Better Sleep for Better Mental Health

Robert Winston currently serves as the Vice President of Operations and Behavioral Health at RWJBarnabas Health – Jersey City Medical Center, overseeing 25 departments and managing over 650 employees. Prior to this role at JCMC, Mr. Winston served in a variety of leadership roles and devoted over 20 years to the health and human services arena working in programs for individuals with a mental illness.

Mr. Winston has worked tirelessly in his commitment to the overall health and wellbeing of the Hudson County community representing Jersey City Medical Center and RWJBarnabas Health at the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addictions Services Stakeholder’s group and the Hudson County Mental Health Board. As an advocate for behavioral health services, Mr. Winston has partnered with the Division to amend regulation and support changes in mental health and addictions service delivery in New Jersey.

He is an in-demand, highly sought after presenter and has taught dozens of workshops on Motivational Interviewing, Crisis Prevention, Stress Management, becoming a High Reliability Organization, and Gestalt Therapy.

In 2010, Mr. Winston obtained his Private’s Pilot License. He brings his passion for aviation into his work.  He recognizes the culture of safety, the responsibility of “sitting in the Captain’s seat” and how important it is to be a strong, but open leader.  He developed an educational seminar based on “Cockpit / Crew Resource Management”, an aviation based leadership style that insures everyone’s voice is heard.

Understanding the importance of education and mentorship, Mr. Winston served as a field supervisor for Master’s Level Social Work students from Fordham and Rutgers University and supervises individuals pursuing their License in Clinical Social Work. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from James Madison University, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State University, and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.  In addition to his professional work, he has completed post-graduate training in Gestalt Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) with Albert Ellis, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Crisis Intervention. He additionally maintains his own private practice in Psychotherapy.

Community involvement is an important aspect of Mr. Winston’s life. He has volunteered since 1994 as an EMT and served on the Board of Roots and Wings, a non-profit agency that assists youth aging out of foster care. His professional experience, volunteer activities, and educational accomplishments helped earn Mr. Winston the R. Ann Myers Distinguished Social Work Alumni Award from James Madison University as well as the distinguished NJBIZ “Forty Under 40” award in Health Care.