Leadership Team

A video message from Tuerk Schlesinger, AltaPointe CEO

Under the leadership of Tuerk Schlesinger, chief executive officer, AltaPointe Health's day-to-day administrative and clinical operations are directed and planned by a group of company officers and directors designated as the AltaPointe Leadership Teams. The teams’ all-encompassing oversight for the organization include the areas of administration, communication, facility, and safety management, financial planning and execution, human resources, information technology, mandatory and regulatory statute oversight, psychiatric medicine and clinical treatment, risk management and quality control, strategic planning, among other responsibilities.

The leadership team members work together under the direction of the chief executive officer to coordinate and plan for changes, corporate growth, and expansion of services.

Click on a name to review biography.

Executive Leadership Team

Tuerk Schlesinger
Chief Executive Officer
Tuerk Schlesinger

Tuerk Schlesinger, MBA, is the chief executive officer of AltaPointe Health, where he has served for more than 23 years. Based in Mobile, AltaPointe is one of Alabama’s most comprehensive healthcare organizations that utilize the integration of primary and behavioral healthcare to promote the wellness of all people across a seven-county area.

In 2017, Schlesinger spearheaded the launch of Accordia Health, AltaPointe’s division of primary care, which allows it to integrate primary and behavioral healthcare, increasing patient satisfaction and improving their overall health. Further guidance from Schlesinger led to the creation of Accordia Health & Wellness. It is a state-of-the-art employee-centered clinic in Mobile offering accessible and high-quality primary healthcare by board-certified clinicians at a reduced rate for employees and their families covered by AltaPointe’s health insurance plan.

Under Schlesinger’s leadership, the organization has grown from employing 277 to 1,600, increasing its annual budget from $17 million to $116 million, and from serving an average of 7,000 individuals each year to more than 45,000 in 2020. Operations include BayPointe and EastPointe psychiatric hospitals, five primary care locations, 17 outpatient locations, two private, professional counseling facilities, 30 adult residential group homes, six adult foster homes, seven independent living homes. As CEO, Schlesinger established AltaPointe’s partnership with the University of South Alabama, College of Medicine-Department of Psychiatry, for which the organization’s psychiatrists provide the administration and faculty.

Schlesinger is a member of the Alabama Council of Community Mental Health Boards; the National Council for Behavioral Health; the Statewide Health Coordinating Council (SHCC); the Chair of Mental Health Corporation of America Executive Board of Directors; the Alabama Healthcare Reimbursement Reform Task Force-Steering Committee;  the Alabama Hospital Association’s Telehealth Task Force; National Association for Behavioral Healthcare; various Alabama Department of Mental Health committees and subcommittees, including Chair of the sub-committee for 988 – the national suicide prevention hotline initiative. He also serves on the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board and is a Leadership Alabama Class XXXI member.

Schlesinger earned a bachelor of business administration degree from Auburn University and a master of business administration degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile. In 2008, Schlesinger was named a Behavioral Health Champion by the nationally circulated Behavioral Healthcare Magazine.

 

Steve Dolan
Vice President, Administrative Services
Steve Dolan, Chief Information Officer

Steve Dolan joined AltaPointe Health in 1987. He has more than 35 years of experience working in the technology field at the development and executive levels. Dolan first served AltaPointe as a programmer analyst, senior analyst, and technology director, before taking the helm as vice president of administrative services. He served on the Alabama Dept. of Mental Health’s (ADMH) community technology committee, which planned the application infrastructure for a statewide community provider data repository. He served as a community technology representative for the ADMH hospital EHR initiative. Dolan has served on several technology and user group boards in healthcare, education, and community action, where he has participated as workgroup leader, innovation lead, and chair. Under his direction, AltaPointe’s technology team has received several awards in excellence for its use of disruptive technology in the areas of hospital medication management, decision support, innovation management, and system interoperability. Dolan is a past member of Data Processing Management Association (DPMA), a member of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS-Alabama CIO Peer Group), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), American Telemedicine Association (ATA), Healthcare Financial Management Association (HMFA), and is currently serving as vice-chair of Avatar National User Association (ANUA), a national user group for a behavioral health software vendor. Dolan is a member of the Class of 2015 Leadership Mobile. Dolan earned a bachelor’s of science from Spring Hill College.

