VISION
To be the leader in improving mental health access and treatment through a full spectrum of care settings.
MISSION
To help each person meet their wellness and quality of life goals through easy access to the highest caliber providers.
Leadership
Team
Select a leadership team member to read their biography...
Michael Lawler
Chief Executive Officer
Dino Quarante
Chief Financial Officer
Christine Santai
Chief People Officer
Vu Nguyen
Chief Information Officer
Joy Nadler Frankel, Psy.D.
National Clinical Director
Dr. Vikas Duvvuri
MD, PhD, DFAPANational Medical Director and Strategy Officer
Dr. Dana Watson
Vice President of Quality Assurance
Steve Winans
Senior Vice President of Sales
Sanel Lekic
Vice President Talent Acquisitions
Michael Lawler currently serves as CEO of CHE Behavioral Health Services (Caring Health 4 Everyone) CHE is a leader in the behavioral health space focusing on evidence-based, patient-centered care. The company has a 25-year history of caring for patients in a broad spectrum of settings including: acute care, direct to consumer virtual clinics, in person clinics, partner co-locations, employer based and residential facilities. Michael has nearly three decades of progressive healthcare industry experience and has held executive roles spanning operations, sales, and product management. His experience crosses a variety of segments such as Oncology, Radiology, Home Health, Nutrition, Medical Distribution, and now Behavioral Health. Prior company's executive leadership experience include: TwinMed, the third largest medical and pharmaceutical distributor nationally; Alliance Healthcare services, the largest medical and radiation oncology provider integrating radiology and diagnostic imaging; Apria Healthcare, the largest national home health / medical infusion and DME provider.
Michael is passionate about helping under-served, in-demand populations to receive access to the best possible care along with access to resources that truly improve their health outcomes and quality of life. He is actively engaged in lobbying and legislative activities for healthcare and regulatory reform with patient advocacy at both the federal and state legislatures. Throughout Michael's career he has served on numerous charitable and corporate boards.
Dino Quarante joined CHE Services in 2019 with 20+ years of healthcare industry experience; he leads CHE's financial operations including accounting, FP&A, and revenue cycle management. Previously, he held various positions at Acadia Healthcare, where he most recently served as Group CFO. He also holds CPA certifications in California and Arizona.
Christine Santai joined CHE in 2018 and currently serves as the Chief People Officer. She is an influential HR leader and thought partner with 15 + years of success leading HR organizations and key functions as a strategic partner to HR leaders, executive teams and business groups. Christine is committed to building a productive and engaged workforce and fostering an environment of succession, development and continuous growth. She is a skilled relationship builder with the ability to manage multiple, changing priorities. Sourced by executive team members for insights and ability to gain buy-in and lead enterprise change. Christine is an expert consultant on associate matters, including leadership effectiveness, organizational development and conflict resolution.
Vu Nguyen, MBA, CHCIO, is a forward-thinking and results-oriented industry leader recognized as an advocate for transforming health care with innovative technology solutions and known for leading organizational change initiatives that genuinely redefine the delivery of care.
He is responsible for CHE's transformative IT strategic plans, developing forward-thinking ideas, and bringing them to fruition - quickly and effectively. Vu is a staunch optimist who believes that we can change the world with enough courage and will.
His educational background includes a BS from the University of California, Los Angeles in Cognitive Science & Computer Science and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He is an avid reader and biker. Vu currently resides in Orange County, CA, with his Wife and Daughter.
Dr. Joy Nadler Frankel is a licensed clinical psychologist who received her M.A. and Psy.D. from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. As National Clinical Director, Dr. Nadler Frankel authors and launches new clinical programs, training and education for clinicians, support staff and enterprise clients. Her leadership is instrumental in propelling clinical innovation and supporting cross-functional operations. Dr. Nadler Frankel has been providing clinical services for 17 years and has worked in multiple settings, including inpatient psychiatric facilities, hospitals, therapeutic day schools, community mental health centers, as well as skilled nursing facilities. She also enjoys working with women's issues and new parents to provide additional support during transitional times. During her 13 years of tenure at CHE, Dr. Nadler Frankel has presented nationally on the topic of suicide and the older adult, as well as on interventions and prevention programs to stop relational and social aggression in young girls.
