Jay Kellison is a seasoned healthcare executive and board advisor with over 40 years of leadership experience in behavioral health and addiction treatment operations. Having managed facilities across 21 U.S. states, Jay has held executive leadership roles in for-profit and non-profit healthcare organizations, including hospital systems, residential treatment centers, and outpatient psychiatric care facilities. His career has been defined by turnaround management, strategic growth, financial optimization, and executive leadership development.
Currently, Jay serves as executive chairman, board member, and advisor for Latticework Capital Management, supporting the development and operations of a multi-state behavioral health system. He is also actively engaged as a board member at Beacon Behavioral Hospital, where he provides strategic oversight, operational guidance, and executive mentorship. His extensive governance experience allows him to advise investors, management teams, and healthcare organizations on growth strategies, acquisitions, and operational efficiencies.
Throughout his career, Jay has been at the helm of leading healthcare organizations, including serving as regional vice president at HCA Healthcare, where he oversaw behavioral health programs across California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Alaska. Prior to that, he was division president at Acadia Healthcare, managing multiple inpatient psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities with a combined revenue exceeding $142 million. His tenure as division president at Psychiatric Solutions (now Universal Health Services) further solidified his reputation as a transformational leader, overseeing 14 facilities with $260 million in revenue and an EBITDA of $66 million.
As chief operating officer at Rogers Behavioral Health, Jay played a pivotal role in the expansion of specialty behavioral health programs across major U.S. markets, leading the development, physician recruitment, and managed care contracting efforts. His expertise in healthcare development and business strategy was further honed during his time as vice president of development at both Springstone Behavioral Health and Acadia Healthcare, where he led M&A initiatives, market assessments, and new facility developments.
Jay’s leadership philosophy centers on driving financial performance, enhancing patient care models, and developing high-impact executive teams. He is highly skilled in valuations, due diligence, strategic planning, and operational restructuring, making him a sought-after advisor for healthcare investors and private equity firms seeking to optimize and expand their behavioral health portfolios.
In addition to his executive career, Jay is a passionate mentor and advocate for healthcare leadership development. His guiding principle, “treat others as you want to be treated,” reflects his commitment to ethical leadership, collaboration, and driving meaningful change within the industry.
Jay holds a master of public administration (MPA) in health services administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor of arts in political science from Miami University, Ohio.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Jay enjoys golf, pickleball, yoga, hiking, and traveling, and is deeply committed to his family and community. His dynamic leadership, industry expertise, and strategic foresight continue to make a lasting impact in the behavioral healthcare sector.
Character: Jay Kellison is a principled and ethical leader who prioritizes integrity, collaboration, and mentorship in his professional and personal life.
Knowledge: With over 40 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Jay possesses deep expertise in healthcare operations, business development, financial management, and executive leadership.
Strategic: Jay is a visionary strategist, adept at turnaround management, market expansion, and optimizing behavioral health organizations for long-term success.
Communication: Jay is an effective communicator, skilled in executive mentorship, investor relations, and guiding management teams through complex operational and financial decisions.
