NNews October 2024

40 October 2024 (continued from page 39) Get Better Aquainted with the NJAMHAA and NJMHI Board Members Christopher Womack, PhD, MBA, MA, MS Community Leader Julie Drew, LCSW, MPA Former System Executive Director Behavioral Health, AtlantiCare JULIE DREWWAS ELECTED TO THE NJMHI Board in October 2018 and served on the NJAMHAA Board in FY2020 and FY2021. CHRISTOPHERWOMACK HAS served on the NJMHI Board since March 2023. He has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 30 years and continues to be an advocate for the community, having addressed healthcare disparities since before health equity became a major focus in the field. He continues to serve on various organizations focused on this issue and previously served as Co- Chair of NJAMHAA’s Life Sciences and Innovation Council (LSIC). Under Chris’ leadership, the LSIC engaged a wider audience by increasing “Fromserving on the boards, I learned from great leaders. It offered the opportunity to be a part of and to support behavioral health services in our state, as well as staff and clients in need of services,” Julie said. “It’s important to still be connected to people in the field andwhat’s happening in the field and around the state.” Being retired and engaged in private practice online, Julie has an even greater appreciation for the telehealth regulations NJAMHAA helped secure. “I have a further understanding of the deep and endless need,” Julie said. participation of providers, who attend to hear experts present on a range of important topics, such as legalized marijuana, non-medical switching of medications, drug pricing, tobacco cessation and telehealth. He also enabled the LSIC to achieve its goal of increasing access to health care. “This is a calling,” Chris said about serving on the NJMHI Board. “They’ve been doing this important work and always asking what else they can do. The board members offer different perspectives - clinical, academic, etc. - on the issues and how to attack them.” Julie joined AtlantiCare in 2004 as Director, Outpatient Services, AtlantiCare Behavioral Health and later served as Vice President, Clinical Services. Prior to joining AtlantiCare, Julie worked as a mental health administrator in Delaware. She also worked in crisis outreach services, as well as in private practice, treating adults and adolescents. Julie earned her Bachelor’s in Social Welfare degree fromWest Chester University, Master’s in Social Work fromWidener University. and Master’s of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware. (continued on page 41)