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A&C Aligns with Leadership Model of Parent Company Brightli

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Integrated healthcare provider Adult & Child Health, a Brightli affiliate, has announced the promotions of Dr. Christne Negendank, MD, MBA, CCHP to Indiana Region President and Dr. Jessica Stembel, PsyD, HSPP, IMH-E to Indiana Region Chief Operating Officer.

Adult & Child joined Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, and other subsidiaries under the Brightli umbrella in March 2024, boosting the parent organization’s employee count to over 6,000 individuals across seven regions. The promotions of Dr. Negendank and Dr. Stembel align A&C with Brightli’s regional leadership model, which provides operational autonomy for each region to ensure services and operations are meeting the unique needs of the community.

As President, Dr. Negendank provides strategic direction and leadership of A&C and the Indiana Region, assisting in the execution of short-term and long-term goals while engaging with community partners and leaders to help drive A&C’s continued success and growth in Central Indiana. “I am honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as President of Adult & Child Health. I look forward to continuing to work with Adult & Child’s dedicated staff who strive daily to provide compassionate and high-quality whole health care.  Adult & Child Health is well-positioned to continue its 75-year legacy of excellence and innovation in health care and social services. We look forward to expanding our services and programming through strategic initiatives, community partnerships, and advocacy efforts. Our goal is to not only provide treatment to those in our local communities but also to help advocate for improved health care for all Hoosiers,” said Dr. Negendank.

Dr. Negendank recently celebrated seven years of employment at A&C having joined the organization in 2017 as Associate Medical Director of Psychiatry before moving into the role of Chief Medical Officer. During her tenure, Dr. Negendank led the development and implementation of A&C’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for substance use disorders. She has also helped A&C make tremendous strides in integrating primary and psychiatric care by strengthening working relationship among prescribers and fostering collaboration between medical and therapy staff.

As Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Stembel oversees the day-to-day operations of A&C and the Indiana Region, facilitating teamwork across the organization’s leaders to ensure effective delivery of top-quality services to Central Indiana communities. “As Chief Operating Officer, I am incredibly excited about A&C’s opportunity to be a leader in the state’s transformation to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model, and the evolution of mental health, substance abuse treatment and primary healthcare. Emphasizing community partnerships through CCBHC is not just a strategic interchange but a commitment to holistic care. Together, we can foster a system of care where our Hoosiers and communities can thrive,” said Dr. Stembel.

Dr. Stembel joined A&C in 2015 as a clinical psychologist providing oversight to multiple service lines and treatment teams while continuing direct clinical care. Since 2018 she has served A&C as Chief Clinical Officer, overseeing continuous quality improvement, behavioral health, primary care accreditation and corporate compliance. During her tenure, Dr. Stembel led the development of the Response and Resilience in Stressful Events team to respond to critical incidents both internally and within the community and organized the agency’s response during the COVID public health emergency. She has also increased A&C’s 340B Drug Discount Program revenue to 12 million dollars, enabling the organization to stretch scarce federal resources to provide comprehensive and integrated health services to eligible patients who may not otherwise receive care. 

“Dr. Negendank and Dr. Stembel’s exceptional leadership, combined with their deep industry knowledge, will be instrumental in driving our organization’s ability to serve our mission and the Indianapolis community. Their contributions are invaluable, and I am confident in their ability to lead our teams toward increased access to the quality care our communities deserve,” said A&C and Brightli CEO C.J. Davis.

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Agency News

Mental Health America recognizes Adult & Child Health will Gold Bell Seal

Adult & Child Health received the national Gold-level Bell Seal certification from Mental Health America, which recognizes policies, practices and benefits supporting employee mental health and wellbeing.  Every year since 2019, Mental Health America has recognized employers for implementing policies and practices to improve employees’ mental health. Companies across all sectors undergo a 54-point evaluation that includes surveys of employees.  Adult & Child Health employs more than 600 people in southern Indiana, with areas of focus on behavioral health, primary care and treatment for substance use addictions.  “The work our team members perform on a daily basis is challenging, but they continue to live our mission of providing access to quality care for all who need it on a daily basis,” said Dr. Christine Negendank, Adult & Child Health Regional President and Chief Medical Office. “This recognition from Mental Health America is a testament to our team members and the work they do in order to make Adult & Child a great place to work.”  Part of Adult & Child’s recognition comes from a three-pronged strategy to address employee mental health:  1) Adult & Child’s employee assistant program provides mental health services, including short-term counseling and provider referrals. The average time between an employee inquiry and their first session with a provider is five business days. The EAP program provides up to five free in-person or virtual therapy sessions.  2) The HOPE Taskforce is a safe place for non-managerial staff members to convene to discuss work stressors, life stressors, mental health resources and coping strategies in a space that encourages colleagues to support one another.  3) The GROW committee is for leaders to convene and develop support systems for one another.  Mental Health America is the nation’s leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention. Its Bell Seal awards recognize an average of fewer than 300 American companies per year.

Sarah Miller, PMHNP-BC

Sarah Miller works with the addictions team, general psychiatry for adolescents and adults, and the competency restoration team. She is board-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her specialties are working in addictions and with people who experience serious mental illness.

Miller graduated from Indiana University with a psychology degree and went back to school for nursing. She received her nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and worked in a nursing home and also spent time working in a group home with adolescents. She received her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

She enjoys hanging out with her family and her two dogs, and going to sporting events.

Joanna Chambers, MD

Dr. Joanna Chambers is a psychiatrist who began seeing Adult & Child Health patients in November 2021. She graduated from Medical College of Georgia with her Doctorate of Medicine in 1996 and completed her residency in psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. In addition to bringing a wealth of experience, she currently serves as an associate professor at Indiana University School of Medicine where she teaches Clinical Psychiatry. She is certified in Addiction Medicine and has a special interest in treating pregnant and postpartum women. She is President of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry Organization as well as a sitting member of many medical association boards. Recently, she has won the Residents’ Award for Teaching Excellence in 2020 from Indiana University and has received “Best Doctors Award” in 2010, 2011, and 2014. Dr. Chambers is incredibly active in the medical, academic, and research realms of medicine. She is currently accepting new patients on Wednesdays.