February 15, 2019

February —Anthony Castellano, PBHG Vice President of Substance Use Services, and the SUS team presented at the opening retreat of the 2019 NJ Healthcare Executive Leadership Academy (NJHELA) on January 25 in Princeton. The meeting was attended by physicians, and hospital and insurance provider executives. Preferred Behavioral Health Group was honored to be invited as the featured guests. After an opening introduction by Tara Chalakani, PBHG Vice President of Mental Health Services for Youth and Families, Mr. Castellano facilitated a compelling panel discussion with two individuals who have been impacted by the opioid crisis. The two women who shared their stories demonstrated heart-felt and emotional courage with their raw and truthful stories. This was followed by remarks from the SUS team who spoke about their experiences with individuals struggling with addictions. The NJHELA is a first-of-its-kind initiative in which New Jersey Hospital Association, the Medical Society of New Jersey and the N.J. Association of Health Plans worked collaboratively with faculty at Seton Hall University to develop a program in which rising healthcare executives in each organization could cut through silos and work together to address healthcare policy challenges. Each leadership class builds leadership skills through a focus on a substantial healthcare problem facing New Jersey. The Class of 2019 is focusing on reducing the opioid epidemic through the judicious assessment, management, treatment and recovery supports for individuals in need of therapeutic intervention. (www.njhela.com) PBHG’s presentation was very well received. Here are examples of the feedback: “Just a quick note to say your team is fantastic! Excellent excellent job today. The room was moved and is determined to move the healthcare system to a better place. Thank you so much.” “…thanks so much for making our opening retreat a success.  What you and your clients offered to our Fellows was a true gift of insight into this very serious substance abuse problem.   I know that everyone in the room will remember this experience long after this Cohort program is completed.” ##