August 19th, 2022 –  

Psychiatrist Farhan Fazal, MD, has been named the Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services for the multi-hospital Appalachian Regional Healthcare system.

“It is an exciting time for behavioral health services here at ARH. Recent years have shed light on the need for mental health challenges across our nation and here at home,” said Carrie Rudzik, MHA, FACHE, ARH Vice President of Clinical Operations. “I am excited for the addition of Dr. Fazal to our behavioral health leadership team. His clinical expertise and vision will be instrumental in driving our strategic direction and expanding the services we provide in our communities.”

As Medical Director, Dr. Fazal has oversight and management of all clinical services for the Behavioral Health service line. Clinical services within the Behavioral Health Service Line include 160 inpatient psychiatry beds, a system-wide consult/liaison service, and multiple outpatient behavioral health locations. He will work closely with the System Director of Behavioral Health and others within the ARH health system to ensure the overall performance and clinical quality of ARH’s behavioral health services to provide the best possible patient experience.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Fazal as the organization’s System Medical Director of Behavioral Health. As a member of the Behavioral Health Service Line’s senior leadership team, Dr. Fazal will lead the service line’s medical staff, provide guidance on clinical interventions, and help operationalize the service line’s overarching goal to increase both the quality and access to behavioral health services throughout the region,” said ARH System Director of Behavioral Health Brian Myers, MBA, MTS, CMPE.

“Dr. Fazal is exceptionally prepared for this leadership role, given his previous clinical work within the organization, understanding of the region’s current behavioral health care landscape, and vision for how to optimize the delivery of behavioral health care to rural communities.”

Dr. Fazal brings extensive experience to the position. He currently provides inpatient behavioral health care at both Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center and Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center. He first joined the ARH system in 2010 as an Adult Psychiatrist at the Hazard ARH Psychiatric Center. He has also provided geriatric intensive outpatient care to patients at Mary Breckinridge ARH, McDowell ARH, and Morgan County ARH hospitals.

He has also served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, and previously served as a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pikeville, College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is actively involved as a clinical preceptor for Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) medical students and has served as a preceptor for nurse practitioner students and PA students as well.

Dr. Fazal earned his MBBS from King Edward Medical College, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan, and completed a Fellowship in Psychosomatic Medicine from West Chester Medical Center, Psychosomatic Medicine, Valhalla, NY, and a Residency in Psychiatry Albany Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Albany, NY.