Reginald Coopwood, M.D.
Dr. Reginald Coopwood graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN in 1985. He went on to complete his residency in general surgery in 1990 and entered private practice as a general surgeon in Nashville. In 1995, he founded Signature Surgical Group LLC, with the late Dr. James McGriff. Dr. Coopwood served as Chief Medical Officer of Nashville General Hospital at Meharry from 2000-2005 and served as President and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Hospital Authority from 2005-2010. In 2010, he became President and CEO of Regional One Health in Memphis, Tennessee—a role in which he continues to serve today.
Dr. Coopwood is a role model and mentor for his team at Regional One Health. His employees attest that he has created an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity, emphasizes culturally competent care and empowers the low-resource communities they serve. From July 2016 to July 2018, the medicine emergency department served over 34,000 patients, 47% of whom were uninsured. Dr. Coopwood’s compassion for his patients has led Regional One to look for the socioeconomic factors that contribute to health challenges.
To increase accessibility, Dr. Coopwood bolstered Regional One’s medical offerings and extended the reach of its services. He established the innovative ONE Health complex care program, which not only connects people to medical care but also assists them with navigating social determinants of health such as finding housing and food; applying for disability; obtaining skills training; receiving addiction treatment; accessing transportation and more. Since the inception of ONE Health, Regional One Health has reduced uninsured medicine emergency department visits by 41%, inpatient admissions by 54% and hospital length of stay by 61%. Simultaneously, Regional One Health has decreased total cost of care for complex care patients by over $17 million.
Dr. Coopwood is heavily invested in the community. He serves on the Tennessee Hospital Association Board of Directors, the Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle and the boards of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, a nonprofit community development organization that works with large health care and educational organizations to make the Memphis Medical District more vibrant, prosperous and equitable.
Dr. Coopwood’s numerous honors include Inside Memphis Business’ CEO of the Year in 2014, Memphis Business Journal’s Health Care Hero in Administrative Excellence in 2011, the Tennessee Hospital Association’s CEO Meritorious Service Award in 2011, the Diversity Champion Award in 2013 and the President’s Award in 2016.
Dr. Coopwood is married to Erica Stiff-Coopwood, ESQ and they have five children.