Sandra Parker, MD
Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Parker graduated from the University of Alabama in 1982 with an honors degree in biology. She attended medical school and completed residency training in psychiatry at the University of Alabama-School of Medicine in Birmingham. Parker completed her fellowship in child/adolescent psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for the Health Sciences in Little Rock. As a second-year resident, she was awarded her department’s Most Outstanding Resident Award, and as a fellow, she was awarded her department’s Most Outstanding Child Fellow Award. Parker is dual-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in adult psychiatry and child/adolescent psychiatry. During her tenure at AltaPointe, the organization has grown from 300 employees to more than 1,450 employees. In addition to her role as AltaPointe’s medical director, she is the chair for the University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Parker has received numerous honors and awards throughout her career. She is the president of the Alabama Hospital Psychiatric Association and past president of the Mobile Bay Psychiatric Association, a local chapter of the American Psychiatric Association. In 2007, she was named an Alabama Health Care Hero by the Alabama Hospital Association. She was appointed by Alabama Governor Bob Riley to serve as a member of the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council, a position she still holds. She serves as an adjunct faculty member in the USA College of Allied Health Professions, the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, and the USA College of Nursing. Parker has served as a member of the USA Center for Healthy Communities Advisory Committee. Past appointments include the Mercy Medical Advisory Board, the Mayor’s Transitional Task Force on Healthcare, and the Mobile Ballet Board of Directors. Her major psychiatric interests are in the fields of autism-related disorders, healthcare disparities, and telepsychiatry.

Traci Jones
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Traci Jones joins AltaPointe Health as its Chief Financial Officer. Previously, Jones served as the CFO of USA Health in Mobile, Ala., and brings nearly three decades of healthcare finance experience to her new role. During her tenure with USA, Jones managed accounting, cost reimbursement, materials management, Health Information Management, patient access, billing, compliance, and more. She was also instrumental in implementing a general ledger system in 2005, a system-wide materials management system in 2009, and an electronic health record on revenue cycle modules in 2017.

Jones earned a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Troy University and is a member of the Mobile County Hospital Board, the Healthcare Financial Management Association, and the USA United Way Women’s Initiative group.

Alicia Donoghue
Vice President and Chief of Staff

Alicia Donoghue, SPHR, joined AltaPointe in June 2010 as director of human resources, was named chief human resources officer in 2018 and in 2024, has been named Vice President and Chief of Staff. Donoghue, a native of Mobile, earned her undergraduate degree in human resource management with a minor in psychology from the University of South Alabama. Prior to joining AltaPointe, Donoghue worked for eight years as the director of human resources for Evergreen Medical Center/Gilliard Health Services, Inc. She was an active member of the Escambia/Conecuh County chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management, serving as vice president and president-elect. Donoghue has also earned her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

Olivia Nettles
Chief Clinical Officer, Child & Primary Care Services

Olivia Nettles, LPC, NCC, joined AltaPointe Health in 1993 as a therapist in child and adolescent outpatient services. Nettles steadily moved into management roles, first with a promotion to assistant director of child and adolescent outpatient services in 1996 and in August 2002 to director of performance improvement. She was the first director of BayPointe Hospital and Residential Services when the facility opened in 2002. Since 2008, Nettles has served as clinical director of AltaPointe’s children’s outpatient services where she oversees the clinical programming of the outpatient clinics, intensive outreach services, the transitional age residential services and BayView Professional Services.

A proven mental health counselor and leader, she is a member of the Alabama Council Clinical Directors Association and has held the positions of vice president and president. Nettles also has been an active member of the National Alliance for Mental Illness-Mobile Board of Directors and received the NAMI- Alabama “Mental Health Professional of the Year” award in August 2016.

Nettles graduated with honors from the University of Alabama earning a bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration with a major in marketing as well as a master’s degree in counselor education. She is a National Certified Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Counseling Supervisor in Alabama. Nettles is an active member of the American Counseling Association, Alabama Mental Health Counselors Association and NAMI Mobile.

Megan Griggs
Chief Clinical Officer, Adult & Crisis Services

Megan Griggs, MS, joined AltaPointe in 2003 as a therapist for the adult community services department. She has served as AltaPointe’s clinical director of adult outpatient services since 2005. She earned a bachelor’s of science in behavioral science from Athens State University and a master’s of science in clinical psychology from Alabama A&M University. Griggs is a member of the Alabama Clinical Directors Association and has held the positions of secretary and vice president. Griggs is actively involved in National Alliance for Mental Illness-Mobile and the Mobile County Domestic Violence Task Force. She is a Leadership Mobile 2013 alumna and a member of Mobile United.

Jarrett Crum
Chief Hospital Officer

Jarrett Crum, MSW, is the Chief Hospital Officer. Crum returns to AltaPointe after having served as CEO of Lighthouse Care Center of Augusta, GA, a 79-bed children’s acute psychiatric hospital and residential treatment facility.  His previous employment with AltaPointe was as administrator during the opening of EastPointe Hospital. Crum received an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi.  He previously worked at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center (MIMC) for more than 15 years. During his tenure at MIMC, Crum served as team leader of the psychiatric case management department where he oversaw utilization management, social services/discharge planning and community marketing. He also helped develop the Infirmary Hospice Care organization and received the Infirmary Health System “Leader of the Quarter” award. Crum has been an active participant in the Alabama Hospital Association-Psychiatric Constituency and was recognized as the Outstanding Service Chairman in August 2012.

