Crnkovic Appointed Chief Executive Officer at Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare

(COLUMBUS – Dec. 22, 2020) The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Elaine Crnkovic as Chief Executive Officer of Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare (ABH), effective Jan. 4, 2021. Crnkovic will replace Jane Krason, who retired after 19 years of service at the Athens hospital.

As CEO, Crnkovic will oversee approximately 235 hospital employees, as well as more than 30 Community Support Network staff, and be responsible for the well-being, care and treatment of 92 patients at the Athens psychiatric hospital. In addition to overseeing day-to-day hospital operations, Crnkovic will also manage the relations with the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Boards in the 21-county southeastern Ohio catchment area served by the hospital.

A native of New Mexico, Crnkovic earned a Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy and an Interdisciplinary Doctorate Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, Educational Management & Development and Curriculum & Instruction from New Mexico State University. She brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the private sector mental health arena in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

ABH is one of six Regional Psychiatric Hospitals maintained by OhioMHAS. The hospital serves residents from Adams, Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Fairfield, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington counties. For more information, visit Regional Psychiatric Hospitals | Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (ohio.gov).

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