Dr. Pete Vernig is a results-oriented healthcare system executive with a proven track record of spearheading ambitious program improvements and delivering high-quality care across diverse settings. As Vice President of Mental Health Services at Recovery Centers of America, he provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for clinical operations across 11 facilities in six states. Dr. Vernig’s expertise spans healthcare operations, clinical care model implementation, program and service line development, and patient engagement. He uses his broad experience in behavioral healthcare and knowledge of large systems to drive clinical and operational outcomes.
Prior to RCA, Dr. Vernig served as Chief Clinical Officer at Friends Hospital, where he directed clinical operations for the oldest private psychiatric hospital in the United States. His accomplishments at Friends include developing and implementing evidence- based clinical programming, reducing the use of restrictive interventions, and leading the hospital’s educational programs.
Dr. Vernig holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Suffolk University and an MBA in Healthcare Management from West Texas A&M University. He is a licensed psychologist with faculty appointments at Drexel University College of Medicine and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He serves on the boards of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association.