Stuart Archer is a driven health care leader leveraging the rapid growth of his organization, Oceans Healthcare, as a vehicle for increasing access to lifesaving mental health care. Archer took the helm of Oceans in 2015, quickly solidifying its position as a sought-after model for quality improvement, innovation and purpose-driven growth. The behavioral health network includes nearly 50 locations across the country providing inpatient care and outpatient programs.
Oceans is a trusted provider among academic medical centers and acute care systems, partnering with national leaders like Ochsner LSU Health, UT Heath East Texas and Norman Regional Health System to create access and build a more efficient care continuum.
Most recently, Archer created the Texas Association of Behavioral Health Systems, joining together a group of like-minded providers fighting for patients’ rights, access to care, appropriate coverage and provider reimbursement. He is involved with the Kennedy Forum, participating in its annual Alignment for Progress conference and leading the inaugural “Cape Convenings”, a gathering of industry leaders discussing pressure points in the mental health and substance use systems. He is an at-large board member of the National Association of Behavioral Healthcare. In 2021, he was named one of D CEO Magazine’s Outstanding Healthcare Executives and earned the 2018 EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year in Healthcare award for the Southwest region.
Archer has led successful legislative initiatives, including elimination of Mississippi’s IMD exclusion, helping enact Louisiana’s first “Patient’s Choice” law giving psychiatric patients the first written protections establishing their right to choose a care provider and increasing provider rates in multiple states.
Archer earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University and MBA from Louisiana State University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.