Behavioral Healthcare Corporation Leadership Team

 

 

Pam Burkholder

Pam Burkholder

Administrative Coordinator

Pam was born and raised in Lancaster County and graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School. Before joining Behavioral Healthcare Corporation, Pam worked at St. Joseph Hospital (partial, inpatient, and outpatient services) and Lancaster Regional Medical Center (inpatient). She first worked with Eric Eshleman (BHC’s President & CEO) 16 years ago when he hired her at St. Joseph Hospital. She joined the team at BHC in 2014, coming “full circle.” Pam specializes in exceptional customer service. She is passionate about educating the public on mental illness and walks every year for DES Suicide Prevention (Detect Early Signs).

What would Pam tell a friend who was considering seeking mental health services?

“Mental health is essential to overall health. Therapy can give you the tools to keep mentally healthy, just as a physician gives you the tools to keep physically healthy.”

Charlene Eshleman - CFO

Charlene Eshleman - RN, CNS

Chief Financial Officer, Psychotherapist

Charlene grew up in the Hershey/Palmyra area in Pennsylvania. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing. In her 33 year career, Charlene’s work has included St. Joseph Hospital, an instructor at the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, outpatient behavioral health and private practice. As a home health nurse Charlene also developed and implemented an in-home psychiatric program. Her areas of expertise include geriatrics and grief therapy. She is passionate about learning how the body and mind interface. Charlene identified David Nutter, MD, and patient teachers who encouraged insightful processes as making significant contributions to her career.

What would Charlene tell a friend who was considering seeking mental health services?

“A therapeutic connection can make all the difference in the world.”

Eric Eshleman - CEO

Eric Eshleman - MEd

Chief Executive Officer, Psychotherapist

Eric is originally from, and grew up in, Lancaster County. He grew up in a family that emphasized the importance of making a contribution to others and the community. Eric earned an AA in Business from Franklin & Marshall College before going on to earn a BA in Clinical Psychology and an MEd in Counseling Psychology and Education, both from Millersville University. In a career that spans 36 years, Eric has worked in inpatient mental health, acute mental health partial, intensive outpatient, outpatient, behavioral medicine and hospital-based emergency room evaluation services. He is passionate about psycho-education as one of the best interventions. Eric understands that an individual’s problems might be a symptom of a larger system issue. His areas of expertise include thought, mood and personality disorders. He credits his parents for instilling his beliefs and values; clinical mentors David Nutter, MD; Anthony Russo, MD; and Donald F. Hutchings, PhD; and administrative mentor William Bender, LCSW.

What would Eric tell a friend who was considering seeking mental health services?

“Psychotherapy is one of the very few opportunities to have a relationship that is entirely about you, a chance to learn about yourself in ways that may otherwise not be possible.”

Walquidia 'Wallie' Jarrell - RN

Director of Nursing

Wallie grew up in Manhattan, New York, and lived in or around Lancaster County for sixteen years.

Prior to becoming a nurse, Wallie worked as a medical assistant in a primary care setting focusing on the needs of vulnerable populations such as newly arriving immigrants, the homeless, and the working poor who are under-insured or not insured at all. This position was very humbling and opened the pathway to working with individuals who struggle with mental illness.

As a registered nurse, Wallie has worked in a variety of medical settings including inpatient hospice, hematology/oncology, homecare, inpatient psych, and orthopedics. In addition to obtaining her nursing degree from Brandywine Hospital, she has a Commercial Driver’s License to drive tractor trailers, and also holds certificates in both Mig and Tig welding.

Helping people is what she is most passionate about. Wallie is a very empathetic and compassionate person especially toward vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children. She has always had an interest in mental health and enjoys helping people discover their resiliency and inner strength. Working in a variety of settings as a staff nurse, especially during COVID and then transitioning into management has given Wallie a better understanding and appreciation for the staff she manages. She believes that the majority of nurses are dedicated, compassionate, and hard-working professionals and are in nursing simply because they care. “Caring is our driving force.”

In 10 years, Wallie hopes to be living in the mountains of Panama with her husband and their dog. She would like to volunteer her time between a dog sanctuary and orphanage.

One thing Wallie might tell a friend who was considering seeing a therapist or seeking other mental health services:

Give it a try; Invest in yourself and learn how to live your best version. Learn how to live the life you always thought was out of reach.”

