Mary C. Young is the Chief Executive Officer of Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute in Chattanooga.NASHVILLE -- Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute has a new chief executive officer, Mary C. Young, state officials announced Tuesday.
Young most recently served as director of mental health with the Chestnut Health System in Bloomington, Ill., where she developed and opened a Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Unit serving adults experiencing psychiatric emergencies.
"We are delighted and excited by the appointment of Mary C. Young," said Mental Health Commissioner E. Douglas Varney in a news release. "She will be dedicated to improving clinical outcomes for the patients we serve across East Tennessee, being innovative, resolving challenges and collaborating with her fellow professionals at Moccasin Bend and among community leaders across the Chattanooga region."
Officials say Young has broad experience as a behavioral health professional, having worked as a clinician, clinical director and executive director of inpatient, residential and outpatient mental health and addiction services.
"I am honored to assume the role of chief executive officer at Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, and to continue the tradition of providing excellent psychiatric care and treatment for some of Tennessee's most vulnerable citizens," Young said in the news release.
She said "it will be a pleasure to assume leadership of such a dedicated, professional and caring staff and I look forward to the improvements we can make together to provide an even higher level of patient care."
Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute in Chattanooga.Highlights of Young's most recent inpatient practice include:
* Admissions director of an 80-bed psychiatric hospital in Bowling Green, Ky.
* Director of clinical programming for a 72-bed psychiatric hospital in Bloomington, Ind.
* Administrator for the HOPE Program/Universal Health Services in Fountain, Fla., where she led the facility in treating adolescent girls with mental health issues and a history of sexual abuse.
* Associate director for the Jefferson Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center in Louisville, Ky., where she directed an 80-bed community mental health center inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment center.
* Executive director of the Life Healing Center in Santa Fe, N.M., where she spearheaded renewal of the adult residential treatment center for complex trauma, sexual and chemical addiction.
Young has worked in mental health and substance abuse services since 1991. She holds a master's degree in counseling from Indiana University-Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications and English literature from Indiana University in Bloomington.
"Based on a decades-long commitment to inpatient care and community experience, we foresee Mary Young leading improvements in the 'System of Care' at Moccasin Bend to better serve patients across the East Tennessee region," said John Arredondo, assistant commissioner of the Division of Hospital Services.
He said Young will put an emphasis on collaboration, whether that's with members of the hospital staff or community leaders.
"She is skilled at team building, and we look to her to improve patient outcomes and offer innovative solutions to better service our patients and families," Arredondo said.
Young will assume her new duties in August.
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at 615-255-0550 or asher@timesfreepress.com.