovation in behavioral health

CLEVELAND – Behavioral Healthcare has announced the executives who were selected as 2016 Behavioral Healthcare Champions. Four individuals have been honored for their unique brand of dedication, courage, inspiration and excellence as leaders of behavioral health organizations. The 2016 Behavioral Healthcare Champions are:

  • Kathe Dellacecca, MSW, system vice president for behavioral health,
    Sinai Health System in Chicago
  • Robert Ferguson, director, Jaywalker Lodge in Carbondale, Colo.
  • Steven Sharfstein, MD, former president and CEO, Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore
  • Raymond Tamasi, president, Gosnold on Cape Cod in Falmouth, Mass.

The 2016 Champions were selected from dozens of outstanding nominees who are making a difference in the development, delivery and effectiveness of mental health and substance-use disorder treatment services. Behavioral Healthcare applauds their efforts to raise the bar of success across the industry.

“Exceptional leadership in our industry requires the drive to develop strategies that help as many people as possible manage and overcome behavioral health disorders, as well as the vision to adapt to an evolving market,” says Behavioral Healthcare Editor-in-Chief Julie Miller. “The 2016 Champions have gone above and beyond that high standard, and we are pleased to recognize their outstanding efforts.”

The Behavioral Healthcare Champions will be profiled in the Summer 2016 issue of Behavioral Healthcare and recognized at a special ceremony during the National Conference on Addiction Disorders (NCAD), which will be held Aug. 18-21 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown in Denver. Profiles on each Champion will be posted on Behavioral.net beginning July 18.


About Behavioral Healthcare

Behavioral Healthcare, a Vendome Healthcare Media publication, is the practical resource on technology, reimbursement, and treatment trends for executives in the mental health and substance abuse fields. With cutting-edge editorial content and live events, we educate and inspire addiction and mental health professionals to improve care delivery, enhance patient outcomes, support related organizations and develop a care-focused society for people struggling with behavioral health disorders.


About Sheppard Pratt

Sheppard Pratt is the largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, developmental disability, special education, and social services in the country. A nationwide resource, Sheppard Pratt provides services across a comprehensive continuum of care, spanning both hospital- and community-based resources. Since its founding in 1853, Sheppard Pratt has been innovating the field through research, best practice implementation, and a focus on improving the quality of mental health care on a global level. Sheppard Pratt has been consistently recognized as a top national psychiatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years.