Heather Dixon Brings Extensive Healthcare Financial Experience to Acadia Healthcare
Heather Dixon joined Acadia Healthcare as chief financial officer on July 10, 2023, succeeding David Duckworth, who stepped down after more than a decade in the role. Dixon brings significant executive-level financial expertise, with substantial payer, provider, and pharmacy experience across the healthcare landscape.
Before joining Acadia Healthcare, Heather Dixon served as CFO at Everside Health, where she provided strategic direction and oversight of company finances with a focus on growth and innovation within the direct primary and mental health care space. She led Everside Health’s 385 health centers across 34 states, bringing extensive facility-based operational experience to her new position.
Dixon’s career spans multiple sectors within healthcare. She held senior leadership positions at Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., where she served as senior vice president and global controller. Her responsibilities included overseeing accounting functions across the global organization and ensuring financial reporting standards.
Prior to Walgreens, Heather Dixon worked at Aetna, a CVS Health Company, where she served as vice president, controller, and chief accounting officer. This role provided deep exposure to the payer side of healthcare, including understanding insurance operations, risk management, and financial planning for a major health insurance provider.
Dixon serves as an independent board member of Addus HomeCare, where she contributes to governance and serves on the audit committee. She previously served on the board of Signify Health from 2021 through its acquisition by CVS Health, gaining experience in health technology and value-based care models.
Christopher Hunter, CEO of Acadia Healthcare, emphasized Dixon’s qualifications when she joined the company. “Heather is a highly respected senior executive who has a proven track record of strong financial leadership at companies across the healthcare ecosystem,” Hunter stated. “Acadia is building significant momentum in our business, as we are advancing all five key areas of our long-term growth plan to meet the increasing demand for our diversified services across our network of behavioral healthcare facilities.”
Heather Dixon expressed enthusiasm about joining Acadia Healthcare. “I am honored to be named Acadia’s next CFO and build on the Company’s strong financial foundation and leadership as the largest standalone behavioral health company in the nation,” Dixon said. “I look forward to working with Chris and the rest of the leadership team to ensure that we remain well positioned to create value for all our stakeholders while fulfilling our commitment to helping more patients and families in need.”
David Duckworth, the outgoing CFO, worked closely with Dixon in an advisory capacity to support a smooth transition of responsibilities. “It has been a privilege to be part of such an outstanding team over the past 12 years,” Duckworth said. “I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished, including building Acadia’s service line and geographic platforms that we have today.”
Acadia Healthcare also announced organizational changes concurrent with Dixon’s appointment. Larry Harrod, executive vice president of finance, retired from Acadia effective June 30, 2023. His responsibilities were assumed by Tim Sides, who was promoted to senior vice president operations finance. Sides brings more than two decades of financial and industry experience, having served as group CFO at Acadia Healthcare since 2020.
Heather Dixon assumed CFO responsibilities during a period of significant growth for Acadia Healthcare. The company planned to add 670 beds in 2023 through a combination of de novo facilities, joint ventures, and facility expansions, representing substantial capital deployment requiring careful financial oversight.
Heather Dixon joined Acadia Healthcare as chief financial officer on July 10, 2023, succeeding David Duckworth, who stepped down after more than a decade in the role. Dixon brings significant executive-level financial expertise, with substantial payer, provider, and pharmacy experience across the healthcare landscape. Before joining Acadia Healthcare, Heather Dixon served as CFO at Everside…