NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Centerstone today announced that Richard C. Shelton, M.D., has been named chief executive officer (CEO) of Centerstone Research Institute and chief medical officer (CMO) of Centerstone. In these roles, Shelton, a researcher, educator and champion for those with mental illness, will advance the non-profit organization’s national clinical programs and lead its efforts to transform the delivery of care for those with mental health and addiction disorders.
“Dr. Shelton is a longtime Centerstone friend and collaborator, and we have had the privilege of working with him on a number of research projects,” said David C. Guth Jr., CEO of Centerstone. “We are honored to welcome Dr. Shelton to our leadership team. His insight will be invaluable as we seek to advance the work of Centerstone Research Institute, continue to strengthen and expand our clinical programs, and enhance how we care for people of all ages nationally.”
At Centerstone, Shelton will be working to ensure that Centerstone has a unified clinical model that uses the most modern, evidence-based practices that provide value to both clients and payers. He also will work to develop new technology, establish new partnerships, and create tools and strategies to advance the adoption of evidence-based practices that enhance the practice of behavioral healthcare nationwide.
A veteran researcher and educator, Shelton served on the faculty of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center for nearly three decades. He was the James G. Blakemore Research Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Psychiatry as well as a professor in the Departments of Psychology and Pharmacology.
In 2012, he joined the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as the Charles Byron Ireland Professor, Vice Chair for Research, and head of the Mood Disorders Research Program. He will maintain his UAB appointment as he joins Centerstone.
An active researcher, Shelton’s work has focused on the development of new treatments for depression and bipolar disorder, including identifying potential new targets for treatment, prevention of serious mental illnesses, testing novel therapies and identifying biomarkers of both the disease and treatment response. To date, he has been a part of more than 100 funded research studies from the National Institutes of Health, other federal agencies, foundations, and corporations. He also has provided original research, reports, reviews, commentaries, and book chapters to more than 350 publications.
Shelton has been recognized nationally for not only his research, but also his commitment to advancing the treatment and care for those with mental illness. In 1994 and 2012, he was awarded the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award for his service to persons with serious and persistence mental illness. He also received the Dorthea Dix Professional Service Award from the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Centers in 2007 in recognition of his impact on the state’s Psychiatry practice.
Shelton obtained his bachelor’s in Biology from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., and attended medical school at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. He served as Chief Resident at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. After completing his residency, he served as a research fellow at the National Institutes of Mental Health Intramural Program in Washington D.C.
About Centerstone
Centerstone is a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. We provide mental health and substance abuse treatment, education and support to communities in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee and offer individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities life skills development, employment and housing services. Nationally, we have specialized services for service members, veterans and their loved ones, and develop employee assistance programs for businesses of all sizes. Our research institute improves behavioral healthcare through research and technology, and our foundation secures philanthropic resources to support our work. For more information, visit www.centerstone.org.