Dr. Duvvuri joined CHE in 2015 and he is our National Medical Director and Strategy Officer. Dr. Duvvuri is also Regional Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Universal Health Services, Inc. where he assists the CMO and leadership team in priority areas of medical strategy for behavioral health. Dr. Duvvuri also serves as Medical Director for Fremont Hospital, a UHS acute psychiatric facility in the San Francisco Bay area. Prior to this he was a physician-scientist faculty member at UC San Diego School of Medicine in the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, where he was founding Medical Director of the Adolescent Eating Disorders program. He helped start several other eating disorders programs over the past decade, including an adolescent inpatient program at Fremont Hospital, where he is the Program Director.
Most recently, he is co-founder and President at Sunol Hills, a startup that provides residential treatment for teens with a focus on empowering families. In keeping with his interest in complex care of medical-psychiatric conditions, Dr. Duvvuri has also setup Psychiatry service lines in skilled nursing settings and more recently our Outpatient Practice. Since leaving the academic setting, Dr. Duvvuri has developed expertise on applying technology to improve mental health services. For several years, he has been invited to lecture on AI in Psychiatry for a Stanford graduate course in computer science.
Dr. Duvvuri earned his MD from University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, PhD in Neurosciences from Stanford University School of Medicine, and BS from California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He was Chief Resident at UC San Diego. He was elected a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and serves on the Medical Care Standards Committee of the Academy for Eating Disorders.
Dr. Dana Watson is the Vice President of Quality Assurance at CHE Services and a licensed clinical psychologist. She received her B.A from Arkansas State University and her M.A. and Psy.D. from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology. Launching her career first in forensic and correctional psychology in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, over the past twenty years of practice, Dr. Watson has also accumulated treatment expertise in inpatient, outpatient, community-based rehabilitation, geriatric psychology. Dr. Watson has served as adjunct faculty for undergraduate and graduate programs at several universities. Her clinical experience and excellence in leadership, combined with her passion and talent for training has made her one of CHE's largest assets and resources for our clinical staff.
Steve Winans is a sales and operations leader with over 20 years of award winning, record setting results in healthcare and the military. Experienced in both startup and large company environments across multiple healthcare specialties as a sales representative, manager, and executive, Steve has been able to instill a competitive, winning culture to include his most recent role as a Market Vice President with Apria Healthcare. Steve graduated magna cum laude from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and served as a U.S. Army officer prior to pursuing a career in healthcare.
Sanel Lekic serves as Vice President of Talent Acquisitions for CHE Behavioral Health. He has over two decades of experience in the HR and Talent Acquisitions space ranging from multiple industries including Entertainment, Hospitality, Healthcare and most recently 15 years in Behavioral Health Care.
Sanel is a subject matter expert in talent acquisition, talent management, process improvement, workforce planning, succession planning, diversity and inclusion, EEOC/OFCCP compliance, and employee relations. He has also led HR and talent acquisition teams and cultivated many partnerships to achieve results. In addition to being multilingual he is also a huge advocate for community outreach programs, volunteering programs and an ambassador of the San Diego Children's Cancer Foundation. He has passion to share his experience and his philosophy to inspire others. Being recognized by SHRM as a SHRM award recipient for best workplace excellence award, Sanel is experienced in continuous improvement and change management methodologies.
TELEHEALTH SERVICES
Telehealth services are changing the way physicians and clinicians access and treat patients all over the world. Utilizing various digital devices, healthcare professionals are able to communicate and manage the health of the patient from virtually anywhere. CHE providers utilize video software to connect with patients to provide telepsychotherapy--talk therapy from the comfort of the patient's home.
IN-PATIENT SERVICES
CHE provides Behavioral Health services to residents of long-term care and rehabilitation centers in a caring and cost effective manner. Seniors can have a better quality of life for a longer period of time. Studies have shown that good mental health can result in better physical health and a longer, fuller life.
Additionally, all patients and their families are becoming more educated, more psychologically sophisticated and more likely to have had some contact with psychotherapy. Those factors lead to greater acceptance and, therefore, a higher success rate.
ABOUT US
Our trained professionals treat such major problems as anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, psychosis, and behavioral disturbances. In addition, they provide behavioral interventions for such medical problems as non-compliance, hypertension, chronic pain, diabetes, cancer and obesity.
CHE is a multispecialty, clinic-based group of licensed professionals dedicated to increasing access to mental health services and reducing the stigma of mental health conditions since 1994. With over 900 psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers and licensed marriage & family therapists, we are the largest employer of non-contract, W2 mental health providers in the United States.
