Teresa Bertsch, MD

he Health & Fitness Award recognizes an individual dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our communities. This year’s recipient, Dr. Teresa Bertsch, has made an extraordinary impact on mental health access and clinician wellness across the state. As Chief Medical Officer and Chief Wellbeing Officer for The NARBHA Institute, Dr. Bertsch has led efforts to enhance follow-up care after hospitalizations and emergency visits, while also strengthening support systems for healthcare providers.

She founded the Early Career Psychiatry Academy, a mentorship program equipping psychiatric nurse practitioners with the confidence and skills to serve rural and underserved communities, and currently leads Arizona’s Public Psychiatry Academy, a telementoring program helping early-career psychiatric practitioners navigate the challenges of Medicaid and community mental health settings.

Her influence extends even further — she helped develop Northern Arizona’s first psychiatric residency program, serves on the Wellbeing Collaborative of Arizona Health Professionals, and champions national initiatives like the Leading with Kindness program.