Clifford L. Zeller, MD, named new chief medical officer for Banner Behavioral Health Hospital
Clifford L. Zeller, MD
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Oct. 3, 2011) – Clifford L. Zeller, MD, has accepted the position of chief medical officer at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale. Dr. Zeller replaces former Chief Medical Officer James Clark, MD, who retired earlier this year.
Dr. Zeller, a practicing psychiatrist for nearly 30 years, is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and interned at Evanston Hospital. Following medical school, he completed his Psychiatry residency at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, followed by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He is board certified in psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry.
His career has been a blend of private practice and administrative work, creating both inpatient and outpatient programming and developing outpatient clinics. Dr. Zeller started his professional career at Good Samaritan Behavioral Health in Milwaukee, Wis., and was department chair at St. Michael's Hospital and the Cedar Springs Clinic in Milwaukee. He relocated to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Wyoming where, as medical director, he developed the behavioral health inpatient and outpatient programs following a hospital merger. He comes to Banner Behavioral Health after 12 years of private practice and administrative program development in Fort Collins, Colo.
“I’m looking forward to do something more in facing the challenges of medicine; particularly where we are looking at the challenge of reintegrating psychiatry and behavioral health services into medicine and having our doctors become part of a viable medical team,” said Dr. Zeller. “There are so many issues and new technologies we are looking into, such as accountable care organizations and integrated care models, we know there will be a greater need for behavioral health services. Banner Health as an organization is already in the lead with looking at that kind of modeling and that kind of integration. This is a wonderful opportunity and since I’ve been here I’ve met many people who are enthusiastic about the Banner mission.”
As chief medical officer, Dr. Zeller will concentrate on issues that drive quality and safety in this hospital. He will devote time to representing behavioral health at the system level and will be the first psychiatrist to be a part of the system CMO group. Dr. Zeller will work closely with the Chief of Staff Nazila Adib, MD, and the Banner Behavioral Health Hospital medical staff to engage them in process improvement. He will also spend time in direct patient care to stay in touch with what is happening at all levels to ensure that issues are being addressed if needed and continuous quality improvement is an ongoing journey.
About Banner Behavioral Health Hospital
Banner Behavioral Health Hospital is part of nonprofit Banner Health, the leading provider of health care services with 23 hospitals throughout the West. Located in Scottsdale, Ariz., Banner Behavioral Health offers a wide range of safe, confidential and compassionate treatments for adults, adolescent teens and children facing mental health and substance-abuse challenges. Our nonprofit services are conveniently located throughout the metropolitan Phoenix area for those who need help with psychiatric and addiction issues. For more information, visit us online at www.BannerHealth.com/BannerBehavioral.
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