Skyland Trail Announces New Chief Medical Officer
ATLANTA Skyland Trail, a nonprofit mental health treatment organization, announced the selection of Neil Puri, MD, as Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Puri joins the organization in August 2026. As CMO, Dr. Puri will provide clinical leadership and oversight for adult and adolescent treatment programs as well as research and patient outcomes analysis and reporting.
“Dr. Puri brings a robust combination of clinical expertise, operational leadership, and a commitment to evidence-based psychiatric care,” says Beth Finnerty, MBA, MHA, Skyland Trail president and CEO. “Working alongside our exceptional clinical team, he will help guide our strategic growth, enhance the quality of care we provide, and ensure we continue meeting the evolving needs of those we serve.”
Dr. Puri is a board-certified psychiatrist with expertise in treatment-resistant disorders, neuromodulation, and emerging therapeutics. He is a proven leader and educator recognized for developing innovative programs, advancing clinical care, guiding multidisciplinary teams in a variety of treatment settings, and teaching about advanced psychiatric topics. He joins Skyland Trail from The Menninger Clinic where he has been a member of the clinical team since 2014, serving in various patient provider and leadership roles, including as Medical Director of Outpatient Services and Medical Director of the Center for Brain Stimulation.
Board certified in psychiatry, Dr. Puri earned both his bachelor’s degree and medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed a residency in psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and a fellowship at George Washington University in Washington, DC. A respected educator, Dr. Puri previously served as an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and as an instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer is an endowed position honoring Skyland Trail founder, Charles B. West. With West as founding Board Chair, Skyland Trail began providing mental health services in Atlanta in 1989. Residential and day treatment programs treat adults ages 18 and older and adolescents ages 14 to 17 with psychiatric disorders such as major depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, and thought disorders.
As a nonprofit organization, Skyland Trail uses charitable donations from the community to provide financial aid to eligible patients and families. Financial aid awards help remove financial barriers to accessing and completing the nationally recognized treatment programs.