Jasleen Chhatwal, MD
Jasleen Chhatwal, MD, MBBS, CPE, DFAPA
Jasleen Chhatwal, MBBS, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist based in Tucson, Arizona, with more than 15 years of clinical experience treating complex mental health conditions across inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings. She serves as Chief Medical Officer and Director of Mood Recovery at Sierra Tucson, where she oversees clinical services and leads multidisciplinary care teams delivering evidence-based, whole-person treatment.
In addition to her clinical leadership at Sierra Tucson, Dr. Chhatwal serves as Behavioral Health Medical Director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice, contributing to system-level strategy and quality improvement in behavioral health care delivery. She is also deeply engaged in nonprofit and community leadership, serving as President of the Board of Directors for HOPE, Inc. and as a Board Member of Integrative Touch.
Dr. Chhatwal holds academic appointments as Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Tucson, where she is involved in education and mentorship of medical students and trainees. A respected leader in organized psychiatry, she is a Past President of the Arizona Psychiatric Society and currently serves as Area 7 Representative to the American Psychiatric Association Assembly and AEC, advocating for psychiatrists and patients at the national level.
Her clinical and professional interests include integrated care models, early intervention, complex mood disorders, global mental health, and evidence-based approaches that thoughtfully combine psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and integrative treatments.
Don Fowls, MD
Don Fowls, MD, FAPA
Don Fowls, MD is a nationally recognized psychiatrist, health care consultant, and executive leader based in Arizona. After completing his psychiatry residency at UCLA, he practiced clinically before transitioning into senior leadership roles in behavioral health, including serving as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Business Development for major managed care organizations.
Dr. Fowls is the founder of Don Fowls & Associates, where he provides strategic consulting on behavioral health integration, payment reform, and innovative care models across the country. His work focuses on improving systems of care for high-needs populations and advancing the integration of behavioral health with general medical services.
A long-standing leader in organized psychiatry, Dr. Fowls is a Past President of his state psychiatric society and has served as Chair of the Society’s Government Affairs Committee, where he played a key role in shaping policy priorities, legislative strategy, and physician advocacy efforts.
Dr. Fowls is the founder of Don Fowls & Associates, where he provides strategic consulting on behavioral health integration, payment reform, and innovative care models across the country. His work focuses on improving systems of care for high-needs populations and advancing the integration of behavioral health with general medical services.
A long-standing leader in organized psychiatry, Dr. Fowls is a Past President of his state psychiatric society and has served as Chair of the Society’s Government Affairs Committee, where he played a key role in shaping policy priorities, legislative strategy, and physician advocacy efforts.
James MacKenzie, DO
James MacKenzie, DO
James G. MacKenzie, DO is a psychiatrist and nationally recognized physician advocate with extensive experience in mental health policy, legislative strategy, and systems-level reform. He is a Past President of the Illinois Psychiatric Society and has played a central role in advancing landmark behavioral health legislation in Illinois, including the state’s 2015 law authorizing prescriptive authority for psychologists and the 2020 Illinois Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) law, which made Illinois the first state to require Medicaid reimbursement for psychiatric collaborative care in primary care settings.
Dr. MacKenzie’s work focuses on pragmatic, behind-the-scenes advocacy, coalition building, and long-term legislative strategy to expand access to mental health care while supporting physician leadership in policy spaces. He frequently speaks to medical students and resident physicians on effective physician advocacy, navigating relationships with lobbyists, and avoiding common pitfalls when balancing personal advocacy with institutional roles.
In addition to his policy work, Dr. MacKenzie serves as an appointee to the Illinois State Medical Board (IDFPR), where he is actively involved in physician licensure and disciplinary oversight. He also holds academic and clinical leadership roles as Director of Clinical Education and Relations at Midwestern University and Director of Pediatric Collaborative Care at Advocate Children’s Hospital.
Dr. MacKenzie’s work focuses on pragmatic, behind-the-scenes advocacy, coalition building, and long-term legislative strategy to expand access to mental health care while supporting physician leadership in policy spaces. He frequently speaks to medical students and resident physicians on effective physician advocacy, navigating relationships with lobbyists, and avoiding common pitfalls when balancing personal advocacy with institutional roles.
In addition to his policy work, Dr. MacKenzie serves as an appointee to the Illinois State Medical Board (IDFPR), where he is actively involved in physician licensure and disciplinary oversight. He also holds academic and clinical leadership roles as Director of Clinical Education and Relations at Midwestern University and Director of Pediatric Collaborative Care at Advocate Children’s Hospital.
Rachel Johnston, MPA
Rachel Johnston, MPA
Rachel Johnston, MPA, is an experienced health policy advocate and leader who currently serves as Regional Director for State Government Relations at the American Psychiatric Association (APA). In this role, she works with state policymakers and stakeholders to advance mental health policy priorities, engage legislative audiences, and support strategic advocacy initiatives.
Rachel has more than fifteen years of experience in public policy, communications, and advocacy across health-related domains and has served in leadership roles in nonprofit and government-affiliated efforts focused on behavioral health, women’s health, and community engagement. She holds a Master of Public Administration in Health Policy and Management and has been active in APA’s regional and national policy efforts.