Tom Starling shares excitement to elevate Rogers’ advocacy efforts

10/12/22 12:40:pm

headshot - Copy (2).jpg Tom Starling, EdD, executive director, community strategic partnerships, says he’s excited for the opportunity to take Rogers’ commitment to mental health advocacy to the next level.

“I think that our advocacy really does commit us to having some skin in the game in promoting and benefitting mental health for our patients, their families, and the communities that we serve in all the states where Rogers exists,” says Tom.

To that end, Tom is working to build coalitions at the local and national level.

“I’m connecting with elected officials, community leaders, trade associations, and some of the non-traditional partners like chambers, the bar association, and the Society of Human Resource Management,” he explains. “On the national level, I’m working with NAMI, Mental Health America, and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. I’m trying to meet all the state commissioners for the departments of mental health, some of whom are at cabinet level positions. I want to see how Rogers can help influence and change behavioral health.”

While he isn’t specifically seeking patient referrals, Tom says part of his role is spreading the word about the mental health and addiction work at Rogers.

“We are all ambassadors for Rogers,” he says. “With 21 clinics in 10 states, we should have a strong voice like some other national organizations because of all that we have to offer. I’m very excited about the opportunity to do that.”

Joining Rogers in May 2022, Tom says it’s easy to explain why he wanted to be part of the organization.

“The leadership, culture, reputation, research focus, and documentation of how patients improve are why I accepted this position,” he says. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know Rogers’ history, and I hope to share more about that.”

Tom started his career as a hospital chaplain for five years, then worked in university administration for 10 years. He brings a long history of leading non-profit organizations to his new role at Rogers.

“I was a non-profit CEO for 22 years,” he says. “I ran a United Way, and an Alzheimer’s association, and for the last 13 years, I led Mental Health America of the MidSouth. We grew our MHA affiliate to be the largest in the South. We had an annual concert at the Ryman Auditorium where music talent donated their time, and that was fun. I did advocacy, diplomacy, mediation, coalition building, met with donor prospects, and worked with pharmaceutical companies, many of which have an advocacy arm. I talked with them about what’s working in other states and model legislation.”

Tom is excited to help Rogers fulfill its not-for-profit mission of increasing awareness and improving the field of behavioral health.

“It’s bringing together my past in ministry and education,” he says. “In the non-profit field, this is where I feel like we’re clothing the naked and feeding the hungry, serving the poor. It’s those vestiges of ministry that really drive me every morning to get up and remind people that there is no health without mental health. If we’re going to help people flourish and to be their best possible, we need to educate people on how to take care of their whole self.”

Tom recently enjoyed participating in Mobilize Recovery Across America — a national bus tour stopping in cities and towns across the country. To learn more about Mobilize Recovery and to see photos, please read this Insight story.

Getting to know Tom

Tom and Ricky Skaggs.jpg Tom works remotely just outside Nashville, Tennessee, where he has lived since 1994 after moving from Texas.

Tom is happily married to his wife of 24 years, DeAnn. They met at church, and both attended graduate school at Vanderbilt University.

The Starlings have a 22-year-old daughter, Sidney, who just graduated from college with a degree in film and digital media. Their 18-year-old son, Will, is studying computer science and hoping to get his MBA in four years. They have a 2-year-old bichon and shih tzu mix, Coco, who keeps them entertained. Tom says they enjoy spoiling her.

Tom hunting.jpg Tom is an outdoorsman and loves to fish. He’s looking forward to trying to catch northern pikes and muskies during his trips to Wisconsin. He also likes to hunt, although he identifies with Elmer Fudd because he considers himself not very good at it. Tom says he’s still eating sausage from the wild hog shown in the photo that he got in 2019.

Sweet Potatoes 2.jpg Tom is also an avid gardener and is very proud of his vegetables. He has entered several of them in the state fair, most notably, his sweet potatoes, which have garnered him the title of “Sweet Potato King” five years in a row. He says his onions and peanuts have also done well.

Tom says he and DeAnn will be trying to take a vacation within the next couple of months and aren’t sure right now if it will be a professional football game, college football game, or a beach. Tom says they love the Tennessee Titans, and he will learn to love the Green Bay Packers.