Frank A. Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP, President and CEO of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health and Addictions Service Line for RWJBarnabas Health, to be Honored by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) is pleased to announce that Frank A. Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP, has been chosen as an honoree for its 23rd Annual Evening of Excellence. This prestigious event will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at the Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park.
Dr. Ghinassi is being honored for his leadership and pioneering work in behavioral health research.
“Since the start of his tenure at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, Dr. Ghinassi has worked to advance clinical research for behavioral health treatment, raising the hope for potential new medications and therapies to help people living with mental health and substance use conditions,” said Carolyn Beauchamp, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey.
“I’ve had the good fortune, along with the talented teams at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, to lead the strategic development and implementation of a statewide system of behavioral health and addictions treatment and services. The RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers affiliation has also made it possible to combine this mission of clinical service with the opportunity to train the next generation of healthcare providers, while advancing the science through programmatic, federally funded research,” stated Dr. Ghinassi.
In his current position, Dr. Ghinassi spearheads comprehensive research projects. Under his leadership, federally funded research capacity has expanded from $1,000,000 to $20,000,000. The projects are based on societal need, and almost always involve a new service initiative. For example, in response to the youth mental health crisis, plans are well underway to build a new residential treatment facility for young adults living with mood and anxiety conditions. This facility, which is made possible through private donations, will be located on Rutgers University’s Cook Campus and is slated to open within the next year or so.
Prior to joining UBHC, Dr. Ghinassi was the Vice President for Quality, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance and Health Information Management at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Shadyside, where he was a member of the Executive Management Group. Dr. Ghinassi also served as an associate professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine where he was actively involved in the training of psychiatric residents and doctoral psychology interns.
As a licensed psychologist and board-certified executive coach, Dr. Ghinassi has held previous positions as Chief of Adult Psychiatric Services at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic/University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, as Clinical Director of the Mental Health Division of the May Institute in Boston, and as Director of Mood and Anxiety Partial Hospitalization and Residential Services at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Ghinassi has been an active member on Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) planning committees, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) commissioned technical expert panels, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) expert panels, and National Quality Forum advisory groups. He serves as chairman of the Quality Committee of the National Association for Behavioral Health (NABH). Dr. Ghinassi is the chair of the Addiction Treatment Quality Workgroup for NABH, and is the incoming 2024 Chair of the NABH Governing Board. He serves on the Boards of the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies.
His awards include the 2007 National Quality Award from NABH for his leadership on key projects, committees and expert panels aimed at improving the measurement and delivery of behavioral healthcare. He received the Leadership and Advocacy Recognition Award from the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies in 2020 and was recognized on NJBIZ’s list of New Jersey’s 2022 Healthcare Heroes.
Dr. Ghinassi lives with his wife, Cheryl W. Ghinassi, and their daughter in Princeton.
About the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s Evening of Excellence
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s 23rd Annual Evening of Excellence is a crucial fundraiser for the organization. Proceeds from the event will support our advocacy efforts in behavioral health. The MHANJ is grateful to sponsors of this event, including RWJBarnabas Health, Hackensack Meridian Health, Inserra Supermarkets, Janine and Dan Kane, United Healthcare, Community Access Unlimited, Delta Dental, Steven E. Geltzeiler, Lexpath, Lundbeck, MikeWorldWide and Zelis.
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to strive for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services. Its state headquarters is in Union County. It has additional locations in Atlantic, Hudson and Ocean Counties, and affiliates in Essex, Monmouth, Morris, and Passaic Counties. For more information visit https://www.mhanj.org/.
Please click here to purchase a ticket to the MHANJ’s 23nd Evening of Excellence, explore sponsorship or place a congratulatory ad in the electronic ad journal.
Click here to visit our website for more information about the MHANJ. If you have any questions, please call us at 973-571-4100, ext. 123.