Ingrid Hartman
Chief Quality Officer

Ingrid Hartman, LPC, serves as Chief of Quality. She has been with AltaPointe since 2008 serving as the assistant director of CarePointe, coordinator of children’s outpatient services, and assistant coordinator for children’s outpatient case management and in-home services. She received a bachelor’s in communication studies, and a master’s in human development counseling from Vanderbilt University. She is also an Alabama licensed professional counselor.

 

Cinda Knight
Chief Nursing Officer

Cinda Knight brings more than two decades of experience in healthcare leadership to her role as the Chief Nursing Officer at AltaPointe. With a career deeply rooted in patient care and advocacy, Knight’s journey exemplifies her unwavering commitment to excellence in healthcare. She holds a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) and earned her credentials as a Registered Nurse (RN) and Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN). Before assuming the role of Chief Nursing Officer, Knight served as the assistant director of health center nursing services, where she played a pivotal role in optimizing patient care delivery and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. Her commitment to nursing excellence is evident in her past roles, including clinical nurse manager, acute care nurse manager, and quality improvement coordinator positions.

Cindy Atkinson
Associate Executive Director of Community Mental Health for the Sylacauga Region

Cindy Atkinson, M.Ed., J.D., was appointed to the position of AltaPointe Associate Executive Director of the Sylacauga Region after AltaPointe merged with Cheaha Regional Mental Health Center where she served as executive director. She has a bachelor’s  in teaching the hearing impaired from the University of Montevallo and a master’s in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Atkinson graduated from the Birmingham School of Law with honors and has been a member of the Alabama State Bar since 2001. She is a Leadership Sylacauga alumna and a former board member of ARC of South Talladega County. The AltaPointe Sylacauga Region serves Clay, Coosa, Randolph and Talladega counties in east-central Alabama.

April Douglas
Director, Public Relations

April Douglas joined AltaPointe Health in 2012 as the Coordinator of Public Relations and was promoted to Director in 2017. Before coming to AltaPointe, she spent more than a decade in television news working as an anchor and reporter for stations in Florida and Alabama. During that time she was a member of the Capital Press Corps under Florida Governor Jeb Bush and was selected to fly with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. She has covered natural disasters (including Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina), the 2000 presidential recount, and the prosecution of political leaders at the state and federal level. 

 

Douglas has been recognized by the Associated Press, National Press Photographers Association, Public Relations Council of Alabama, Southern Public Relations Federation, and the Alabama Hospital Association for her work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of Montevallo.  

 

She has served on numerous community boards and committees including the following organizations: Public Relations Council of Alabama - Mobile Chapter, Daphne Strike Soccer Club, Village Park Vision Committee, and the Better Business Bureau.

Administrative and Clinical Leadership

Sherill Alexander
Director, Compliance for Hospitals

Sherill Alexander, RN, BSN, MQSM, joined AltaPointe Health, known as Mobile Mental Health Center, in 1995. Alexander serves as AltaPointe's director of compliance. Prior to that, she was responsible for AltaPointe’s performance improvement program, the training and education department and consumer needs. Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of South Alabama with a minor in sociology. Alexander also earned a master of science degree in quality systems management from the National Graduate School of Quality Management in Boston, Massachusetts. At AltaPointe, she has held the positions of consumer needs specialist, nurse manager, and staff nurse. Before she joined the organization, she worked as a staff nurse for the University of South Alabama’s Doctor’s Hospital on the child and adolescent unit. Alexander is a member of the American Nursing Association (ANA), the National Association for Healthcare Quality and a licensed registered nurse with the Alabama Board of Nursing

David Beech
Director, Adult Residential Services

David N. Beech, LPC, MBA, joined AltaPointe in 1993 and has held the positions of adult outpatient services assistant director, access to care coordinator, and therapist. He earned a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Alabama and a master’s in counseling from the University of South Alabama and a master’s in business administration from Spring Hill College. Beech is a licensed professional counselor. He is a member of the NAMI Mobile board of directors and served as chair of the first-ever franchised NAMI-Walks event in 2014, which raised its goal of $50,000.

Robert Carlock
Director, Environment of Care

Robert Carlock, MBA, joined AltaPointe Health in 1996 and has held positions as therapist, assistant coordinator of day treatment, children’s outpatient coordinator, assistant director of BayPointe Hospital, assistant director of adult residential services and assistant director of regional specialized services before being promoted to the Director of Environment of Care. Carlock earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of science in community counseling from the University of South Alabama. He also holds a master’s of business administration from Spring Hill College. As a Certified Healthcare Engineer (CHE), he is a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal School Board of Trustees, the Alabama Society of Healthcare Engineering, Alabama Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals Advisory Board and the Gulf Coast Hospital Engineers Association for which he has held the offices of president, secretary and treasurer.

