Jaime Saal Named CEO of Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine

The Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine (RCBM) has promoted Jaime Saal, MA, LPC, NCC, to Chief Executive Officer. The announcement was made today by Dr. Joel L. Young, Medical Director and Founder of RCBM.

RCBM opened its doors in 1993. Saal joined RCBM as a therapist in 2003 and soon after, assumed the role of Executive Director.

Over the last two decades, Saal, Young and Mindy Layne Young, JD, LMSW and have nurtured RCBM into a thriving practice with more than 100 employees. “During this rapid growth, Jaime has upheld RCBM’s values, and cultivated a welcoming and healthy work culture that encourages excellence and work-life balance,” said Layne Young, who serves as RCBM’s senior supervising therapist and general counsel.

Under Saal’s direction, RCBM has extended its services into clinical trials, outcomes research, and accessible diagnostic assessment. RCBM maintains a zealous commitment to patient well-being, employing a medical model to serve individuals and families throughout the state of Michigan.

“One of Jaime’s most important achievements was spearheading the emergency transition to telehealth at the onset of the pandemic. The isolation of the pandemic was devastating to mental health, with a 25% surge in anxiety and depression during the first year. Delaying care during a pandemic was not possible. Many clinicians were not offering virtual visits and the immediate need for care was overwhelming. Failure to provide services was simply not an option,” said Young.

Within a week, Saal had transitioned the entire practice to a telehealth model. Many patients continue to attend telehealth sessions—and research demonstrates that this approach widens access to mental health care, reduces stigma, increases confidentiality, and yields favorable patient outcomes.

As CEO, Saal will be responsible for clinic operations, program development, quality assurance, insurance partnerships, outcomes research, and technological integration. Saal also plays a critical role in managing the growing RCBM team. In an increasingly complicated healthcare system, mental health clinicians face high rates of burnout and Saal remains committed to supporting RCBM staff through these challenges.

“The result is a multidisciplinary clinic in which colleagues meaningfully collaborate,” Young said. “RCBM staff can better support their patients because they are supported by RCBM leadership. Creating this environment has always been an important part of Jaime’s work.”

Melissa Oleshansky, PhD, Senior Staff Psychologist, said Saal excels at helping her staff solve problems. “Everyone in the clinic turns to Jaime many times throughout the day to help resolve clinical and business-related issues. She wears so many hats, but mentorship is one of her greatest strengths,” she said.

Saal is currently spearheading several major initiatives, including MedabolicTM, a personalized health promotion program, and MedaDataTM, a behavioral health database for research and scholarship. Saal also serves as the Chief Operations Officer of MindMetrix, an RCBM startup committed to transforming the process of mental health assessment.

“She’s such an admirable leader whom we all respect a great deal,” said Sarah Hutton, MD, Associate Medical Director.

Saal is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She completed her master’s degree in counseling at Indiana University. Saal also holds certifications in Executive Healthcare Leadership and Healthcare Change Management from Cornell University.

About Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine:

The Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine (RCBM) is an outpatient behavioral health clinic dedicated to improving the quality of life for their patients. RCBM combines the treatment modalities of psychotherapy with medication and nutrition management to alleviate suffering and help people lead happier, more productive lives. Under the medical leadership of Joel L. Young, MD, RCBM is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. RCBM also offers a variety of services to children, adolescents, adults and seniors including the treatment ADHD and learning disabilities; depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood and anxiety disorders; work-related concerns, family and marital issues; substance abuse and eating disorders, along with weight management. To learn more, visit: https://www.rcbm.net/.