Robert Short, MA

Associate

Robert Short, MA has more than 40 years of healthcare experience with a focus on maintaining regulatory readiness and compliance. His is a subject matter expert in life safety programs, the environment of care, emergency management, including preparation for external reviews such as Joint Commission accreditation surveys, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) inspections, and Ohio Department of Health (DOH) audits.

Mr. Short’s dedicated career in healthcare began at Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare (formerly Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare), one of the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) six regional psychiatric hospitals. Here he initially served as Assistant Director of Activity Therapy, and, over time he advanced through several leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer.

In 2011, he joined the Ohio Department of Mental Health’s Central Office as Deputy Director of Hospital Services. After the department’s merger with the former Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, forming the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), he continued in key leadership roles.

Most recently acting as the Chief of Hospital Services for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) where he led Operations Departments across the hospital system. In 2024, Mr. Short was appointed Acting Deputy Director of Hospital Services, where he oversaw the operation of all six of Ohio’s state-operated inpatient mental health facilities. In this role, he managed a $300 million annual budget, led a workforce of approximately 2,000 staff, and coordinated care for an average daily census of 1,000 patients across the hospital system.

Throughout his career, Mr. Short has maintained a strong leadership presence, particularly in capital project development. He played a pivotal role in the ground-up construction of a new state-of-the-art 208-bed psychiatric hospital in Columbus, Ohio, leading efforts in facility planning, design review, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulatory standards.

Mr. Short holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from The Ohio State University.