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Dr. Mala

Clinical Executive | Outcomes Strategy | Care Innovation

About Me

Dr. Mala is a clinical executive and psychologist with 25+ years of experience improving behavioral health care through outcomes-driven strategy, program building, and care innovation. She bridges clinical practice and business leadership to enhance care quality, strengthen access, and design systems that support people—and the teams who serve them.

Jurisdiction

United States

Experience

Seniority LevelExecutive
Years of Experience20+ years
Current StatusActive
Chief Clinical Officer & Editor in Chief Recovery.com
2023 - Present

In both executive roles as Chief Clinical Officer and Editor-in-Chief, I provided enterprise clinical strategy and cross-functional leadership across Product, Growth/Marketing, and Operations to strengthen trust, quality, and user outcomes. I translated applied research and clinical/market insights into recommendations that shaped product direction, user experience, education, and company-wide planning and messaging. Externally, I served as a public-facing clinical spokesperson, representing the brand through conferences, partner collaborations, and thought leadership. As Editor-in-Chief, I owned end-to-end editorial governance and content strategy, leading content operations and omnichannel publishing to ensure accuracy, consistency, and a trust-forward voice, while authoring and overseeing educational content and product-adjacent materials for clinical integrity. I also served as executive producer/host lead for the company podcast, guiding topic selection, guest strategy, production coordination, and distribution.

(Volunteer) Director of Program Development & Board MemberIt’s A Military Life (Nonprofit)
2024 - 2025

Developed strategic plans that align with organizational goals by anticipating challenges and opportunities, setting clear priorities, and defining comprehensive, measurable objectives. I design and oversee programs that meet the needs of target audiences and beneficiaries, ensuring strong implementation and real-world outcomes. I lead and motivate diverse teams by fostering collaboration, aligning stakeholders, and guiding execution through complex projects. I manage budgets through forecasting and thoughtful resource allocation to support sustainability and scalability. I also build durable relationships with funders, community leaders, and partner organizations to enable collaboration and secure support, while monitoring key performance metrics and adapting strategies based on what the data shows.

Care Counselor & CoachCerebral
2022 - 2025

Delivered high-volume, structured care coaching and client support within a remote behavioral health model, partnering closely with prescribers and care coordinators to maintain continuity, engagement, and a consistent client experience. Through regular check-ins, I monitor progress, remove barriers, reinforce adherence to care plans under medical direction, and escalate concerns through appropriate channels. I educate clients on care processes, expectations, and self-management tools to improve follow-through, satisfaction, and retention. I maintain an active panel of 500+ clients while sustaining a 4.98/5.0 satisfaction rating, and I document and coordinate across teams to ensure timely communication, accurate handoffs, and reliable service quality.

Director of Family Advising & US Academic PartnershipsApex Social Group
2021 - 2022

Led the Family Advising and Matching function, guiding families through needs assessments and managing the full intake-to-placement workflow to connect them with qualified care professionals. I built and managed university partnerships across career centers, department leadership, and faculty/staff to expand talent pipelines and strengthen institutional affiliations. Working cross-functionally with sales, marketing, advising, and onboarding, I improved conversion flow and operational handoffs from lead to match to placement. I also managed CRM and pipeline reporting, follow-up cadence, and partner communication to support forecasting and funnel health, while developing internship and experiential pathways across disciplines (e.g., mental health, OT/PT, education) to expand candidate supply and placement readiness.

Executive Clinical Director Blue Sea Consulting
2019 - 2021

Directed program strategy and operations for K–12 behavioral health and special education support services across 72+ New York school districts, aligning service delivery with district requirements and student needs. I led and scaled multidisciplinary teams—100+ direct staff/clinicians and a broader network of 200+ providers/support staff—overseeing hiring, onboarding, supervision structures, and performance management. To strengthen consistency and quality, I built training infrastructure (including LMS development) and standardized playbooks/SOPs to accelerate speed-to-competency. I also developed operational systems for budgeting, resource planning, KPI tracking, and continuous process improvement to support scalability and accountability, while partnering closely with district administrators, special education teams, and families to coordinate services and maintain high-trust relationships. In parallel, I launched and sustained digital and community outreach initiatives to support growth and strengthen brand presence.

Head Psychologist & Program Development LeadJoint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (US Military)
2014 - 2019

Led program development and operational execution for behavioral health and performance-support services in a military setting, aligning initiatives with readiness, rehabilitation, and mission needs. I designed and implemented interdisciplinary programs focused on pain management, stress resilience, and rehabilitation pathways, coordinating across medical and operational stakeholders. I built and standardized protocols and workflows to improve consistency of care delivery, continuity, and alignment across units, and developed customized tools and data-informed assessment processes to track progress, strengthen program effectiveness, and drive quality improvement. I also collaborated with military stakeholders to advance pain-management protocols at scale and contributed to research and grant/proposal development that supported successful submissions and approvals, including at government levels.

Director MS Counseling Psychology Program & Assistant Professor Alaska Pacific University
2016 - 2020

Directed graduate program operations, overseeing curriculum development, faculty coordination, student advising, and continuous quality improvement. I supervised and mentored learners from undergraduate through doctoral levels, supporting academic progression, performance, and professional development. I taught graduate-level psychology courses, ensured alignment with program outcomes and institutional standards, and chaired thesis/dissertation committees to guide research design, methodology, and completion milestones. In addition, I developed community-facing educational programming for local and rural communities and contributed research and grant writing to advance program initiatives and community impact.

CEO & FounderThe Synergy Center
2008 - Present

Founded and scaled a mission-driven coaching and wellness organization, setting the vision, strategy, service offerings, and growth priorities. I lead day-to-day operations including program design, workflows, vendor management, and client experience, while managing financial performance through budgeting, forecasting, pricing strategy, and resource allocation. I recruit and develop staff and contractors, building a high-trust culture with clear expectations, coaching, and accountability. I also cultivate relationships with clients, community partners, and supporters to expand reach and credibility, and I continuously improve programs using feedback loops and data-informed iteration to strengthen outcomes and engagement. Externally, I represent the organization through public speaking, community education, and advocacy to build visibility and trust.

Pediatric Behavioral Health Program LeadRainbow Rehabilitation Center
2005 - 2008

Supported pediatric clients and families in an interdisciplinary rehabilitation setting focused on brain/spinal cord injury and co-occurring behavioral health needs. I developed and facilitated age-appropriate, family-centered programming for children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 4–30) in coordination with multidisciplinary care teams. I contributed to program innovation by integrating holistic, skills-based approaches—such as mindfulness and movement-based stress regulation—into rehabilitation workflows, and I designed and delivered structured group and individual support plans aligned with organizational protocols and client goals.

Professor (Adjunct)Schoolcraft College
2004 - Present

Teaching undergraduate psychology courses in both in-person and online formats, developing course content aligned with learning objectives and institutional standards. I mentor students on academic planning, performance, and transition pathways across university and vocational tracks. I also lead initiatives and serve on committees that support international and cultural engagement and enhance the student experience, while contributing to program/event planning and outreach as needed.

Education

Doctorate of Psychology; Minor: Developmental PsychologyWayne State Univers
2005 - 2013
Masters of Marriage and Family PsychologyWayne State University
2001 - 2004
Degree of Biopsychology & Cognitive SciencesUniversity of Michigan
1997 - 2000

Skills

Core skills0
Languages4

Languages

English
Bengali
Hindi
Spanish