The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in partnership with the CCBHC–E NTTAC, is pleased to offer the National Council Medical Director Leadership Program, an exclusive leadership development opportunity for CCBHC Medical Directors.

This program includes a full-day, in-person Preconference at NatCon26 and a six-month interactive virtual learning series. Designed specifically for Medical Directors serving in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), the program strengthens leadership effectiveness in team management, clinical decision-making, communication, financial literacy, quality improvement, and operational excellence within the CCBHC model.

Participation is limited to 20 Medical Directors (one per clinic) to ensure a highly interactive, cohort-based experience.

We encourage eligible CCBHC Medical Directors to apply early, as space is limited.

In-Person NatCon26 PreConference Convening

Saturday, April 25, 2026 
8:00 am – 5:00 pm MT  

Time	Session	Presenter(s)
8 AM - 8:15 AM	Breakfast
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM	Welcome & Opening Remarks	Luming Li, MD  Patrick Runnels, MD, MBA
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM	Blue Mesa Coaching	Micki McMillan, M.Ed., MCC  CEO - Blue Mesa Coaching
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM	Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM	Role of Medical Director in Community Mental Health / CCBHC – Panel	Katherine Friedebach, MD  Luming Li, MD
2:30 PM -3:30 PM	Leadership Tips (Navigating Change and Uncertainty)	Joe Parks, MD  Patrick Runnels, MD, MBA
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM	Break
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM	Small Group Dialogue	Guided by Facilitators   Joe Parks, MD
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM	Debrief on Shared Learnings & What's Next with Virtual Webinar Series	Luming Li, MD  Patrick Runnels, MD, MBA

 

Virtual Sessions: Monthly, May–October 2026

Seminar Topics Include:

• Quality Improvement & Change Leadership – Leading sustainable change, advancing high reliability, strengthening team resilience, and managing stakeholder collaboration.
• Financial Literacy & Resource Management – Budgeting, interpreting financial reports, cost containment, and aligning financial strategy with clinical priorities.
• Risk Management & Legal Considerations – Identifying and mitigating clinical and organizational risk while ensuring regulatory compliance.
• People & Workforce Leadership – Effective supervision, mentorship, staff development, and fostering engagement across multidisciplinary teams.
• Operational Excellence – Workflow optimization, accreditation readiness, and improving patient access and throughput.
• Technology & Innovation – Using EHRs, data analytics, and telehealth to drive quality, efficiency, and clinical innovation.

By submitting, you (as the Medical Director) commit to:

• Full participation in leadership training, including attending the in-person PreConference training and the following virtual training sessions. 
• Providing feedback and participating in evaluation following the conclusion of the training series.   
• I understand that selection is competitive and based on readiness and commitment.