Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research Center Appoints Betty Ford Center Administrator, Dr. Christopher Yadron, as New Chief Executive Officer
Calverton, NY (August 17, 2021) – Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research Center (Wellbridge), a Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® recipient for Behavioral Health Care and Human Services Accreditation, today announced that Dr. Christopher Yadron has been named new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Andrew Drazan, Wellbridge’s CEO, has been elevated to chairman. Yadron is currently the vice president of the Western Region of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (HBFF) and administrator of the Betty Ford Center (BFC) in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He will begin in late August.
In his current role, Yadron oversees more than 260 employees in eight locations across five states, including the BFC in Rancho Mirage and its outpatient sites in west Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as the Beaverton outpatient facility and Newberg residential campus near Portland, Oregon. He manages millions of dollars of patient revenue, provides executive leadership for the HBFF national children’s program, supported the cultural integration of BFC and Hazelden post-merger, and has led the organization’s initial pandemic planning and implementation in the region.
Yadron is a highly accomplished professional who improved employee engagement at BFC and supported the west region in achieving world-class employee engagement overall. He exceeded fundraising goals for the HBFF children’s program and launched an outpatient clinic expansion in Bellevue, Wash. Yadron holds a doctorate in counselor education and supervision and is a certified alcohol and drug counselor and licensed clinical professional counselor, with years of experience running day-to-day clinical addiction operations. Yadron has delivered clinical services with excellence and provided highly effective leadership in a wide variety of substance use, mental health and nonprofit settings over the past 25 years.
“I believe Dr. Yadron is the right leader for Wellbridge. His extensive leadership experience coupled with his passion to empower individuals fully support the fabric of our core values and vision,” said Wellbridge Chairman Andrew Drazan. “No one should face addiction alone, and I’m happy to welcome Dr. Yadron on board as we continue our work to positively impact the lives of individuals who need us most.”
Yadron is a mission-focused executive with 25 years of nonprofit leadership and behavioral healthcare experience. He has served in numerous leadership capacities throughout his career and his capabilities include extensive clinical and behavioral expertise, robust budgetary proficiency, and strong interpersonal experience. Yadron is an innovative strategist adroit at building sustainable patient services while leveraging philanthropic initiatives to advance care and education. Yadron is a stalwart leader who is passionate about reversing the stigma of addiction, helping individuals to seek the help they need to recovery.
“I am looking forward to joining Wellbridge to further their vision of being the gold standard of addiction treatment and research in our nation. I understand the stigma around addiction, but I also know that empathy, compassion, and care, blended with innovative specialized treatment, will help individuals turn their lives around,” said Yadron. “I am thrilled to be a part of this talented and visionary team.”
Upon Yadron’s arrival, current Wellbridge CEO Andrew Drazan will assist with Yadron’s transition before moving into his new position as chairman of Wellbridge. Drazan’s focus will shift to expansion of the Center for Addiction Science at Wellbridge, community education, government relations and philanthropy. Yadron’s responsibilities will span two critical areas – strategic and operational, building upon the current strategic vision, branding, marketing, and business plan, and evolving all functional areas of the organization towards goals of delivering exceptional patient experiences and overall business success.
Yadron received his doctorate degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He completed his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Trinity Christian College and his master’s degree in counseling psychology at Loyola University in Chicago. He also received master’s degree in theology from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is a licensed clinical professional counselor and a certified alcohol and drug counselor. Yadron often speaks at conferences and workshops on addiction and the family, counselor training and development, and organizational leadership.
About Wellbridge
Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research Center is committed to helping every person affected by addiction achieve long-lasting recovery, as well as provide their families with the skills and support they may need. By integrating research, clinical care, and community education in a safe and supportive environment, Wellbridge is accelerating the integration of new discoveries into advanced addiction care, which will be shared with addiction professionals worldwide.
As an epicenter for the study and treatment of addiction, Wellbridge is focused on advancing the scientific and medical understanding of addiction and incorporating research and treatment into one setting for quality care and improved outcomes.
Wellbridge recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Behavioral Health Care and Human Services Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. For more information about the Gold Seal of Approval®, click here.
Wellbridge is a joint venture between Northwell Health, Engel Burman and co-founder Andrew Drazan. For more information, visit wellbridge.org.