Suzanne Finneran Clifford

Founder and CEO of Inspiring Transformations

Suzanne founded Inspiring Transformations to help organizations and diverse coalitions dramatically improve health, social and economic outcomes. Suzanne previously served as the Senior Vice President of Integrated Primary Care as well as the Vice President of Behavioral Health and CEO of Gallahue Mental Health Services at Community Health Network. She was also appointed by two governors to serve as the Director of Mental Health and Addiction for Indiana where she lead six state hospitals and directed community mental health and addiction services in 92 counties. As Director, she balanced a $367 million budget in a challenging fiscal environment. Her top priorities were evidence-based treatments, employment, youth services and measuring/improving outcomes. Some of her accomplishments include:

• Collaborated with Indiana University and Ball State University on critical research projects and then translated scientific findings into clinical practice

• Demonstrated the value of mental health and substance use disorder treatment which resulted in no budget cuts from the Indiana legislature for DMHA

• Reduced excessive clinical paperwork requirements

• Promoted and secured new funding for critical evidence-based practices

o Obtained agreement for an increased rate for Supported Employment Services

o Significantly expanded systems of care resulting in improved results for children

o Obtained federal Medicaid approval for a children’s mental health waiver

o Obtained federal Medicaid approval of an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) state plan amendment

While serving on the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and as Co-chair of the NRI National Quality and Accountability Committee, Suzanne was active in national mental health and addiction transformation policy. She was selected by the Indianapolis Business Journal as one of the Who’s Who Behind the Scenes in Healthcare. Suzanne also was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash which was the highest honor bestowed by an Indiana governor.

Before accepting the governor’s appointment as the Director of Mental Health and Addiction, Suzanne was employed at Fortune 500 companies including over ten years at Eli Lilly and Company. She held multiple internal consulting and management positions focused on improving outcomes for patients. Examples of her accomplishments include:

• Re-engineered key research processes including discovery, chemical manufacturing and control, contracting with clinical research organizations, toxicology, environmental and clinical trials

• Facilitated cross-functional improvement efforts that accelerated new product development and launches

• Facilitated the development of a successful corporate strategy that encompassed early scientific research, clinical drug development and the implementation of interventions that improved consumer outcomes

• Advised senior executives by identifying and facilitating the resolution of critical issues and trade-off decisions during the corporate business planning process

• Partnered with the leaders of the US Affiliate and the European Region to improve Lilly’s geographic plans

• Facilitated the strategic planning and resource trade-off process for Lilly’s therapeutic business units

Suzanne served on many boards and commissions including:

• The NASMHPD Research Institute’s National Quality and Accountability Committee, Co-Chair

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Board of Directors

• Indiana Biotechnology Entrepreneur Network, Advisory Council

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Regional Leadership Council

• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Board of Directors

• National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Veterans Policy Committee

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Indiana Chapter, Chairman

• NAMI Children’s Policy Committee, National Chairman

• NAMI Education and Information Committee, National Chairman

• National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Adult Policy Committee

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Advocacy Liaison for Indiana

• Mental Health Association in Indiana, Board of Directors

• Governor’s Interagency on Drugs, Chairman

• NAMI Indiana, Advisory Board

• Governor’s Commission for a Drug Free Indiana, Board of Directors

• Governor’s Commission for Abused and Neglected Children, Resources Task Force

• Lt. Governor’s Peak Performance Project, Team Leader for the Children and Families Project

• Medicaid Mental Health Pharmacy Partnership

• Legislative Forensic Diversion Study Committee

• Indiana Health Department’s Early Childhood Team

• Medicaid Managed Care Task Force

Suzanne is a passionate public speaker who presented at numerous conferences including:

• National Women in Government conference

• National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) Outreach Partnership conference

• National Children’s Systems of Care Conference

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) national conferences

• U.S. Department of Labor’s Task Force

• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) conferences

• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Indiana chapter

• Indiana Biotechnology Entrepreneur Network