BCH's first Medical Director of Behavioral Health aims to reduce stigma of mental illness, substance use

Boulder Community Heath (BCH) is proud to introduce its first Medical Director & Chair of the Behavioral Health Service Line, Nadia Haddad, MD.

Dr. Haddad, who is board certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, oversees the Behavioral Health Department, which includes mental health & substance use disorder outpatient and inpatient programs based at Foothills Hospital and Della Cava Family Medical Pavilion. 

“As the Department grows, and we, as a community, recognize the need for excellent, accessible mental health care, BCH created a role for a Medical Director who could help support these goals,” says Dr. Haddad, who began working at BCH in Dec. 2024. 

Raised in Boulder, Dr. Haddad received her Medical Doctorate from University of Colorado School of Medicine and served as Chief Resident during her Psychiatry Residency Program at Stanford University School of Medicine.

As the Medical Director of Mental Health Partners, the community mental health center for Boulder and Broomfield Counties, Dr. Haddad oversaw 20 medical staff (a mix of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) and was a co-lead in the development of UrgentPsych: Mental Health & Substance Use Urgent Care, Boulder County’s first mental health urgent care program. Dr. Haddad also brings experience as an Assistant Clinical Professor within the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and various roles at Centennial Peaks Hospital, including Chief Medical Officer, Chief of Staff, and Clinical Director of Detox & Mental Health.

Dr. Haddad’s philosophy is centered in whole-person care, and she advocates for integrated dual diagnosis (addiction and psychiatry) treatment.

“I hope I inspire others to continue working to reduce the stigma of mental illness and substance use disorders,” she says. “There are few people who aren’t touched in some way by these illnesses, whether themselves or a loved one, and yet there remains so much shame around it that people’s suffering goes on far longer than it should.”

Dr. Haddad's arrival at BCH coincided with the opening of Inpatient Withdrawal Management. These services — critically needed in our community — are co-housed with our psychiatric inpatient unit to offer a therapeutic, safe environment to support co-occurring mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and sleep and bipolar disorders. Our experienced team uses evidence-based medication protocols to ease symptoms and reduce the risks of withdrawal for patients seeking treatment for alcohol, opioid or benzodiazepine detoxification.

Dr. Haddad’s goal is to increase our community's access to care for mental health and substance use disorders, so that people can receive excellent, compassionate care when they need it, without long waitlists or unnecessary hurdles.

“I would like to see mental health and substance use issues treated with as much importance as the physical health issues (our society) feels more comfortable talking about,” says Dr. Haddad.

BCH is proud to offer comprehensive adult mental health treatments via our outpatient clinic, inpatient unit, the emergency department, primary care services and the Center for Interventional Psychiatry (CIP). To learn more, go to bch.org/mentalhealth.