Session Details
Date & Time
Wednesday, April 21, 2027, 10:30 AM - 11:10 AM
Name
03. Behavioral Health at the Policy Table: How Executives Can Make Their Voices Heard
Session Type
Panel
Speakers
- Angela Ganzer-Bovitz, MS, MPA, Director, Inpatient Behavioral Health, Mercy One Genesis
- Deandra Christianson, MA, LCPC, Chief Operating Officer, Discovery Behavioral Health
- Lindsey O'Connell, LCSW, Executive Director, Nashville Mental Health
- Mark Smallacombe, MSN, PMHRN-BC, Director of Nursing, Adult Psychiatry, Brain Stimulation Services, Behavioral Emergency Rapid Response Team, and Substance Abuse, VCU Health
Description
Behavioral health executives have direct experience that can shape better policy, but too often their voices are absent from the table. This panel discusses how leaders can engage effectively with policymakers, build coalitions, and advocate for legislation and funding that reflects the realities of delivering behavioral healthcare on the ground.