February 23, 2026
Christopher E. Fisher, Psy.D. ’14M.S.Ed., Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director, Behavioral Health in Zucker Hillside Hospital, will be among several alumni honored by The School of Education (SOE) at the 15th Annual Leaders in Education Awards Dinner (LEAD) on April 16 at the Stewart Manor Country Club in Stewart Manor, NY.
Congratulations! What does it feel like to receive this award?
It truly feels like an honor and a recognition that genuinely caught me off guard. Throughout my career, I’ve been far more focused on providing recognition, awards, and praise to others for their hard work and dedication than receiving it myself. It is incredibly meaningful to know that, even 12 years later, the St. John’s School of Education continues to watch, support, and celebrate its alumni with pride. To be recognized alongside other flourishing and accomplished alumni is deeply humbling, and I am truly grateful to be included among such an inspiring group.
Can you please tell us a little about yourself and your current profession?
First and foremost, I am a devoted husband to my wife, Kate; a proud father to our two daughters, Scarlett and Sloane; a son to my mother, Marilyn and late Father, Curtis; and a brother to my brothers, Michael, Matthew, and Christian. I am a born-and-raised New Yorker who spent brief periods out of state for education and training, but always found my way back home.
Professionally, I am a licensed clinical psychologist. I currently serve as Director of Behavioral Health at Zucker Hillside Hospital within Northwell Health, hold an academic clinical faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University, and maintain a private practice in Rockville Centre. In my role as Director, I oversee clinical practice and operations across the Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Department, which includes four ambulatory programs: the Adult Mental Health Clinic, Behavioral Health Crisis Center, Rapid Access Center, and Clozapine Clinic.
At a time of significant need for mental health services in New York State, the primary goals of my department are to improve access to behavioral health care and elevate the quality of clinical services we provide. Together, these programs account for approximately 65,000+ behavioral health visits annually.
In addition, I find deep meaning in directly and indirectly educating and training psychiatry residents, psychology fellows and interns, as well as social work and mental health counseling interns who are the future of our mental health workforce. As a lifelong learner, it is equally rewarding to learn from trainees, particularly as graduate training curricula continue to evolve alongside advances in clinical research and practice.
How has a degree from The School of Education (TSOE) impacted your career path?
I consider my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to be the foundation upon which I have built my entire clinical career. TSOE instilled in me the value of finding the “can” in every person I work with. The patient-centered, humanistic, and strength-based framework I gained at St. John’s has allowed me to sustain hope while working with some of the most complex and challenging clinical cases of my career.
This framework has also extended beyond my professional life into my broader worldview, shaping my belief that change, on some level, is always possible. As a result, I approach both my personal and professional responsibilities with greater patience, grace, and hope.
Were there any professors in The School of Education (TSOE) who influenced your life?
Heather Robertson,Ph.D., James Bethea, Ph.D., and the late Robert Eschenauer, Ph.D. stand out as the faculty who most profoundly influenced my career during my time at TSOE. I don’t want to age either Dr. Robertson or myself, but we technically “started” the program at the same time as my first semester as a student was her first semester as a faculty member. Seeing her now chair the program is no surprise to me; her dedication to teaching and leadership was evident from the very beginning, and I know the program continues to grow and thrive with her at the helm.
These professors helped identify and develop my potential as a student clinician and supported my growth both academically and clinically. I am forever grateful for their service, skill, and commitment to training. The impact of their work extends far beyond individual students. Countless people have been helped in meaningful ways that can be traced back to the influence of these exceptional educators.
What are your most cherished memories from your days as a student in The School of Education?
What I cherish most is being part of a truly special cohort, one filled with intelligent, skilled, passionate, and deeply genuine individuals. There’s a saying, “You are who you hang out with,” and I felt that deeply during my time in the program. We pushed one another to grow, supported each other through challenges, and created a culture of excellence that naturally motivated everyone to rise to a higher standard.
Staying connected with my cohort through platforms like LinkedIn, I am proud, though not surprised, to see so many of them excelling and advancing in their professional careers. That shared experience remains one of the most meaningful aspects of my time at St. John’s.
What wisdom would you like to share with the next generation of alumni?
Find meaning in what you do, and let your values guide your path forward. These two principles will lead you toward a life of purpose and fulfillment, while also grounding you during times of struggle, devastation, and hardship, which are realities that are part of the human experience.
Life is hard. Don’t expect it not to be. But recognizing the power of your choices is what will allow you to weather storms and continue moving forward. Even in the most difficult moments of your life, you still have the capacity to make decisions that move you closer to the person you aspire to become.