Executive Moves

Trip Hofer, former CEO of Optum Behavioral Health Solutions, has left Optum to join a venture capital firm. 

Chris Veal, MSN, RN, has been appointed CEO for the Northwest Texas Healthcare System Behavioral Health Hospital in Amarillo, myhighplains.com reported Nov. 13.

Brett Hart, PhD, has joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota as vice president of behavioral health and mental health parity.

Here are seven behavioral health leadership moves that Becker's has reported on in October:

Patrice Harris, MD, has been appointed to Franklin, Tenn.-based Acadia Healthcare's board of directors.

Nikole Benders-Hadi, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer of online behavioral healthcare company Talkspace. 

Colby Newsome, PharmD, has been named director of behavioral health pharmacy for Appalachian Regional Healthcare.

Magdalena Spariosu, MD, has been named director of behavioral health for Englewood (N.J.) Health.

Springfield, Mo.-based Burrell Behavioral Health has appointed Kristen Weaver as the executive director of the Burrell Foundation.

Centene has promoted Wendy Welch, MD, to chief medical officer for its behavioral health business.