Silver Hill Hospital Names Dr. Mark J. Russ as Chief Medical Officer

Russ brings nearly four decades of psychiatric leadership experience to new role

NEW CANAAN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Silver Hill Hospital, one of the nation’s premier psychiatric hospitals, has named Dr. Mark J. Russ, as Chief Medical Officer to oversee clinical operations of its inpatient, transitional living (residential), and outpatient programs. Drawing on 40 years of clinical and leadership experience, Russ will work to enhance Silver Hill Hospital’s programming, improve access to evidence-based treatments, and fulfill its mission to transform the lives of people impacted by mental health disorders and addiction.

Russ has deep experience in the psychiatric care of complex patients as well as in hospital administration. He joins Silver Hill Hospital from New York-Presbyterian/Westchester Behavioral Health, where he served as Vice Chair for Clinical Programs and Medical Director for the past eight years. Before that, he had a long and successful tenure at the Zucker Hillside Hospital, overseeing its inpatient and emergency services.

“Dr. Russ has an extensive background and reputation for driving innovation, facilitating growth, and improving psychiatric care,” said Andrew Gerber, M.D., Ph.D., President and Medical Director of Silver Hill Hospital. “Aside from being an experienced administrator, he is a compassionate clinician and a humble leader who understands and embraces the necessity of teamwork. He is a great fit for the hospital in many ways, and it is an extraordinary opportunity to be able to work with him.”

In his new role, Russ will manage Silver Hill Hospital’s various levels of programming and its residential houses, including the Argent Program and Steward House, a collaboration with Yale New Haven Health and Yale Medicine. He also will oversee its pharmacy and laboratory services departments as they work to adopt more cutting-edge treatments to help patients with complex psychiatric conditions.

“By offering a high-quality, full continuum of care and enabling patients to move seamlessly from inpatient to transitional living to outpatient settings as needed, Silver Hill Hospital provides its patients a crucial level of consistency, flexibility, and support in treatment,” Russ said. “The bar is high. It’s truly a privilege to work with this team to identify opportunities to strengthen our approach to today’s most complex mental health concerns and to solidify our reputation as the finest psychiatric hospital in the country.”

Russ is both a scholar and a decorated educator. He has received grants and authored more than 40 peer-reviewed papers on self-injurious patients, assessment of suicide risk, aggressive behavior in psychiatric inpatients, inpatient unit structure and function, the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on mental health, and other topics.

He was Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and director of the Advanced Clinical Experience in psychiatry at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. For his work in academia, he has earned numerous teaching awards, including the American Psychiatric Association's annual Irma Bland Award for Excellence in Teaching Residents.

After earning his undergraduate degree from Haverford College, Russ attended Drexel University College of Medicine and graduated with academic distinction in mental health sciences. He completed his internship, residency, and chief residency in psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

He currently resides in Larchmont, New York.

About Silver Hill Hospital

Established in 1931, Silver Hill Hospital is a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of psychiatric and addiction disorders. The Hospital has 20 full-time board-certified psychiatrists and admits more than 3,000 adolescents and adults annually for disorders that include addiction, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders and schizophrenia, among others. Located on 44 scenic acres in New Canaan, Connecticut, the Hospital is especially known for its expertise in treating complex conditions and co-occurring disorders in adults and adolescents.