Tom Kennedy - Director of Administrative Services

Tom Kennedy, BA

Director of Administrative Operations

Tom grew up in Chambersburg, PA and has been in Lancaster since 1998. Tom graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and has worked in the mental health field for since 2001, previously working in a mental health residential facility through Community Services Group. Tom enjoys the diversity of the mental health field and learning from the issues encountered. He joined Behavioral Healthcare Corporation in 2007.

What would Tom tell a friend who was considering seeking mental health services?

“It’s okay to seek those services. There is nothing to lose in seeing if it’s helpful.”

Dr. Kimberly Lovelock, PsyD

Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Director

Dr. Lovelock was raised in Germany for a time and then in Central Florida, where she completed her early education through undergraduate degree. In 2001, Dr. Lovelock moved from Orlando, FL to Philadelphia PA, just days after the 9/11 tragedies. Her eyes were opened to the realities of what a diagnosis of chronic and persistent/serious mental illness entails for most individuals living with it every day and decided to pursue graduate school to increase her skill and ability to effectively provide treatment for individuals with these diagnoses.

While still in FL, she earned a BA in Psychology at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Lovelock received her PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in 2013, along the way obtaining an MS in Clinical Psychology and an MS Clinical Health Psychology and Counseling, also from PCOM. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia and completed her post-doctoral residency at Philhaven, where she served as the Team Leader for an ACT Team, and then as the Senior Clinical Director for a busy Outpatient Clinic.

Before joining our team in 2022, Dr. Lovelock intentionally sought out opportunities to both train and work in a variety of settings and roles to better equip herself to work with individuals diagnosed with chronic and persistent mental illness. She has worked in residential, community mental health, behavioral health insurance (as a clinical care manager), behavioral health inpatient and outpatient care, research, and private practice.

Areas of treatment specialty include work with adults to treat anxiety disorders, mood disorders, cultural diversity issues, personality disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and the psychological sequelae that develop as a result of comorbid medical issues or complications. Dr. Lovelock also treats issues related to disordered eating, family difficulties, parenting challenges, life transitions, personal growth, Women’s issues, and spiritual issues that can develop.

One thing Dr. Lovelock might tell a friend who was considering seeing a therapist or seeking other mental health services:

“You are allowed to understand yourself, the reasons for your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, and to have them validated. You are also allowed to free yourself from the patterns that are keeping you stuck. The work that you do with the right therapist can help you to gain new understanding about how to heal and could change your life in ways you might not be able to see in the moment, but they will reveal themselves as you walk, step by step.”

Catherine 'Cat' Minnerly - BSW, SHRM-CP

Director of Human Resources

Cat was born in England and at 2 years old was brought to Lancaster by an American soldier. She was raised by a Pennsylvania Dutch family and a British mother. Having the responsibility that comes with being the oldest of 5 children was one of the biggest reasons that Cat went into Social Work. She earned her BA in Social Work at Millersville University and did her Senior Placement with New Choices/New Options. Cat has always believed that volunteering is a responsibility only to be trumped by raising children. Because of this, she has volunteered with numerous nursing homes, Gate house for Men, Arch Street Center, YWCA’s Sexual Assault Prevention & Counseling Center and Hospice of Lancaster County. She has taken off a few years in order to spend more time with her two children, but hopes to get back into the volunteering world as soon as possible.

What is one thing she might tell a friend who was considering seeing a therapist of seeking other mental health services?

“Seek therapists who empower. Therapists should act like life ‘tool boxes’. They teach you how to use the ‘tools’ available to you. You then have the freedom to decide which tool is best for you. Empowerment is an extremely valuable gift.”

Thomas Scarsella, BS

Director of Mobile Social Rehabilitation

Tom grew up in Bushkill, PA and the Scotland School for Veteran’s Children. He attended East Stroudsburg and Mansfield State Colleges. Before joining Behavioral Healthcare Corporation in 2015, Tom worked at Polyclinic Medical Center, with Home Care Companies, and in the insurance industry. Tom appreciates making the most of every opportunity in life and likes working where he can make a difference in people’s lives.

What would Tom tell a friend who was considering seeking mental health services?

“Don’t be shy. Everyone has moments of need that experienced professionals are equipped to handle.”