The Rise of the Fractional C-suite Executive in Behavioral Health
By Laura Lovett
September 25, 2026
A C-suite role can be demanding, but a growing trend in behavioral health is embracing fractional or part-time executives. This arrangement benefits both providers and businesses, offering seasoned leadership without the overhead of a full-time executive salary. It provides flexibility for leaders to manage multiple ventures and allows smaller organizations to access expert guidance.
The industry's evolution, particularly in financial leadership, has fostered this model. According to Kim Harrison, Chief Financial Officer at Trailmark, "As the behavioral health industry matures with increased private equity and corporate involvement, I've observed more opportunities for fractional work." She explains that small- to medium-sized businesses often require executive-level expertise in financial strategy, accounting, KPIs, cash flow management, and revenue cycle management.
Trailmark, for instance, offers Harrison's services as a fractional CFO to healthcare providers.
However, this trend extends beyond finance. Provider organizations also employ part-time Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) or Clinical Affairs Officers who are practicing physicians. These leaders bring valuable clinical expertise up to date, benefiting the organization.
In this BHB+ Update, we delve into:
- The most in-demand fractional C-suite roles across behavioral health.
- Reasons companies opt for fractional executives over full-time hires.
- Challenges and trade-offs associated with hiring part-time executive talent.