Introducing Stacie Russell, new Chief Behavioral Health Officer for Axis Health System
Durango, Colo.: February 28, 2020, Durango, Colo. – Stacie Russell is the new Chief Behavioral Health Officer (CBHO) of Axis Health System (Axis). Stacie is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked at Axis for three years. She is thrilled to be in a new role as Axis continues to grow and expand.
“Professionally, I was ready for the challenge,” she said. “This executive team is a good fit for me culturally, and my values align with them really well. It’s exciting to find a place where I can feel at home. Serving the community’s behavioral health needs is very important to me, and I feel that being in this new position is the best way for me to serve our patients.”
The CBHO is a new executive position at Axis, a healthcare nonprofit that has served the five counties of Southwest Colorado for 60 years. Axis has grown significantly as an organization in the past 10 years, from solely mental healthcare to now encompassing substance use treatment, counseling, psychiatry, primary care and oral healthcare. “We’re working to make sure we meet the needs of the community, our partners and our stakeholders; and it takes a larger layer of the executive team to accomplish that,” said Stacie.
Stacie is a native Coloradoan who grew up in the Trinidad area, and she has lived and worked in southern Colorado her entire life. She is graduate of Adams State University in Alamosa, Colo., and has been working in the field since that time. Stacie has diverse experience with different populations, including working with children and families, at-risk youth and patients with severe behavioral health issues. Stacie lives in La Plata County, where she has participated in the Collaborative Management Program. She currently serves on the Core Services, Therapeutic & Life Skills Commission. She attended the Colorado Zero Suicide Academy with Axis in 2017. In her CHBO role, Stacie will be based at the Axis Corporate Office, located at 185 Suttle Street in Durango.
Growing up in rural communities in the state has given Stacie a great perspective. “My heart has always been with Colorado,” she said. “There are a lot of important state health initiatives that affect our communities, our patients and our employees. Having a passion for being a rural Colorado community member is very helpful when you’re working in this type of position.” Stacie said that counties in Southwest Colorado are diverse, and she’s focused on how Axis can provide care that meets the needs of each unique individual and community that Axis serves.
Stacie said the integrated healthcare model is one of the reasons she first wanted to work for Axis Health System, especially because it helps destigmatize mental health needs. “I believe in the model, and I know how quickly it can move people forward in their overall health. Feeling comfortable and successful in getting all your needs met is really healthy for communities and healthy for patients.”
Stacie is married with five children and one grandson. She loves being active with her children and enjoys hiking, boating, skiing – everything the area has to offer related to the outdoors.
Axis Health System provides quality healthcare across the lifespan in Montezuma, Dolores, La Plata, San Juan and Archuleta counties. Axis has seven locations in Southwest Colorado and offers primary, behavioral and oral healthcare, and crisis response and stabilization. axishealthsystem.org