Financial leadership at Acadia Healthcare Heather Dixon takes the helm as CFO
The appointment of Heather Dixon, Acadia Healthcare’s new chief financial officer, marks a significant milestone for the behavioral health leader as it accelerates an ambitious growth agenda. Effective July 10, 2023, Heather Dixon brings a wealth of financial and operational experience from Everside Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Aetna, positioning Acadia Healthcare to execute its long-term strategy with renewed vigor.
Acadia Healthcare is advancing all five pillars of its growth plan to meet rising demand for diversified behavioral health services. With a network of roughly 250 facilities, about 11,100 beds and operations across 39 states, the company is focused on expanding capacity and revenue. Under recent leadership changes, management has committed to bold targets, including plans to add hundreds of beds and a goal to double revenue by 2028. As CFO, Heather Dixon will play a central role in aligning capital allocation, financial reporting and operational finance to support those objectives.
Dixon’s prior role as chief financial officer at Everside Health gave her direct experience overseeing a large, facility-based care platform and driving financial strategy across 385 health centers in 34 states. Her earlier senior positions at Walgreens Boots Alliance and Aetna provide deep payer, provider and pharmacy domain knowledge that will be invaluable as Acadia Healthcare continues to diversify services and form strategic partnerships.
The transition also includes continuity at the finance function, with outgoing CFO David Duckworth remaining involved to ensure a smooth handover. This thoughtful succession reflects the board’s commitment to stable leadership while pursuing accelerated growth and enhanced patient care.
For stakeholders, the selection of Heather Dixon signals confidence in Acadia Healthcare’s financial stewardship and ability to scale responsibly. Her blend of operational insight and accounting leadership aligns with Acadia’s mission to serve more patients and families in need, while creating long-term value for investors, employees and communities. The company’s reinforced finance leadership comes at a pivotal moment as it expands capacity and executes on an ambitious roadmap for the future.
Subsequent career note: Dixon was later named President and Chief Operating Officer of Addus HomeCare
