Alumni Spotlight: Forrest Summers, MHA, BSN, R.N.

• By School of Health Professions
• July 8, 2025
• Education

Forrest Summers, MHA, BSN, R.N., is the CEO of Perimeter Behavioral Health of Jackson. He grew up in Southeastern New Mexico, and later went to the University of New Mexico to receive his bachelor’s degree in Nursing. It is there that his life took a turn—he would be humbled and gain a valuable perspective that has been knit into the fabric of his work ethic and leadership today. You could call him an advocate for the underdog, because well, he once was one. 

Three years into his undergraduate career, Summers had a professor encourage him to get tested for dyslexia – a diagnosis that stretched a four-year collegiate journey to eight years.

“Everyone assumes that my trip here has been exceptionally easy,” he says. “I believe in second chances because someone gave me a second chance.”

He graduated with his Master’s in Healthcare Administration from TTUHSC in 2019, where he says he learned a bigger view of the industry that he has carried with him throughout his career. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership roles, including Charge Nurse, Director of Nursing, Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services, Executive Director of Behavioral Health and currently serves as CEO. 

Today, he makes it his mission to provide exceptional care and attention to his patients and staff at the 101-bed adolescent hospital he leads as the Chief Executive Officer. He describes his work as deeply personal to him. “I really consider every kid here–my kid.” 

For many in his role, revenue generation is top priority – not for Summers. It is his belief that if an organization focuses on providing high-quality care, the finances will follow. The success of this mindset is evident. When he first started his current role, the hospital’s Google review score was 1.7. Today, it stands at 3.0 stars and counting. Following this improvement in reputation management, the hospital has seen a notable increase in patient volumes, further validating his approach to leadership. 

What does Summers hope for the future of health? His greatest concern is that reimbursements will be cut, leading to less behavioral health beds available for acute psychiatric care. But he holds on to hope that behavioral health services will expand and that there will be increased federal funding for inpatient and outpatient services. He continues to make it his mission to do what he can to push the needle forward. In fact, Perimeter Behavioral Health of Jackson will open an outpatient clinic in July, ensuring that Summers and his teams will be able to expand help and care for every child in the community, insured or not.

“I just want to work to make sure that these kids have the best chance at living their best life…” he continues “...whatever that is supposed to be.”

His advice for the next generation of healthcare professionals is simple yet powerful  – whatever your mission is – it should be transformational. Ask yourself how you're going to impact whatever population you're working with at the highest level. Don’t just aim to do the job — aim to change the system for the better. True leadership, he believes, lies in creating lasting improvements that outlive a leader’s time in the role.

In his free time, Summers enjoys spending time at home with his spectacular wife and 14-year-old daughter, playing pickleball, weight lifting, volunteering, and managing the azaleas and ever-demanding landscaping at his 108-year-old home in Tennessee.