The Hearth Center for Eating Disorders Names New Leadership
September 10, 2014
COLUMBIA, SC – The Hearth Center for Eating Disorders at the Carolina Children’s Home, announces that it has named Stephen M. Creech, chair of the board and John R. Kessler, Jr. executive director.
Stephen M. Creech, Jr. is an assistant vice president for BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives with nearly 10 years of experience in healthcare administration. Creech is a member of the Columbia Rotary Club and Eat Smart Move More South Carolina. He is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Columbia where he received the Glenn Jacobus Leadership Award.
John R. Kessler, Jr. previously served as The Hearth Center’s marketing vice president and as executive director, he is responsible for all aspects of administering and growing South Carolina’s most comprehensive eating disorders program. Kessler has held senior management and business development positions for Providence Hospitals, the Hospital of Saint Raphael of New Haven, CT, Via Health of Rochester, N.Y. and Lutheran General Health System of Park Ridge, IL. Kessler has served as a board member of the American Marketing Association, the president of the Academy of Health Services Marketing and was the recipient of the Phillip Kotler award for Health Services Marketing. He is also on the Board of the Midlands Housing Trust Fund and the Columbia Sertoma Club.
“Carolina Children’s Home continues its 100-plus years of history of helping South Carolina’s children address mental and physical health needs but shifting its focus to helping children and young adults with eating disorders, which is an underserved population in South Carolina,” said Creech. “As our state’s only residential eating disorder center, I am proud to be leading this organization that in just a short time has focused its resources, strong board leadership and incredible staff to help a number of South Carolinians overcome and cope with their eating disorders.”
For more information on the Hearth Center for Eating Disorders at Carolina Children’s Home, visit www.theheartheals.com or call (803) 787-2306 x 222. Follow The Hearth on Facebook: facebook.com/TheHearthSC.
About CAROLINA CHILDREN’S HOME
The Carolina Children’s Home (CCH) is a private, not for profit organization, which was founded in 1909. Its mission is “to meet the underserved mental and physical needs of children, young adults and their families. CCH supports this with a range of prevention and treatment programs that provide tools and support for maximizing individual potential and transitioning to healthy adulthood.” CCH specifically provides outpatient counseling and eating disorders services through The Hearth Center for Eating Disorders, a comprehensive inpatient and outpatient eating disorder service. CCH is accredited by The Joint Commission and the Council on Accreditation and licensed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
