AdventHealth Hendersonville Names New Behavioral Health Director

N.C., August 19, 2021 — AdventHealth Hendersonville Names New Behavioral Health Director

Aug. 19, 2021; HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – AdventHealth Hendersonville has named Kristy Ellison, MSN, BSN, as its new Director of Behavioral Health. Kristy established her exceptional skills as a leader in the Behavioral Health unit during her time as an Admissions Intake Coordinator and Case Manager. Most recently, she has served as the Quality Assurance Supervisor for AdventHealth’s Behavioral Health Unit.

Ellison earned her associate degree in nursing from Blue Ridge Community College in Hendersonville. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing and her master’s in nursing leadership and management from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah.

As Director of Behavioral Health, Ellison will oversee the teams providing care to patients in AdventHealth Hendersonville’s 36-bed Behavioral Health Unit at its hospital. This includes the recently renovated Geriatric Behavioral Health and Women’s Behavioral Health units. The geriatric unit cares for both male and female patients age 55 and older who are experiencing depression, mild dementia, and other behavioral health issues. The Women's Unit treats an array of behavioral health issues like dual diagnosis (behavioral health issue coupled with substance abuse issues), severe depression/anxiety, eating disorders, suicidal ideations and much more.

“I am a native of Henderson County. My family and my husband’s family have been in this area for decades. Over the years I have seen the health care leadership AdventHealth has provided to our community. It was a natural decision for me to choose to become a part of the AdventHealth family,” says Ellison. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with this incredible Behavioral Health team to help not only care for our patients, but to also achieve the goals we have for our department and the goals they have for their health care careers.”

“Kristy has been part of the Behavioral Health team as we embarked on and completed the complete renovation of the unit,” says Beth Cassidy, DNP MSN RN NE-BC RNC-OB, Director of Clinical Services: Emergency Department and Behavioral Health. “In every role she has played, Kristy has demonstrated uncommon compassion for both the patients and the team members. And I know that will continue as she moves into the director role.”

To learn more about the Behavioral Health services available at AdventHealth, please visit AdventHealthNC.com.