November 20, 2019
In a release this morning, Governor Ralph Northam announced that Alison Land, former Vice President of Behavioral Health Services at Sentara Healthcare, will serve as Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS).
“Alison has dedicated her life to caring for patients and their families, and she brings decades of experience leading large, complex organizations,” said Governor Northam. “I am confident Alison is the right person to steer DBHDS at this critical time, and will build on the agency’s legacy of service to individuals with developmental and behavioral health needs.”
“My career has been devoted to improving systems of care and making sure people have access to the services they need,” said Alison Land. “I’m looking forward to working with the team at DBHDS and stakeholders to improve our current system and support individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination, and wellness in all aspects of life.”
In a conversation yesterday in advance of the announce, Secretary Daniel Carey assured us that while her background in I/DD services was limited, he would encourage her to reach out very soon to begin to connect with the I/DD provider community.
Land has also been involved with behavioral health advocacy and stakeholder groups, serving as co-chair of the Governor’s Policy Council on Mental Health, the Hampton Roads Opioid Coalition, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and as past chair of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association’s behavioral health committee. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
We congratulate Ms Land on her appointment and look forward to working with her during what is predicted to be a very challenging General Assembly session!