The Mental Health Medical Director acts as the associate division head of medical services for Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services. Medical Services consults with, advises and makes recommendations to the Joint Chairman of Psychiatry and other division managers in matters bearing on the quality and scope of psychiatric, medical and other professional services rendered to our clients.

The division is responsible for:

• Coordinating quality assurance activities of the medical staff
• The planning and implementation for medical training and educational programs for physicians, as well as those psychiatric residents in the Residency Outpatient Clinic
• Physician recruitment activities for the department
• Psychiatric, diagnostic and therapeutic services, including psychiatric examinations and evaluations, individual and joint psychotherapy and prescription of pharmacological and physical therapy
• Consultations with psychologists, social workers and others in community agencies regarding the psychiatric aspects of their work
• Conferring with patients’ relatives regarding illness and treatment plans
• Assisting in establishing psychiatric programs and policies; maintaining medical records and preparing reports, including doing EPRS of county psychiatrists