Josh Leslie founded Ascend Healthcare to solve access to behavioral healthcare concerns in underserved communities.

He spent nearly a decade overseeing operations and clinical quality for the largest combined 24/7 psychiatric crisis center, inpatient, walk-in outpatient and opioid treatment center in Arizona. While there, he was awarded Top Physician Assistant in both Arizona and the United States for providing unprecedented quality and efficiency standards.   He took those experiences when creating Ascend Healthcare to collaborate with Community Health Centers to solve for any and all of their behavioral health and medication management needs.

Michael Pelletier is a high-energy C-Level executive that has served as Ascend’s Chief Operating Officer since February of 2024. Michael has over 30 years of experience working with diverse populations within the behavioral health and corrections fields, both in the public and private sectors. Michael has served in the C-Suite for more than twenty of those 30+ years and has held roles such as President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Development Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. Michael has led the growth and success of private companies ranging from $20M to $300M and from 100 employees to 4,000+ employees. Michael has also served many roles in State Government, one of which was Chief Financial Officer where he managed more than $500M and 5,000+ employees.

Michael is a graduate of Bryant University and is characterized as an influential problem solver who is data and results driven with decades of experience leading varying businesses and business lines to financial and operational success. Michael’s passion lies in Community Behavioral Health and assisting companies provide services to those most in need.

Dr. Lindsey serves as Chief Medical Officer for Ascend Healthcare and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders and has practiced full-time since 2005. He is triple board certified in Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent and Addiction. He also served as the Team Psychiatrist for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Team Psychiatrist for the Arizona Cardinals, and Attending Psychiatrist at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital. Dr. Lindsey brings extensive experience in the treatment of patients struggling with mental illness and addiction and is adept at employing acute detoxification strategies including benzodiazepine, barbiturate and opioid protocols to avoid dangerous outcomes from drug and alcohol withdrawal while ensuring a safe transition to the next phase of recovery.

With over 21 years of professional experience, Dr. Tucker has served in a variety of healthcare capacities throughout her career. She is a licensed physician in Arizona and California, receiving her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University in 2000. She began
her medical career with the National Health Service Corps as a Board-Certified Family Physician. Throughout her illustrious career, she has served as Associate Medical Director at Mountain Park Health Center, Mayo Medical School Preceptor/Clinical Lead, Quality Program Lead for Joint Commission, Chief Medical Officer for Gardner Family Health Centers, senior medical executive for the
Stanford Medical School/Gardner Family Health Network Partnership and most recently as the Chief Medical Officer at Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health. She joined Ascend Healthcare in 2023 as she feels passionate in providing integrated behavioral health and substance use disorder to the communities that need it the most without any stigma. A graduate of two executive leadership
programs (Harvard University in 2007; UCLA in 2014), Dr. Tucker brings to the medical profession both passion and analytics.

Alicia Ottmann, PA-C, joined Ascend in 2024 with extensive experience in community health, executive leadership, and clinical practice. As the Associate Medical Director, she oversees the psychiatry service line and operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based mental health care.

With over a decade of experience as a practicing physician assistant specializing in psychiatry and family medicine, Alicia has been instrumental in developing integrated care models and expanding access to behavioral health services. Dedicated to community health, health equity, and enhancing systems of care within Florida and Arizona, she has held the roles of Executive Director for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s FQHC and pharmacy divisions, and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer for CenterPlace Health.

Her expertise in healthcare quality and operational excellence is reinforced by her experience driving practice transformation for an Accountable Care Organization, and certifications as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and a Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB). She started her journey in healthcare as a National Health Service Corps Scholar, dedicated to improving access to care in underserved communities, and advocates for the utilization of telemedicine as a mechanism to fulfill her personal mission, and that of Ascend and its partners.

Melissa Jandt comes with more than 28 years of behavioral health experience working with General Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders, and Seriously Mentally Ill patients. Melissa has experience and passion working within community health and worked for 16 years for the DuPage County Health Department in IL.

After relocating to Arizona in 2016, Melissa assisted with the implementation and opening of an Opioid Treatment Program in Phoenix in 2018 as the Clinical Director of Operations. In 2019, Melissa transitioned to the VP of Operations to manage one of the largest psychiatric crisis centers in Arizona.

In 2021, Melissa joined the Ascend team and currently manages all therapeutic services provided in partnership with FQHC practices in Arizona, California, and New York.