At Lifepoint Health, you’ll find a culture shaped by leaders who value service, compassion and respect. These values matter when you’re choosing where to build your career, especially if you’re a veteran or healthcare professional seeking meaningful work in behavioral health and a workplace where you feel supported both on the job and beyond it.
Recognizing Leadership That Supports Those Who Serve
Nicki Tessler, PsyD, MBA, president, Lifepoint Behavioral Health, was recently honored with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriotic Employer Award. Presented on behalf of the Secretary of Defense, this award recognizes leaders who demonstrate exceptional support for members of the National Guard and Reserve. It celebrates leaders who show flexibility, understanding and genuine respect for our military personnel.
As president of Lifepoint Behavioral Health, Dr. Tessler leads a large and complex healthcare division, while consistently demonstrating a personal commitment to supporting those who serve our country. She is understanding regarding military obligations, training schedules and service requirements, and she approaches military leave not as an operational inconvenience, but as an honorable responsibility that reflects the character of the individual serving. Under her leadership, service members are truly respected and honored for their selfless sacrifice.
Dr. Tessler joins Lifepoint Health during a pivotal period of growth across behavioral health and the organization, with a collaborative focus on advancing the mission of making communities healthier alongside leaders and people dedicated to this work. That mission guides how Lifepoint Health supports veterans, advances behavioral health services and creates meaningful careers for healthcare professionals across the country.
A Healthcare Culture That Supports Veterans and Military Service Members
Supporting veterans in healthcare means creating flexible, understanding workplaces that recognize military service commitments while providing clear civilian career paths. For veterans, National Guard members and reservists seeking healthcare careers, finding an employer that understands military commitments is essential. At Lifepoint Health, flexibility and respect are not just policies. They are part of how leaders show up every day.
Support for military-affiliated team members includes:
- Understanding military training and service obligations
- Encouraging open communication around scheduling and leave
- Recognizing service as an asset that strengthens healthcare teams
This culture helps veterans transition their skills into meaningful roles across clinical, behavioral health and operational settings within Lifepoint Health.
From left: Dr. Mark Fleming, vice president of clinical operations for behavioral health at Lifepoint Behavioral Health; Dr. Nicki Tessler, president of Lifepoint Behavioral Health; and Jason Zachariah, president and chief operating officer of Lifepoint Health. Presented on behalf of the Secretary of Defense, this award honors leaders who show exceptional support, flexibility and respect for members of the National Guard and Reserve.
Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Care
Behavioral health needs continue to grow across the country, and Lifepoint Health is committed to expanding access to care in the communities we serve. Lifepoint Behavioral Health operates a network of 25 behavioral health hospitals and continues to develop new partnerships and care settings that support patients across the care continuum.
For job seekers, this translates into opportunities to build long-term careers in inpatient behavioral health hospitals, outpatient care and community-based mental health services nationwide
Experience Rooted in Behavioral Health Leadership
Dr. Tessler brings extensive experience in behavioral health leadership, innovation, and system growth. Before joining Lifepoint Health, she served as CEO and co-founder of BeMe Health, a digital behavioral health company focused on the emotional health of teenagers and young adults.
She previously held senior leadership roles with Universal Health Services and served as a regional vice president with HCA in Florida. Her early career began as a supervising psychologist at the University of Miami, followed by leadership roles at Jackson Health System and Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital, where she ultimately served as senior vice president and CEO.
Dr. Tessler holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Denver, an executive MBA in health sector management and policy from the University of Miami, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Lynn University and Pepperdine University. She has earned national recognition for her work in healthcare and behavioral health innovation.
Why Behavioral Health Professionals Choose Lifepoint Health
Behavioral health professionals choose Lifepoint Health because they want their work to matter. Our teams bring together psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, nurses, behavioral health technicians, social workers and support professionals who collaborate to deliver compassionate mental health care.
Across our locations, team members benefit from:
- Purpose-driven work that improves lives
- Leadership that values respect, flexibility and service
- Opportunities for career growth in communities nationwide
Explore Careers at Lifepoint Health
If you are a veteran or behavioral health professional seeking a supportive workplace and a career with purpose, explore opportunities at Lifepoint Health and discover how you can help make communities healthier.
About Lifepoint Health
Founded in 1999, Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based healthcare with acute care, behavioral health and rehabilitation locations from coast to coast. We believe in making communities healthier® through our vision of creating places where people choose to come for care, physicians want to practice and employees want to work. From your first day to your next career achievement – your experience matters.