How a born leader is reshaping addiction services through strategy, empathy, and action
Dr. Robert Moore’s work touches over 400 lives every day. As CEO of Community Action Against Addiction (CAAA), he leads one of Ohio’s most active Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs. But Moore’s journey didn’t start in a boardroom. It started in classrooms, counseling sessions, and community centers.
“I’ve always been drawn to places where people are trying to rebuild,” Moore says. “Whether it’s an organization, a person, or a community.”
How Dr. Moore Got His Start
Robert Moore’s early career began in education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Alcorn State University and went on to hold teaching and administrative roles. He later earned multiple master’s degrees in education and counseling.
He didn’t stop there. He earned an Ed.D. in Administrator Leadership/Social Psychology from Walden University, followed by a Ph.D. in Performance Psychology from Grand Canyon University.
“Every degree helped me see a different layer of human behaviour,” Moore explains. “Education showed me how people learn. Counseling showed me how they heal. Psychology showed me how they think.”
These different lenses prepared him for work that blends emotional care with strategic systems thinking.
Building Better Systems in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment
Before becoming CEO at CAAA, Moore worked in leadership roles across schools, nonprofits, and healthcare. He served as Operational Officer, Quality Improvement Officer, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Adjunct Professor. Each role sharpened his ability to lead teams, analyse complex problems, and build infrastructure.
“I learned how broken systems fail the people who need them most,” he says. “And I also learned how the right leadership can turn things around.”
That belief led him to CAAA. The program serves clients dealing with substance use disorder and mental illness, using Medication Assisted Treatment alongside counselling and support services.
When Moore joined, the goal was to make the organization more sustainable, more responsive, and more human.
“We needed to build a system that treated people like people,” he says. “That meant upgrading how we manage operations, but also how we treat each client.”
Serving 400+ Clients with a Strategy That Centers Equity
Today, CAAA serves over 400 clients, offering not just medical care but long-term recovery planning. Dr. Moore believes addiction treatment must include grief counselling, diversity awareness, and inclusion training, for staff and for clients.
“Addiction doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” he explains. “People come in carrying trauma, loss, shame. If we don’t meet them where they are, we’re not really helping them.”
Moore has pushed for equity and inclusion in every part of the organization—from intake protocols to hiring decisions. He’s also joined several boards and professional groups to keep pushing these ideas in the broader field.
Awards and Recognition for a Mission-Driven Career
Dr. Moore’s leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed. He’s been named a Distinguished American and received the Richard A. Pogue Fellowship from Case Western Reserve University, honors given to individuals creating lasting impact in their fields.
He’s also a certified Community Coach and Professional Life Coach, offering guidance to peers in leadership and mental health.
“These titles are nice,” Moore says, “but what matters most is who we’re reaching and how deeply we’re helping.”
A Leadership Style Built on Strategy and Heart
Colleagues often describe Moore as transformational and someone who takes big, slow-moving systems and makes them nimble again.
But Moore sees it more simply.
“I help organizations remember what they were created to do,” he says. “And I help them work smarter to do it better.”
His style mixes structure and empathy, accountability and compassion. It’s rare to find a leader equally at ease in strategic planning meetings and client support circles—but that’s exactly what makes Moore stand out.
The Road Ahead: Scaling Impact Without Losing Humanity
Looking ahead, Dr. Moore wants to expand access, reduce stigma, and build up leadership in the addiction recovery space.
“We need more leaders who understand both the data and the people,” he says. “That’s the only way to create solutions that last.”
He’s especially focused on supporting equity in care delivery, making sure services reach communities often left out of traditional recovery models.
“If we’re not reaching everyone, we’re not really solving the problem,” he says.
Key Takeaways from Dr. Robert Moore’s Leadership Journey
- Started in education, expanded into health and organizational strategy
- Holds dual doctorates and multiple master’s degrees in leadership, education, and psychology
- Leads one of Ohio’s most active addiction treatment programs (CAAA), serving 400+ clients
- Focuses on combining equity, inclusion, and operational redesign in healthcare delivery
- Recognised for transformational leadership and community impact
Dr. Moore’s story is proof that the best leaders don’t just manage change—they drive it. And they do it with purpose, patience, and a deep belief in the power of people.
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