David Susman, Ph.D.

David Susman, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and Executive Advisor for Clinical Services in the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Frankfort, KY.

After growing up in the rural Appalachian region of southwestern Virginia, Susman received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky.

For over 24 years, Susman worked at Eastern State Hospital, a public psychiatric hospital in Lexington, KY. While there, he was the Psychological Services Director and the founding Director of the hospital’s Recovery Mall, an award-winning program providing inpatient recovery and rehabilitation services to adults with serious mental illness and substance abuse. He also was a clinical faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, where he trained hundreds of doctoral students in clinical psychology.

Susman is a former President of the Kentucky Psychological Association (KPA) and is a member of the Council Leadership Team of the American Psychological Association's Council of Representatives. He has been active in mental health advocacy initiatives at the state and Federal levels, and received the KPA Schuster Advocacy Award in 2008. He is an ardent supporter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and received the 2015 NAMI Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lexington, KY, chapter.

Susman authors a mental health and advocacy blog at davidsusman.com and has related content on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter pages.