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Christy Barr named vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health

Villanova, PA – March 21, 2023 – Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit providers of behavioral healthcare, today announced that Christy Barr, M.S., has been selected as vice president and chief pharmacy officer.

In this role, Barr will lead Devereux’s enterprise-wide strategy related to pharmacy operations and medication management services across the organization’s continuum of care. Specifically, she will be responsible for regulatory compliance, clinical excellence, fiscal performance, pharmaceutical purchasing, pharmacy clinical practice, transitions of care, and the development and implementation of operational and clinical growth opportunities. Over the past two years, Devereux has expanded beyond its Devereux Texas Pharmacy by launching QualityHealth Pharmacy in New Jersey, with a site scheduled to open in Florida later this fiscal year.

“Christy is a results-oriented, mission-driven leader with more than 20 years of healthcare and pharmacy experience, and we are excited to welcome her to our team,” said Devereux Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical/Medical Officer Yolanda Graham, M.D. “Her proven expertise in growing, and sustaining excellence in, all aspects of pharmacy operations, make her perfectly aligned for this role. Christy will help ensure our pharmacy services continue to operate at the highest level across all campuses as we strive to improve outcomes for the children, adolescents and adults we serve.”

About Christy Barr, M.S.

As Devereux’s vice president and chief pharmacy officer, Christy Barr, M.S., brings more than 20 years of healthcare and pharmacy leadership experience to this position.

Prior to joining Devereux, Barr was the senior vice president of pharmacy operations at Genoa Healthcare (a subsidiary of Optum Rx) in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she oversaw all operations for a network of 600-plus pharmacies across the country. In this role, Barr led the development and commercialization of new business lines to expand the company’s product and service portfolio, including long-term care solutions and HIV treatment. During her tenure at Genoa Healthcare, she also served as the senior vice president of national pharmacy operations, vice president of central pharmacy operations, regional vice president of operations – western division, director of operations and site manager.

Barr earned her Master of Science in healthcare administration and her Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati, and she holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Barr currently serves on the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy’s Board of Advisors, and is a member of the American Pharmacists Association, Ohio Pharmacists Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

About Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations providing services, insight and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912 by special education pioneer Helena Devereux, the organization operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational, and employment programs and services that positively impact the lives of tens of thousands of children, adults – and their families – every year. Focused on clinical advances emerging from a new understanding of the brain, its unique approach combines evidence-based interventions with compassionate family engagement.

With more than 7,500 employees working in programs across the nation, Devereux is a recognized partner for families, schools and communities, serving many of our country’s most vulnerable populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and foster care. Programs are offered in hospital, residential, community and school-based settings. They include: assessments; interventions and support; transition and independent life services; family and professional training; research and innovation; and advocacy and public education. For more than a century, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health has been guided by a simple and enduring mission: To change lives by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences. www.devereux.org

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