Brittney Dobson-Ellis, MA, AMFT

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

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Brittney Dobson-Ellis is an executive leader specializing in behavioral health system design, public sector strategy, and performance improvement. Her expertise spans managed care operations, compliance frameworks, and integrated behavioral health services for populations with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorder (SUD), and co-occurring conditions. 

At Health Management Associates (HMA), Brittney partners with public sector and healthcare organizations to navigate complex regulatory environments and operational transformation initiatives. She focuses on improving access, strengthening performance, ensuring compliance, and driving sustainable change across behavioral health systems. 

Before joining HMA, Brittney was assistant director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for Stanislaus County, where she led executive operations for a countywide behavioral health department. In that role, she established the county’s first Managed Care and Provider Relations Division, integrated Medi-Cal mental health and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System oversight under one structure, and aligned strategic planning with policy reforms to improve value-based care outcomes. 

As a behavioral health system architect, Brittney directed large-scale organizational restructuring to unify crisis, outpatient, substance use, and administrative functions. Her efforts improved provider network adequacy and enhanced access for Medi-Cal-eligible and underinsured populations through data-driven decision-making and equity-focused strategies. 

Known for strategic leadership in public governance, Brittney translated state and federal policy into actionable operational strategies, reducing implementation risks and fostering cross-sector collaboration with governing bodies, hospitals, law enforcement, and community partners. She has successfully managed cultural change, fiscal accountability, and policy alignment initiatives affecting millions in public sector budgets. 

Her depth in quality and compliance oversight includes designing utilization management frameworks, quality improvement protocols, and performance monitoring systems that strengthened accountability while optimizing patient outcomes. Through evidence-based practices and operational efficiency, Brittney delivered measurable improvements in service delivery and regulatory compliance. 

Brittney earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Touro Worldwide, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Sierra Nevada College, and an Associate of Arts in Psychology/Communications from Sierra College. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the State of California.