Since DSHS:
The Department of Health and Human Services has hired a new chief executive at Eastern State Hospital.
Eric Carpenter, who brings with him years of leadership in leading behavioral and community health care, will officially begin serving as the department’s behavioral health administration on June 1.
Most recently, he was a senior planning and operations executive for various health care systems and nonprofit organizations across the United States.
Previously, Carpenter was CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, where he provided direct management oversight and strategic leadership for clinical operations, budgets, programming, human resources, contract services and infrastructure.
“Eric’s many years of experience leading health care leadership and his extensive knowledge of behavioral and community health make him an ideal candidate to lead our staff at Eastern State Hospital as we continue to transforming behavioral health in our state,” said DSHS Secretary Jilma Meneses. “It takes very special people to work with our patients. We believe Eric has the knowledge and compassion to lead our staff and give them the tools and resources they need to better serve our patients.
“We look forward to Eric leading our ESH team and leveraging his in-depth knowledge of state and federal health care policies and regulations, third-party payers, and Joint Commission accreditation to benefit the hospital and our entire administration,” said Kevin Bovenkamp, Assistant Secretary for BHA.
Carpenter earned a bachelor’s degree in public health and health services administration and a master’s degree in public health, health services and nonprofit administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. He also completed an executive management and leadership program from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.
Tony Bowie served as interim chief executive during the search for a permanent chief executive at Eastern State Hospital. Once Carpenter arrives, Bowie will resume his position as CEO of DSHS’s Child Study and Treatment Center in Steilacoom, Washington.
