Jay Chaudhary is a recognized leader in behavioral health policy and system transformation. As Director of the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and Chair of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission, Jay led a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s behavioral health system. His five-year tenure resulted in substantial improvements in Indiana’s mental health rankings and laid the groundwork for long-term system sustainability. Earlier, at Indiana Legal Services, he helped pioneer innovative approaches to addressing the social determinants of health.
Now a Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute, Jay focuses on advancing equitable access to behavioral health care and exploring strategies that improve community well-being at scale. He’s an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow and has been recognized with multiple honors, including being named a “20 Under 40” State Government Leader by the Council of State Governments and a “Champion of Justice” by the Indiana Judges Association.