From the CEO: 9 Questions for 9 Years

June 30, 2025

Written By Dr. Alyson R. Kuroski-Mazzei, DO, DFAPA, FASAM - CEO & Chief Medical Officer

As I celebrate my 9th anniversary with HopeWay, I was asked to answer nine questions about the journey - where we started, what we’ve overcome, and where we’re headed. It has been an honor to lead this organization and witness the impact that we have made together on individuals, families, and our community.

Here are 9 questions to mark 9 meaningful years.

1. What is your favorite memory from the past 9 years at HopeWay?

The day we received our initial licensure. We were so eager to start serving clients that we drove to Raleigh to pick up the license in person rather than wait for it in the mail. The excitement was palpable when our very first client walked over the bridge to begin their healing journey at HopeWay.

2. What is one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned as CEO?

Cultural fit is everything. Building a strong, compassionate, high-quality team starts with hiring people who are genuinely passionate about serving our clients and who align with our mission and values.

3. What mission moment are you most proud of?

One of our very first clients is still under my care today. Supporting her and her family through both challenges and triumphs has been incredibly meaningful. Her journey is a powerful reminder of why we do this life-saving work.

4. What was one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, and how did you overcome it?

Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Making the difficult decision to temporarily close, restructuring our staffing model, and finding ways to maintain team cohesion during such a stressful time were major challenges. Throughout it all, the safety of our clients and staff remained our top priority, as we focused on how to best move forward and continue serving the community.

5. What advice would you give to other CEOs leading a startup?

Prioritize culture from day one. Be a strong advocate for your team, promote transparency, celebrate wins, and foster an environment where excellence and fun can coexist.

6. How has HopeWay evolved since you first joined the organization?

When I began, the building wasn’t finished, we didn’t have a license or accreditation, and our team consisted of just two staff members. Today, we have over 150 team members, we’ve served thousands of clients, and we’ve provided significant financial assistance to help ensure access to care. The impact has been truly humbling.

7. What has surprised you the most about leading a mental health nonprofit?

How difficult insurance reimbursement remains for many individuals with commercial insurance plans. On top of that, Medicaid doesn’t cover adult residential mental health services for those over the age of 21. These are a few of the major barriers for people to access care, and make it especially challenging for organizations to remain financially sustainable.

8. What do you want people to know about HopeWay’s mission?

Our mission is to make HOPE tangible by inspiring mental wellness for all. Through our health equity initiative with Novant Health, we’ve been able to provide access to top-notch psychiatric care for uninsured individuals through the Hope Community Clinic and the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic. Since opening, we’ve also provided an average of $500,000 per year in financial assistance to help offset treatment costs.

9. Where do you envision HopeWay 9 years from now?

I envision expanded services on our adult campus, including new levels of care and tailored programs for specific clinical populations. I also hope to see a robust family program that fully supports the individual in treatment and their loved ones.

About the Author: 

After earning her bachelor of science degree from Benedictine University and medical degree from Midwestern University, Dr. Kuroski-Mazzei completed her general psychiatry residency training at Duke University and a forensic psychiatry residency at UNC-Chapel Hill. She maintains academic appointments with both the UNC School of Medicine and Novant Health. She is triple board certified in psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and addiction medicine.

In 2006, she founded the Forensic Psychiatry Program & Clinic at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill and served as its Director and Director of Training. She continues her national & international forensic psychiatry work through the UNC-Chapel Hill Psychiatry Department. Among other leadership positions, Dr. Kuroski-Mazzei has served as the Medical Director of Quality at Cone Health Behavioral Health Hospital, the Medical Director of Fellowship Hall, a specialty hospital for alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and the Medical Director of the San Diego Professional Group in Southern California.

Dr. Kuroski-Mazzei returned to North Carolina in 2016 to serve as the founding CEO and Chief Medical Officer for HopeWay, a non-profit mental health treatment center in Charlotte.  HopeWay’s mission is to make HOPE tangible by inspiring mental wellness for all.  Dr. Kuroski-Mazzei led the start-up of this organization and maintained its growth and focus on quality and safety from the beginning and throughout the pandemic.  She is a beloved leader, physician, mentor and advocate for her team of over 140 team members and the clients she serves. Under her executive leadership and top notch culture, the organization has thrived and grown to serve children, adolescents and adults who have psychiatric, medical and substance use disorders.  HopeWay shines as a national leader in excellence and evidence-based treatment for mental health illnesses, Veteran’s mental health, eating disorders and addiction treatment. 

In addition, she has held leadership positions for the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, North Carolina Psychiatric Association, Duke University Medical Center, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and Illinois State Osteopathic Medical Society. Dr. Kuroski-Mazzei’s medical and legal research has also been published in leading professional and academic books and peer-reviewed journals. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the North Carolina Psychiatric Association as Immediate Past President. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and a Medical Review Officer.

Dr. Kuroski-Mazzei is an expert in and enjoys working with women’s health issues, mood disorders including Bipolar Disorder, substance use disorders and complex psychopharmacology. With her background in forensic psychiatry, she is also an expert in completing suicide and violence risk assessments, medical malpractice reviews and evaluations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lastly, her main focus for her practice is to diagnose and treat all relevant psychiatric, medical and addiction issues to lead to lasting overall wellness and recovery.

Dr. Kuroski-Mazzei and her husband, Paul, have two sons and a Shih Tzu. She prides herself in being a strong mother, wife and physician executive who successfully balances her personal and professional life. Her passion for returning to North Carolina to lead HopeWay stems from personal family experience with mental health challenges that can, when treated effectively, lead one through recovery to complete personal and professional success.