Harden named medical director

CORTLAND » Family Counseling Services (FCS) has appointed Dr. Keith L. Harden as medical director for the agency.

Harden joined FCS in June 2016.

“We are very excited that Dr. Harden will bring both his medical and leadership skills to the agency as our new medical director,” said CEO Lisa Hoeschele. “We are fortunate to have someone of his caliber serve in this key position.”

Harden graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga. and completed his residency in family practice at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.

He worked in family practice and emergency care settings in Georgia and Florida including nine years as a trackside physician for Daytona International Speedway.

In addition to his work at FCS, for the past 15 years Harden has served as a physician for the Oneida Healthcare Emergency Department.

“With over 20 years in the medical field, I’ve seen so many negative outcomes in those who are mentally ill and chemically dependent including suicides, homicides and opioid/heroin overdose deaths. At this point in my medical career, I want to contribute more than ever to help achieve positive outcomes for our clients,” said Harden.

Harden will be instrumental with the agency’s new program offering primary care for individuals receiving behavioral health services. He will help launch a new behavioral health clinic in Morrisville and oversee the expansion of services in the Southern Tier as FCS completes the merger with Family & Children’s Society, based in Broome County.

Family Counseling Services is a non-profit organization serving Cortland and Madison counties. FCS offers mental health, chemical dependency, and schoolbased counseling, as well as prevention services through its prevention division, Cortland Prevention Resources. The Cortland LGBTQ Resource Center is a division of FCS and provides services and resources to members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

Keith Harden