What’s in a name?  For Dr. Christiian Storm Credle, Mazzoni Center’s new Director of Behavioral Health Services, it says a lot about the person – and the professional – that he is.

The “Storm” part is almost self-explanatory.  In his presence, you feel the energy of a storm that promises to leave a difference – and in his case, a very positive one, in its wake.  What might be less evident is the third “i” in his first name.  No, that isn’t a typo. And, indeed, Dr. Credle appears to have that third “eye” described in eastern spiritual practices as a sign of extraordinary insight and enlightenment.

Dr. Credle, or Storm as he likes to be called, began his tenure leading Mazzoni Center’s Behavioral Health Department on July 1, bringing with him a vision to advance integrated care and build strong, meaningful, and impactful relationships, both within the Department’s staff and with the community that Mazzoni Center serves.

“A lot of the suffering that people experience is because of the relationships they have or the lack of relationships that they have, the trauma they’ve had with relationship to other people in the past,” says Credle, “and a lot of the ways I see health are in building community and connection.”

“We’re just thrilled to have Dr. Credle on board,” says Dr. Stacey Trooskin, Mazzoni Center’s Executive Medical Officer. “He brings strong experience working with the LGBTQ+ community and a passion for integrated care and addressing disparities in the availability of quality behavioral health services that are core to our mission and vital to our community.”

Storm brings with him a perfect meld of leader and collaborator.  A native of New Jersey, he attended Rutgers as an undergraduate and was a member of the Rutgers Marching Scarlet Knights band, first playing bass drum but eventually serving as Field Major, leading the marching band. With a background in musical theatre, he relished the chance to be part of a great ensemble, valuing the opportunity to perform with others. “I love connections and building things together,” he says.

“I’m so excited to bring on Christiian, especially now as we work to integrate our model of care,” explains Sultan Shakir, Mazzoni Center’s President and Executive Officer. “The goal is to ensure that our patients and clients have access not only to a broad range of services, but services that are connected, easy to access, and integrated to provide the highest level of care to the community.”

Dr. Credle comes to Mazzoni Center having most recently served as the Lead Psychologist in Mosaic Medical Center for LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness at AIDS Care Group, where he supervised therapy staff and performed individual and group therapy. A Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), he received his doctorate from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington DC.

Storm is excited to be at Mazzoni Center because of the opportunities he sees to advance the Center’s model of integrated care. “I’ve felt it.  I’ve seen the impact of integrated care and how helpful it can be,” he says. “I know how helpful it is for patients for your medical and behavioral health providers to know one another, to have a team of people who are taking care of you.” For Dr. Credle, that importantly includes a strong commitment to providing access to care for all.  “I want to ensure that everyone understands they have a place to go, and, whether uninsured or underinsured, that’s not going to affect the quality of care they receive, that they can walk into the waiting room, and there is someone there that cares about them.”

While he’ll be at the helm of the department, with many supervisory and administrative responsibilities, Dr. Credle cherishes the opportunities that he will still have to provide direct patient care, balancing his leadership role with his commitment to continue maintaining a client-facing presence, providing therapy to his own caseload of patients.  “That’s why I am a psychologist,” he says.  “It’s nourishing, rewarding, and beautiful.”