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Caron Taps Hazelden Senior VP as Next CEO
After conducting a 7-month, nationwide search, Caron Treatment Centers has identified its next top executive.
The Wernersville, Pennsylvania-based organization, which specializes in addiction and behavioral healthcare treatment, research, prevention, and addiction medicine education, announced the appointment of John Driscoll as its new president and CEO. Driscoll, who will report to Caron’s board of trustees, begins his new role with Caron in the first week of October.
Driscoll has worked in the addiction treatment field for more than 30 years. He comes to Caron from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, where he most recently served as senior vice president. He is also a former chair of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) and is the current chair of the NAATP Foundation of Recovery Science and Education (FoRSE), which monitors the industry’s quality outcomes.
“My goals as CEO are simple,” Driscoll told Behavioral Healthcare Executive. “To ensure that Caron continues providing world class treatment; conducting meaningful research that impacts the way we treat and understand this disease; providing educators, families, and professionals the tools to intervene and prevent this disease; and helping individuals, families, communities, and lawmakers understand what treatment and recovery are and how to access it.”
Caron began a search for its next CEO following the resignation of Bradley Sorte, who cited “the importance of prioritizing family time” when he stepped down from the organization’s lead executive role in February. A search committee comprised of 8 Caron board members was convened, and WittKieffer, an executive search and leadership advisory firm based in Oak Brook, Illinois, provided support during the process.
In a news release announcing the appointment, Caron Board Chair Mark Skibbie noted Driscoll’s “exceptional leadership, unparalleled expertise in addiction treatment, and a shared commitment to [Caron’s] mission” among the reasons he became the committee’s candidate of choice.
“John’s vision and dedication make him the ideal leader to guide Caron into a future filled with hope and healing for those in need,” Skibbie said.
Driscoll added, “Caron’s mission is ‘Recovery for Life,’ and my personal goal is to ensure we have a robust continuum of care that supports that mission. Recovery is transformational and creates generational change. I want everyone to experience that hope. Caron has been a leader in the addiction treatment field for almost 70 years, making hope a reality for thousands of individuals and families. I’m honored to be leading them into this next era.”
Since February, Caron Chief Operating Officer Kristine Bashore and Chief Clinical Officer David Rotenberg have served as interim co-CEOs. Bashore and Rotenberg will continue as chief operating officer and chief clinical officer, respectively, on Caron’s executive team.
Caron Treatment Centers operates medical centers on its campuses in Pennsylvania and Florida, and provides treatment services in Palm Beach County, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennyslvania; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Georgia; and New York City.
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