As the country begins to turn the corner on the collective trauma of the pandemic era, both states and the federal government will need to be very intentional about mental health and substance abuse policy and funding. This panel comprises some of the country’s most esteemed and respected voices on mental health, both at the individual and community levels. They will offer their insights and advice on state and federal policy for 2021. 

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021

Time: 12:30 EST / 9:30 PST

Panelists:

• • Andy Keller, PhD: Chief Executive Officer, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute 
  • Thomas Insel, MD: Mental Health Czar, Office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom 
  • Susan Mims, MD: Interim Chief Executive Officer, Dogwood Health Trust (North Carolina) 

Andy Keller, PhD is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, a Texas-based nonprofit that provides nonpartisan policy and program research, development, and advice to state and local leaders towards a single goal: improving mental health care delivery in Texas. Andy is a licensed psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in behavioral health policy, financing, and best practices. His work has centered on helping state and local health systems implement evidence-based and innovative care, as well as helping local and state governments develop the regulatory and financial frameworks to support them. Prior to moving full time into policy work, Andy was a managing partner for 15 years at a national behavioral health management consulting firm where he focused on health financing and system improvement. Before that, he worked in Colorado with a leading Medicaid HMO and the local community mental health system, where he directed and led a range of community-based and care management programs.

Thomas R. Insel, MD a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, is a co-founder and adviser to Mindstrong. From 2002-2015, Dr. Insel served as Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) committed to research on mental disorders. Most recently he led the Mental Health Team at Verily. Prior to his appointment at the NIMH, Dr. Insel was a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at Emory University School of Medicine. He also served as Director of the Center for Autism Research and is a member of the scientific advisory board at the Autism Science Foundation. Dr. Insel is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has received numerous national and international awards including honorary degrees in the U.S. and Europe.

Susan Mims, MD has over 20 years of experience in clinical and healthcare leadership in North Carolina, most recently employed with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) as the Chair of the Department of Community and Public Health at UNC Health Sciences. Prior to joining MAHEC, Dr. Mims was the Vice President for Children’s Services and Clinical Genetics and Personalized Medicine at Mission Health, Chief of Pediatrics for Mission Children’s Hospital, and Vice Chief of Staff for Mission Hospital. Dr. Mims also led Mission Children’s Hospital as chief executive for more than a decade. Arriving in Western North Carolina in 2000, Dr. Mims served as the medical director at the Buncombe County Health Department and before coming to WNC, worked as a physician in a private practice in Durham, NC. After attending the University of Georgia on an athletic scholarship, she earned her Medical Doctorate and Master of Public Health degrees from UNC in Chapel Hill and completed medical residencies in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Preventive Medicine at UNC and attained board certification in three disciplines. Dr. Mims continues to teach as adjunct faculty with UNC, is the immediate past president of the NC Pediatric Society, and serves on the editorial board of the NC Medical Journal.

This event is free to attend but registration is required. If you have trouble registering, please send us an email at info@stateofreform.com and we will get you taken care of. Thanks!