An executive with experience in behavioral health care providers in the Midwest and Florida is expected to begin his latest role in August as chief executive officer of Mind Springs Health in Western Colorado.

John Sheehan was selected as CEO in concluding a six-month national search, the Mind Springs Health board of directors announced.

Mind Springs Health operates the West Springs Hospital and a residential substance abuse treatment facility in the Grand Valley as well as 13 offices for outpatient treatment in a 10-county region of Western Colorado.

Sheehan succeeds Sharon Raggio, who resigned. Doug Pattison has served as interim CEO since January.

“Mr. Sheehan was our choice to lead our organization as he impressed us with not only his experience and industry knowledge, but with his empathy and compassion for the vulnerable populations Mind Springs Health serves,” said Stefan Bate, chairman of the Mind Springs Health board of directors.

“There are many exciting changes happening with behavioral health services in Colorado and we, as the board, have tremendous confidence in John’s ability to not only lead Mind Springs Health, but to have a strong, positive impact on mental health throughout the state.”

Sheehan has worked for the last year as CEO and president of the Rochester Regional Health Information Organization. The electronic health information exchange serves medical providers and a total of 1.5 million residents in update New York.

Sheehan also worked as CEO of Harbor Toledo, a behavioral health care provider with a total of more than 30 treatment locations in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia.

Prior to that, he worked as vice president of behavioral health services for the BayCare Health System, the largest nonprofit private provider of inpatient care in Florida.