Special to MDN
South Texas Health System Behavioral, the first behavioral health facility with private inpatient treatment in the Rio Grande Valley, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Pendlebury as Chief Executive Officer, effective May 10, 2021. In her role, Pendlebury is responsible for leading the facility’s staff in delivering quality, compassionate care to behavioral patients in the Rio Grande Valley, as well as its surrounding areas. Pendlebury brings with her more than 40 years of expertise in the behavioral health field.
“It is a privilege to have been invited to join STHS Behavioral and get the opportunity to work closely with leaders in the Rio Grande Valley community to strengthen our efforts to ensure people can access the behavioral healthcare they need,” says Pendlebury. “I am so looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of the expansion of behavioral health services alongside our hospital system and community partners to ensure timely, affordable access to behavioral healthcare for all.”
The facility, which has been in operation for more than 30 years, offers behavioral health services tailored to children, adolescents, adults and seniors. With 134 beds, South Texas Health System Behavioral is the largest inpatient program in South Texas. Treatment programs are designed to treat a wide range of behavioral health conditions and addictive disorders. Staff members work across a multi-disciplinary team to develop and deliver individualized treatment plans to lead patients on the path to recovery. Additionally, programs such as the intensive outpatient program can assist with ongoing improvement of health and help an individual through crisis.
“Sharon has the extensive experience, deep passion and unique understanding of behavioral health to lead South Texas Health System Behavioral into the future,” says Chuck Stark, Regional Vice President, South Texas Health System. “In the Rio Grande Valley, there’s a strong sense of community, and with Sharon’s leadership, we look forward to working with providers, local and state government departments and leaders, and local organizations to make our facility more accessible to all as we work to support the entire community.”
Prior to joining South Texas Health System Behavioral, Pendlebury served as the program director for Senior Behavioral Health Services for Banner Health in Northern Colorado, where she led the clinical, administrative, financial, statutory and regulatory development functions for the service line. Before that, she was the Chief Executive Officer at Clear View Behavioral Health in Johnstown, Colorado where she and her team were recruited to reinstate the facility to full licensure with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, CMS and the Office of Behavioral Health and were successful in doing so.
Earlier in her career, Pendlebury served as the administrator for Behavioral Health Services at Cheyenne Regional Health System in Cheyenne, Wyoming; interim program director at Exempla Lutheran Senior Behavioral Health Unit in Wheat Ridge, Colorado; program director at North Colorado Medical Center Behavioral Health in Greeley, Colorado; and director of Medical and Psychiatric Social Work Teams at Longmont United Hospital in Longmont, Colorado.
Pendlebury earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from University of Salford in Salford, Greater Manchester, England and her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Nursing from University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England.
