Linda Rosenberg, MSW

Director of External Relations, Columbia University Department of Psychiatry

Linda is a healthcare architect and reformer, advancing care for people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. She helped secure passage of the federal mental health and addiction parity law and played a critical role in ensuring that the Affordable Care Act addresses the needs of individuals with behavioral health disorders.

Prior to joining Columbia Psychiatry, Rosenberg spent the past 15 years as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Behavioral Health, which is the voice of the nation’s safety net mental health and addictions treatment organizations. As a premier advocacy organization for prevention, early intervention, and evidence-based treatment and services, the National Council is grounded in its commitment that all Americans have access to comprehensive, high-quality behavioral health services that affords every opportunity for recovery.

Rosenberg grew the National Council membership to 3,000 organizations, broadened the association’s scope and revenue, and helped secure various governmental policy efforts, including passage of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and the Excellence in Mental Health Act. She advanced the integration of behavioral health and primary care ensuring that the Affordable Care Act addressed individuals with mental illnesses and addictions, developed a National Council Practice Improvement Division offering clinical, leadership, management, business, and health technology programs, and introduced Mental Health First Aid in the U.S.A. During her time at the National Council, more than 2 million Americans have been trained in Mental Health First Aid.

Linda is a certified social worker, family therapist, and psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner with more than 30 years of experience.