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Patricia Hillis-Clark named executive director of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Pennsylvania Children’s Behavioral Health Services

Villanova, PA – July 31, 2018 – Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, one of the oldest and largest nonprofit providers of behavioral healthcare in the nation, today announced that President and CEO Carl E. Clark II has named Patricia Hillis-Clark, Psy.D., as incoming executive director of the Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) center, located in Malvern and Glenmoore, Pa. 

Hillis-Clark currently serves as Devereux Pennsylvania CBHS’ clinical director; she will assume her new role effective Aug. 19, 2018. As executive director, Hillis-Clark will oversee the care and treatment of approximately 5,000 children and adolescents, annually, who are living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences. She succeeds Rhea Fernandes, Psy.D., who, as part of Devereux’s organizational redesign, was promoted to the position of chief operating officer on July 1, 2018. 

“Pattie is an innovative and highly respected member of our leadership team, and has been part of the Devereux Pennsylvania family for the last 18 years,” said Clark. “Pattie’s background in child and adolescent behavioral health makes her the perfect fit to support the youth in our care through the management of CBHS’ residential, educational and community-based programs and services.” 

About Patricia Hillis-Clark, Psy.D.

Patricia Hillis-Clark, Psy.D., holds more than 20 years of experience in the child and adolescent behavioral healthcare field. She is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania and Delaware, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapist.  

Dr. Hillis-Clark joined Devereux Pennsylvania in 2000 as a clinician at “Gateway,” which was located in Newtown Square, Pa. In 2009, she was promoted to her most recent positon – Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Behavioral Health Services clinical director. Hillis-Clark specializes in working with highly-traumatized populations, including sexually exploited and trafficked youth. Before joining Devereux, she was a social worker at the Children’s Aid Society.  

Hillis-Clark has earned the following degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Cabrini College; Master in Social Work from Temple University; and a Doctor in Clinical Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She has completed certification programs including: Financial Success for Nonprofits – Cornell University; Behavior Analysis – Florida Institute of Technology; and School Psychology – Eastern University. She holds a Diplomate from the Academy of Cognitive Therapists. Hillis-Clark has presented locally on the topic of sexually exploited and trafficked youth, and has served as adjunct teaching faculty at the graduate level. She serves as an advisory board member of the Devereux Cleo Wallace and Devereux Cleo Wallace Foundation, and is the chair of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Division 12 Mentorship Sub-Committee. In addition, she has served as a past Division 12 reviewer for the APA’s Annual Convention Submissions for Presentation.  

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 approximately 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, 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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