More About Our Staff
The staff at McDowell Center for Children is dedicated to creating a calm and therapeutic environment for the young men that are seeking treatment. Our team is equipped with the skills and background knowledge to provide the appropriate structure and support to our diverse patients. Many of our staff members have also received their Residential Child and Youth Care Professional Certification. All staff members have completed thorough background checks and passed a comprehensive drug screening. Upon hiring, new staff goes through our rigorous training process, which includes job shadowing with experienced team members. Throughout their tenure, the staff is required to participate in ongoing training and competency-based evaluations to ensure their skills remain at a very high level of ability and professionalism. Learn more about the members of our staff below.
Ernest Hickman
Chief Executive Officer
Ernest Hickman graduated from Lewis University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He began working as a Youth Care Worker at McDowell Center for Children in August 2005 and quickly transitioned over to the role of Activity Director, where he developed a love of counseling. While working as the Activity Director, he attended graduate school, and in November 2011, he graduated with a Master of Science in Professional Counseling. Immediately upon graduation, he transitioned over to a therapist position, and by June 2012, he was serving as the Lead Therapist for McDowell Center for Children. He served in this capacity for four years, until he assumed the role as CEO of McDowell Center for Children. Mr. Hickman is dedicated to ensuring that McDowell Center for Children provides the best care possible to patients. You will often see him on the floor, interacting with staff and residents, making sure safety and therapeutic needs are met.
David Struble, MD
Medical Director
Dr. David Struble received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in 1996 and completed his residency training at Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio, where he was chief resident of his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training. David also served as chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Keesler AFB Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. He is board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry and licensed in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Clinical Department
Jessica Sain, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Director
Jessica Sain, MSW, LCSW, began working at McDowell in 2011. After five years, she became Lead Therapist and after receiving her LCSW in 2018, she became Clinical Director. In this role, she provides administrative and clinical oversight for McDowell Treatment Center. Making use of 12 years of clinical experience, she shapes the direction of the program, supervises clinical staff, serves as a liaison of hiring clinical staff members, and counsels patients. Sain has a lot of experience with children and youth, working as a case manager and also as a sexual assault/domestic violence case manager in previous years. Sain received her master’s in Social Work in May 2011 from Union University. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Help Is A Call Away
Our admissions staff is available on weekdays from 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m. to provide a no-cost, mental health assessment for your child. Call 888-266-7279 or visit our facility to get started. For questions about our programs, you can also use our online contact form.
In the case of a medical emergency or crisis, please dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.