Originally from Eureka, California, Brad Strong (52) joined the board as a psychiatrist in 2012 and has now been appointed medical director of mental health, addictions, and intellectual disability.
The position was vacated late last year by James Knight, who has shifted to the North Island.
Dr Strong came to Dunedin after three years in Auckland.
He said the southern climate was similar to the American Pacific Northwest, and the prevalence of primary industries, such as logging and fisheries, was also reminiscent of home.
''It feels very much like home but with all the wonderful benefits of being in New Zealand.''
While acknowledging the challenges faced by the financially stretched health board, Dr Strong felt optimistic about the new role.
''I love this department. I think we do extraordinary work. I'm happy to work with the community. I'm excited with being part of the community more generally than I have been as a practising psychiatrist now in this new bigger role.
''Times are challenging at the moment, but the southern spirit helps give us what we need to get through it and I think we will ... with flying colours.''
He acknowledged the mental health service had had its own particular challenges, including a rate of seclusion that drew the attention of the Ministry of Health.
''Our numbers are coming down steadily [in seclusion], much to our pleasure.''
This had been achieved by a review of seclusion involving clients, families and the whole service, not just inpatient areas, he said.
However, mental health was a ''controversial discipline, full stop'' all over the world, he said.
He believed the department's use of electroconvulsive therapy was at an appropriate level, and was carried out when other therapies had failed.
Dr Strong trained in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and his experience in the United States included working as a staff psychiatrist at the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Centre.
Before Harvard, he earned his doctor of medicine degree at the University of Kansas.
