With the desire to work with challenging populations, Tom Scott came to NCIA in 2004 as the new executive director of clinical services at the NCIA Augustus Institute for Mental Health. Tom brought with him extensive professional experience from his 20 years of working in the field of clinical services and social work. He spends the majority of his time consulting with his team of doctors, clinicians, and nurses in providing oversight for the clinic, but he still makes time for individual therapy sessions with his clients – which Tom says is his most rewarding part of the week.

He began working with the developmentally disabled when he was a young teenager, and since that time, has focused on working with populations that were difficult to serve or were avoided by other professionals. “Working with my clients is both a challenge and a joy,” he says. “You have to be able to identify with each client, which can be difficult, and offer that person help and support. That’s what I most enjoy doing.””

Professionally speaking: “This position challenges my clinical expertise with clients who bring interesting and complex issues. It is also interesting to work with NCIA’s different programs and populations served.”

Personally speaking: “Working at NCIA has given me empathy for the difficulties of the people we serve and the experiences they have been through.”

NCIA is: challenging, complex, focused on service, full of committed staff, never dull

• Dana Ackerley, Director of Education
• Robinette Cager, Human Resources Assistant
• Cynthia Hodge, Residential Director
• K, NCIA Student
• Latasha Nelson, Client
• Johnny Pilgrim, Operations Manager
• Tom Scott, Executive Director
• Corrine Waters, Art Instructor