¥��� is pleased to announce the appointment of Dawan Utecht as ¥���’s new SVP and Chief Development Officer, effective January 3, 2022.

Dawan Utecht, ¥���’s New SVP and Chief Development Officer

Dawan comes to ¥��� with 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, including 20 years in the private sector.

Most recently, Dawan was Director of Behavioral Health of Fresno County, where she led their transformation efforts for eight years. During her tenure, she grew the department’s budget to over $350 million and 749 budgeted FTEs. She previously served as President of the California Mental Health Services Authority for several years. Currently, Dawan holds various statewide leadership roles on behalf of the California Behavioral Health Director’s Association.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dawan to ¥���,” said Anne Bakar, ¥��� President and CEO. “Because of her outstanding reputation and experience with so many of our California county customers, she can ‘hit the ground running’ to support our mission of growth, security, partnership, and excellence. More broadly, she understands the financial, operational, and clinical challenges public behavioral health care systems face and is passionate about utilizing ¥���’s scale and expertise to address their needs effectively, as well as to disseminate best practice nationally.”

Dawan brings a private-sector mindset and entrepreneurial spirit that is complementary to ¥���, as well as a shared passion to improve systems and services of care for those who are most in need. Additionally, her background in kinesiology and physical rehabilitation will fuel our efforts to enhance physical and mental health integration.

Dawan also serves on the California Department of Healthcare Services Cal AIM Behavioral Health and Behavioral Health Payment Reform Workgroups, the California Mental Health Services Authority, and participated on the California Future Workforce Commission in 2019.

She holds a Master of Science, Physical Therapy, from Columbia University in New York, and a Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology, from University of California, Los Angeles.

Dawan and her family live in Fresno, California.