Inside the Greek mythology, there are many disorders that can be cured by medicinal treatment or through discussing the age-old acquired wisdom. But, concerning the mental illness, it was considered that ailments related to the psyche were a direct impact by the angry gods.
Knowing this assumption, one might find such considerations to be the walk of the past and might also roll their eyes into the contemporary age. However, a significant message from the Greeks had been the sheer resilience and willingness to weather the storms. Be it the Trojan War or the Achilles heel that transformed the prosthetic industry; Greeks have continually exemplified the true meaning of wisdom, bravery, and loyalty.
Such exemplification of leadership skills has twirled multiple industries of the healthcare sector, and Mental illness has been a prominent one. Knowing these developments, an outstanding leader reshaping the rehabilitation center while paving the way for quality treatment of every addicted individual is Francesco Del Governatore.
He is an inclusive leader and a well-decorated corporate, walking on the moral codes of the organization’s core values and ushering a ray of hope to all those who believe in transforming the world for the better. As the CEO of Vita Recovery, Francesco is scaling the tide with enthusiasm and a goal-oriented approach driving the workflow to its desired success.
Let’s dive into the interview highlights and learn the footsteps of Francesco that brought Vita Recovery to the spotlight!
Francesco, please brief us about your journey as the Chief Executive Officer of Vita Recovery.
Since I was young, I’ve been very altruistic and passionate about helping others, and I knew that I could continue my life by creating opportunities and paths to help people. Today, I have the opportunity to work in healthcare, which gives me the chance to fulfil what I believe is my life’s purpose of helping others.
My education and professional experience in business development began in the infrastructure industry, where I oversaw the global development of roads, highways, bridges, and tunnels. However, I always dreamed of working in the healthcare space, where I could contribute directly to helping people. I was finally able to realize that dream in 2020 when I became a Board Member and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of an innovative mental wellness clinic called GIA Miami.
Although we opened in September 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to successfully launch and help dozens of clients in our first year alone with depression, anxiety, and addiction issues using our revolutionary Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) technology. After this early success, I was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in November 2020. I was then poised to launch Vita Recovery, a specialized addiction treatment program, this past year.
What are the core values upon which Vita Recovery is built, and what is its mission?
Our organization is built upon the core values of providing the highest quality mental health and wellness care that psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and neurology can offer. We embrace a comprehensive, whole-mind-body approach to mental wellness that also incorporates the latest scientific discoveries in brain stimulation technology to treat complex conditions including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, and more. Our primary mission is to empower our clients to cultivate mental wellness for the long term by using individually tailored treatment strategies designed to meet each person’s unique needs and goals.
Tell us more about Vita Recovery’s vision and the various rehabilitation programs it offers for its clients in the rehabilitation industry.
Vita Recovery operates on the belief that everyone deserves to recover from addiction. We understand that recovery is a process that often requires multiple stages of professional support. Our vision is to provide clients with the tools and guidance that they need to be successful on their recovery journey. We pride ourselves on creating a warm, comfortable environment with flexible scheduling options so that every one of our clients feels at home with our professional team.
Vita Recovery offers both a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP). Vita’s PHP is the link between inpatient and outpatient treatment. Clients do not stay overnight but receive psychiatric assessments and care that is more intense than in outpatient settings over the course of 30 days.
PHP days are highly structured and overseen by a multidisciplinary team that offers individual, group, and family counselling, medication management, psychiatric care, and education, including mood management, emotional regulation, relapse prevention, and stress control. We work closely with clients to create a flexible routine that suits their schedule and responsibilities, as well as a comprehensive discharge plan that builds upon the skills developed in our program.
Vita’s IOP facilitates the transition from inpatient programs to independent recovery over the course of four to six weeks. Our IOP also offers structured schedules that are tailored for each client, education, bio-psychosocial evaluations, and comprehensive psychiatric and medical assessments, along with individual and family counselling and unique access to mental health resources. IOP is a popular choice for clients with demanding jobs, families, and other responsibilities.
Can you elaborate more on the benefits it is providing the patients and how it is making an impact on the rehabilitation industry?
Vita Recovery is making an important impact on the rehabilitation industry by establishing a new model in which rehabilitation can take place – in a high-end, luxury facility with certified and experienced professionals who are dedicated to empowering clients to heal and live fulfilling lives.
Vita Recovery provides many special benefits to our clients, including flexible scheduling that accommodates individual routines and responsibilities, comprehensive content that spans psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, and neurology, and a focus on the development of skills that are key to recovery success – all nested within proven and time-tested techniques including 12-step principles, solution-oriented therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and motivational enhancement therapy.
We have a 100% client satisfaction rate and have empowered hundreds of clients to take back control of their lives and become happier and healthier as a result.
Being an experienced leader, what were the biggest challenges you faced in this niche, and what were the ways you opted to overcome them?
One of the greatest challenges that I have faced has been starting a new business during the COVID-19 pandemic while simultaneously adapting to a new business development culture in the United States. I was born and raised in a small seaside town in northern Italy and completed my education and early industry training in Europe, Asia, and Africa, places that are very different from industry in the U.S.
I was able to overcome these challenges by building an outstanding team at GIA Miami and Vita Recovery and maintaining a clear vision of our mission – to empower clients to achieve their maximum mental wellness. When our business was founded, we had just three team members and a dream. By working hard and pursuing consistent outreach, leveraging our networks, and supporting the local community, we now have dozens of employees and consultants who are leading experts in healthcare from around the globe and many more happy and healthy clients.
Francesco, as an established industry leader, what would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs and aspirants willing to venture into the rehabilitation industry?
My advice would be to have a clear vision of what you want your program and company to offer and identify the resources and tools you need to succeed. Then, outline, in a step-by-step fashion, what you need to do to acquire those resources and bring them to fruition as you launch your business. Find a team of colleagues and peers that you enjoy working with and who share your vision. Understand what unique opportunities you can bring into the rehabilitation industry and capitalize on your individual skill set. Most importantly, having a goal to help people and keeping that goal in mind will be a guiding compass and light for you even during the most challenging times.
Two things are key to our success: believing in the vision and hiring the brightest and most committed people to be part of the team. If you hold on to your dream, even during the toughest times, and allow the talented people around you to do what they do best — you can overcome any obstacle.
How do you envision further strengthening Vita Recovery’s stronghold in 2022 and beyond?
My goal to strengthen Vita Recovery in 2022 and beyond is to expand client outreach and increase the number of people we can help in their recovery journeys. I also aim to continue building a strong business administration, setting benchmarks for quality of care, and maintaining our top-tier medical and professional wellness teams.
