Marylois Lacey PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC

About Me

Dr. Lacey is a longtime advocate for Mental Health Parity and changing the face of health care disparities in the private, public and federal sector. Throughout her career she has demonstrated a commitment to closing the gap in health care disparities in the care and treatment of those experiencing mental illness and substance use disorders. 

 In her role as CEO of Eastern Missouri Psychiatric Centers Dr. Lacey advocated for full practice authority for advanced practice nurses.  She also served on the Governor’s Task Force for Mental Health to develop policies and processes to redesign access to Missouri’s mental health system.

Dr. Lacey earned her BSN/FNP from the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Clinical Nurse Specialist/MSN from the University of Central Arkansas and PhD in Health Systems from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  She was awarded the Mary Reardon Cass Nursing Research Award from the University of Missouri St. Louis. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. She is an active member in the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, The National League of Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau and NAMI.

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She is actively involved in local and state and national efforts in Texas to develop systems of care delivery for our nations Veterans and is currently a Performance Improvement Manager for Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.  She has served as the membership chairperson of the Houston Chapter of the Psychiatric Advance Practice Nurses Association and is also a delegate for the Texas Nurses Association District 9.  Dr. Lacey is also a volunteer for Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) and Adjunct Faculty with UTMB School of Nursing.