N※N

Oswego Health Appoints Jesse Rothberg as Director of Mental Health Services

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. hberg-as-director-of-mental-health-services.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 11:47 GMT by syracuse.com

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-11-12 179 x 224 / 10619 Bytes

2025-11-12 224 x 224 / 9429 Bytes

2025-11-12 179 x 224 / 7895 Bytes

2025-11-12 179 x 224 / 6626 Bytes

Oswego Health Appoints Jesse Rothberg as New Director of Mental Health Services

Oswego Health’s newest executive, Jesse Rothberg, has been officially named the Director of the Oswego Health Mental Health Center (MH Center), a role that will place him at the helm of a rapidly expanding network of behavioral‑health services in central New York. The appointment, announced in a company‑wide press release on November 1, 2025, comes as the health system seeks to strengthen its response to the region’s growing mental‑health needs, a priority underscored by state‑wide data indicating rising rates of anxiety, depression, and substance‑use disorders among residents.

Who is Jesse Rothberg?

Rothberg brings more than 18 years of clinical and administrative experience in behavioral health, having served as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and chief of psychiatry at several community hospitals across the Midwest. Prior to joining Oswego Health, he was the Vice‑President of Behavioral Health Services at St. Mary’s Health System in Chicago, where he led a 200‑person team and oversaw a portfolio of outpatient counseling, inpatient psychiatric units, and crisis‑intervention programs.

His clinical work has focused on trauma‑informed care for adolescents and adults, and he is a board‑certified psychiatrist with an additional fellowship in addiction medicine. Rothberg holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin‑Madison.

In interviews, Rothberg has repeatedly highlighted his belief that “integrated, community‑based mental‑health care is the most effective way to meet patients where they are, both physically and emotionally.” His reputation as a collaborative leader, combined with his experience in scaling up services in underserved regions, made him a natural fit for Oswego Health’s ambitions.

The Oswego Health Mental Health Center: A Quick Snapshot

The MH Center is the flagship behavioral‑health hub of the Oswego Health System, comprising an inpatient psychiatric unit, an outpatient counseling clinic, and a crisis‑response mobile team that serves both the city of Oswego and the surrounding county. In 2024, the center treated nearly 12,000 patients, a 35 % increase from the previous year, driven largely by a new tele‑mental‑health initiative that expanded access to remote patients.

Oswego Health’s mission statement emphasizes “patient‑centered, equitable care for all,” and the MH Center is positioned as a critical component of that mission. The system’s board, in its annual strategic review, identified mental health as a top priority, citing a county‑wide initiative that aims to reduce emergency‑department visits related to psychiatric crises by 20 % over the next three years.

Rothberg’s Vision and Key Initiatives

In the official announcement, Oswego Health CEO Dr. Sarah L. Bennett stated, “Jesse’s leadership will accelerate our commitment to comprehensive, integrated mental‑health care. His experience in building scalable services will be instrumental as we expand our reach into rural communities and enhance our tele‑health capabilities.”

Rothberg outlined three immediate priorities for his first 90 days:

1. Expansion of Tele‑Mental‑Health Services
   The MH Center will launch a “Digital Outreach” program, adding secure video‑consultation slots for underserved rural patients. This initiative aligns with state Medicaid tele‑health reimbursement increases and is expected to reduce no‑show rates by 18 %.

2. Interdisciplinary Care Coordination
   By integrating social workers, pharmacists, and primary‑care physicians into the treatment team, Rothberg aims to reduce readmission rates for patients with chronic mental‑health conditions. Pilot data from a similar program at St. Mary’s showed a 22 % drop in readmissions over two years.

3. Community Engagement and Prevention
   The MH Center will partner with local schools and faith‑based organizations to launch a “Mental Health First Aid” training series. The goal is to empower community leaders with skills to recognize early warning signs and connect individuals to care.

Rothberg also emphasized the importance of workforce development. “We will invest in ongoing training for our staff to maintain a culture of compassion, equity, and evidence‑based practice,” he noted.

A Broader Context: The Mental‑Health Landscape in New York

The article contextualizes the appointment within statewide trends. According to a recent New York Department of Health report, the state recorded a 15 % increase in mental‑health hospital admissions in 2024, largely due to lingering pandemic‑related stressors and a spike in opioid misuse. Oswego Health, being a major provider in the region, is positioned to play a pivotal role in meeting this demand.

Moreover, the piece references a collaborative initiative between Oswego Health and the University at Buffalo’s School of Public Health, aiming to conduct community‑based research on effective interventions for depression and substance‑use disorders. Rothberg’s background in research will be a valuable asset to this partnership.

Reactions from Stakeholders

The article quotes several key stakeholders:

• Local Mental‑Health Advocates: “Having someone with Jesse’s expertise on board is a win for the community,” said Marissa Greene, director of the Oswego Mental Health Coalition. “We’ve long called for more coordinated, evidence‑based care, and I’m excited to see this happen.”

• Board Members: Oswego Health’s Board Chair, Linda Torres, remarked that “Rothberg’s track record of successfully scaling mental‑health services in underserved areas aligns perfectly with our strategic priorities.”

• Patients: A patient narrative shared in the article described how the MH Center’s tele‑health services enabled her to receive consistent therapy while working a part‑time job and caring for her children. “The new program saves me both time and money,” she said.

Follow‑up Resources

The original article includes links to:

1. Oswego Health’s Mental Health Center Website – offering detailed service descriptions, staff bios, and patient resources.
2. Oswego Health Press Release – the full PDF of the leadership announcement.
3. State Health Department Data Dashboard – showing county‑level mental‑health metrics.
4. University at Buffalo Collaboration Page – outlining research projects and grant opportunities.

These resources provide further insight into Oswego Health’s commitment to mental‑health care and the strategic importance of Rothberg’s appointment.

Bottom Line

Jesse Rothberg’s appointment as Director of the Oswego Health Mental Health Center marks a significant step toward strengthening behavioral‑health services in central New York. With a rich background in both clinical practice and health‑system administration, Rothberg is poised to expand tele‑health reach, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and deepen community partnerships—all aimed at reducing the burden of mental‑health crises on patients, families, and the health system itself. As the state grapples with rising mental‑health demands, Oswego Health’s new leadership is set to lead the way in delivering compassionate, evidence‑based care to those who need it most.