OCHN has a new chief medical officer

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI (March 17, 2021) – Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) recently selected, Vasilis Pozios, M.D., D.F.A.P.A as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Pozios began this important position, Monday, March 15, 2021 and will oversee OCHN's implementation of clinical practices to ensure the healthcare delivery system maintains vital outcomes for people served.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Pozios to the OCHN Executive Leadership Team,” said OCHN Executive Director and CEO, Dana Lasenby. “His vast knowledge and experience, especially in the area of psychiatry is essential in implementing important clinical strategies and approaches for the organization.”

Dr. Pozios is a physician who is board-certified in forensic and general psychiatry. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Tufts University in Boston and completed his residency training in general psychiatry at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor. Dr. Pozios has also been trained in forensic psychiatry at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. He has treated children, adolescents, and adults in various settings, including the psychiatric emergency room and correctional facilities. Dr. Pozios is a past-president of the Michigan Psychiatric Society (MPS), and he currently represents the MPS to the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). As an APA Spurlock Congressional Fellow, he was honored to work with the Chair of the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary on the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment Act reauthorization and universal healthcare, among many other issues. Dr. Pozios has a particular interest in mental health stigma reduction, and has consulted with governmental agencies, media outlets, and non-profit organizations on the impact of mental health and substance use. He has presented at numerous international conferences and published academic articles and book chapters on violence risk assessment, mental health and the media, mental illness stigma, and ethical issues related to public safety. Dr. Pozios is a freelance contributor to The New York Times, Wired, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Daily Beast where he has written about mental health media representation, especially as it pertains to violence and stigma.

About OCHN

OCHN has a long-standing history of promoting independence, choice, and community inclusion for adults and children with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental health concerns, and substance use disorders. Its mission to “inspire hope, empower people, and strengthen communities” reflects an unyielding belief in a "Valuable System for Valued People." Programs and supports provided by OCHN's service network are available at www.oaklandchn.org.

Most of the approximately 23,000 people who receive services through Oakland County’s public mental health system, which is managed by OCHN, have Medicaid insurance coverage.