The Park City Center for Public Policy

Russ Petrella

As president of Magellan Behavioral Health, Russ Petrella leads the company’s employer, health plan, and public sector behavioral health business under a single management structure.  Prior to his role as president, Russ held the position of chief operating officer for public sector solutions. In this role, he oversaw the company's activities in the public sector mental health and substance abuse arena, including programs serving Medicaid recipients, uninsured individuals and families involved in the child welfare system through contracts with state and local governments. Prior to assuming this position, Russ served as Magellan’s senior vice president of behavioral health operations for the public sector division, and previously, as senior vice president of marketing and development for the division.

 Russ has more than 30 years experience as a clinician, provider and administrator of public mental health and substance abuse services. He spent seven years with the Michigan Department of Mental Health and more than ten years with the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, holding positions as director of mental health and substance abuse service and director of forensic services.

 Russ received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Syracuse University and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. He is board-certified in forensic psychology. Russ is a past president of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, past president of the American Board of Forensic Psychology and has served as chairman of the State Mental Health Forensic Directors Association.