Versie Bellamy, three-time alumna of the College of Nursing, spent the past three decades dedicated to expanding access to quality mental health care for patients in South Carolina. Her diverse experience in nursing, public health and policy has lent leading-edge thinking and expertise to her efforts across the state.

Bellamy says she has always been a systems leader. In her role as deputy director of the division of inpatient services for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, she introduced innovative growth and improved systems for the department, which provides psychiatric, substance abuse, long-term care and other services.
According to Bellamy, access to care, improving systems through supporting community and inpatient care and removing silos remain key to improving mental health care in South Carolina.

“To improve access to care for persons with mental illness, we must identify stakeholders at multiple ecologic levels and partner to support population health needs across the care continuum,” she says.

Bellamy was recognized by Governor Henry McMaster with a Senate resolution for her efforts to offer exemplary health care services to people across the state. She was also recognized in by the South Carolina NAACP with a presidential citation award.

“Versie takes on the seemingly impossible and is a trailblazer in improving access to mental health services to very vulnerable populations in South Carolina,” says Ronda Hughes, director of the Center for Nursing Leadership. “Leaders in other states can learn from her example in improving access.”