Nicolette Harvey
Administrator, BayPointe Hospital & Residential

Nicolette Harvey, LICSW, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to her role as hospital administrator at BayPointe within AltaPointe Health. Since joining the organization in 2014 as the hospital coordinator for BayPointe, Harvey has held several key positions, including coordinator of substance abuse services and assistant director at BayPointe, before advancing to oversee the clinical teams at both BayPointe and EastPointe Hospitals as the associate director. Before joining AltaPointe, Nicolette was the clinical director for two residential treatment facilities in New Orleans, demonstrating her ability to lead and manage complex healthcare environments effectively. Harvey holds a bachelor’s in social work from Auburn University and a master’s from Florida State University. Her educational background and experience in healthcare administration and clinical management positions her as a dynamic leader within the organization, driving innovation and excellence in patient care at BayPointe.

Jason Holston
Director, Human Resources

Jason Holston joined AltaPointe Health in 2013, initially serving as assistant director of human resources before ascending to his current role as director. Holston brings more than a decade of experience in the field. He honed his skills and expertise as human resources associate at GreenbergFarrow (GF), a prominent architecture, engineering, and development firm based in Atlanta. During his twelve-year tenure at GF, Holston undertook diverse HR responsibilities, ranging from talent acquisition and employee relations to training and development, payroll, and benefits management.

Holston earned a bachelor’s in human resources management from Auburn University.

Cecily Jackson
Director, Grants Management

Cecily Jackson joined AltaPointe Health in 2018 as a practice manager at Accordia Health & Wellness before moving into her current role as director of grants and 340 B Pharmacy. Jackson has worked in various aspects of healthcare for more than 20 years, including medical software development and private practice management. She received her bachelor’s in political science from Spelman College and a master's in technical and professional communication from Auburn University. Cecily is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Healthcare Administration degree from Franklin University. She is a member of the Project Management Institute, American Public Health Association, and National Grants Management Association. Cecily is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and 340B ACE.

Kartik Joshi
Director, Information Technology

Kartik Joshi joined AltaPointe Health in March 2003. He holds a master’s in information systems from the University of South Alabama. Starting as a programmer, Joshi progressed through the ranks to programmer analyst and program analyst, eventually assuming the assistant director role. His relentless pursuit of knowledge and expertise culminated in his current position as the director of information technology, where he spearheads AltaPointe's technological initiatives. Throughout his tenure, Kartik has demonstrated unparalleled leadership and a deep understanding of IT systems, leveraging his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to streamline operations and drive efficiency.

Carrie Moore
Executive Administrator

Carrie Moore serves as the Executive Administrator at AltaPointe Health. Moore earned a bachelor’s in English literature from the University of Alabama. She has held various key positions within AltaPointe, including executive assistant and medical staff coordinator. Moore has been with AltaPointe for nearly two decades.  

My Kim Nguyen
Assistant Director, CMHC/FQHC Compliance

My Kim Nguyen serves as the Assistant Director of Compliance for AltaPointe's Community Mental Health Centers and its Federally Qualified Health Centers, Accordia Health. Previously, she was Assistant Director for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Coordinator of Quality Assurance, and therapist. Nguyen joined AltaPointe in October 2009. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Mississippi and a master's degree in applied psychology from the University of South Alabama.

Brandy Richardson
Associate Clinical Director

Brandy Richardson, MS, is the associate clinical director for AltaPointe Health’s Sylacauga Region (Clay, Coosa, Randolph and Talladega Counties); She was appointed to this position in November 2016. Before the August 2016 merger with Cheaha Regional Mental Health Center, Richardson was the residential coordinator for that program. She earned a bachelor’s from the University of Alabama in psychology, and a master’s from Jacksonville State University in clinical psychology. She has previously worked as a therapist and as the Intellectual Disabilities coordinator for North Talladega and Clay Counties. Brandy is currently participating in Leadership Sylacauga.

Robin Riggins
Government Affairs and Community Relations

Robin Riggins brings more than 26 years of mental health expertise to her role in Government Affairs and Community Relations at AltaPointe. With a bachelor’s and master’s in social work from the University of Alabama, she started as a clinical social worker before rising to leadership positions, including nine years as Executive Director of Baldwin County Mental Health Center. Following the merger with AltaPointe in 2014, Riggins served in various executive capacities before assuming her current role. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), she champions mental health advocacy, driving collaboration between government agencies, community stakeholders, and mental health service providers to ensure equitable access to quality care.

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