The Place for Children with Autism names new chief financial officer

The Place for Children with Autism, a Chicago-based provider of applied behavior therapy (ABA), has named Kristin Schultz as its chief financial officer.

Schultz arrives at The Place from R1 RCM, where she was the senior director of corporate accounting for the Utah-based health care technology solutions company. Schultz has also previously been an audit manager for accounting firm Ernst & Young.

“I am thrilled to join the growth-oriented and mission-driven team at The Place, and am very eager to leverage my professional experiences to build a best-in-class finance, accounting and billing organization that will serve to advance the strategic goals of the Company and continue to enrich the lives of children with autism,” Schultz said in a press release issued by the provider.

Founded in 2017, The Place specializes in ABA therapy, which is widely considered to be a gold standard of autism care. The provider operates nine Chicago-area clinics, along with a clinic in the central Illinois college town of Urbana.

The Place has plans in the works to open two more Chicago-area clinics, as well as an additional clinic in the Bloomington/Normal, Illinois-area.

“We are truly excited to welcome Kristin to the leadership team,” The Place CEO Allison O’Neill said in the press release. “We look forward to leaning heavily on Kristin’s deep accounting, finance and revenue cycle management experience to develop strategies that will allow the Company to continue its rapid expansion of our ABA therapy programs throughout Illinois and beyond.”

The Place for Children with Autism is privately backed by Baum Capital Partners.

BrainsWay appoints scientific board member

BrainsWay (Nasdaq: BWAY), an international company that specializes in neurostimulation treatment for mental health disorders, has announced the appointment of Zafiris Daskalakis to its scientific board.

Daskalakis currently serves as the chair of the department of psychiatry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. Daskalakis’ research is concentrated magnetic brain stimulation, which is used to study potential factors behind behavioral conditions like schizophrenia, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Prior to joining UCSD, Daskalakis was a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Daskalakis also previously served as a co-director of the Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and as chief of general adult psychiatry and health systems at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, both of which are located in Toronto.

Daskalakis has also authored over 450 peer-reviewed publications and presently serves on the editorial board of a number of journals.

“BrainsWay has held an unwavering commitment to clinical excellence, and I am excited to have this opportunity to provide informed guidance that will ultimately translate into expanded options for patients suffering from these debilitating illnesses,” Daskalakis said in a press release issued by the company.

Founded in 2003, Jerusalem-based BrainsWay has its American headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts. The company’s current treatment focus includes areas such as depression, OCD and smoking addiction. BrainsWay also has clinical trials underway for the treatment of psychiatric, neurological and addiction disorders.

“We are extremely honored that Dr. Daskalakis has agreed to join our world-class scientific advisory board,” BrainsWay President and CEO Christopher von Jako said in the press release. “He has been at the forefront of expanding clinical understanding of brain stimulation, and his insight and direction will be critical as BrainsWay looks to navigate this next phase of the company’s growth.”

Leo Brown Group names VP of behavioral health

Leo Brown Group, an Indianapolis-based developer and owner of health care properties, has named Peter Ulasewicz as its vice president of behavioral health.

In his vice president post, Ulasewicz will be charged with identifying and assessing opportunities for behavioral health property development. The position will also have Ulasewicz — who is a veteran in behavioral health system management — working with Leo Brown Group’s clients and partners during all phases of the firm’s strategic planning and implementation processes with property development.

Formed in 2006, Leo Brown Group has developed properties across 16 states during its existence. The firm’s health care real estate leadership team has helped develop approxminately 4 million square feet of properties valued at around $1 billion.

Oasis Mental Health Applications fills CEO role from within

Greensburg, Pennsylvania-based Oasis Mental Health Applications, which is a provider of wellness resources geared towards students, has appointed Martin Serota as its CEO.

The new role is an internal promotion for Serota, who had been the company’s chief medical officer.

A physician with a background in value-based care management, Serota owned and operated a medical practice for 25 years. Serota has also held leadership positions with startup health care companies.

“I will bring the same principles of value-based care to my role as CEO as we strive to create a scalable model that is still personalized,” Serota said in a press release issued by Oasis. “Our aim is to connect individuals to the appropriate level of care using technology. By providing a wide range of comprehensive offerings, we’re able to tailor the product to the individual need, which creates value.”

Founded in 2018, Oasis provides online resources to users along with a mobile application that includes self-help content, a mood tracker, a chat feature and professional counseling services.

“Martin is an excellent fit as the CEO for Oasis,” Oasis founder Jaime Hidalgo said in the press release. “With his clinical and leadership experience, Martin will be instrumental in Oasis’ growth and scaling. He will help strengthen Oasis’ business development and strategic partnerships.”