William Cooper

About William Cooper

As the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, I\'ve been fortunate to work on some significant aspects of healthcare. I\'m also a practicing pediatrician, which allows me to apply my research and insights directly to patient care. In my role as President of the Vanderbilt Health Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy, I oversee professionalism programs and provide leadership for the CPPA. For 15 years, I served as Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and 19 months as Interim Chair of the Department of Pediatrics. These roles have allowed me to support the professional development of faculty and clinicians in the department.My research focuses on prescription drug safety, the impact of unprofessional behaviors on individual and team function, clinician wellbeing, patient outcomes, and overall safety and reliability in healthcare. I\'ve contributed to policy changes at the FDA, Health Canada, and the European Union regarding prescription drug safety. I\'ve also studied how unprofessional behaviors can harm team dynamics and individual performance. Additionally, I\'m passionate about improving clinician wellbeing and developing strategies to reduce burnout among healthcare professionals.My efforts to enhance patient outcomes include advocating for high-reliability principles in healthcare. I have international experience in building and sustaining professional accountability programs, which is an area I\'m particularly proud of. Through my work, I strive to make meaningful contributions to healthcare and create a safer, more effective system for everyone.

Experience

1. Senior Vice President for Professionalism and Clinical Excellence

   Vanderbilt University Medical Center

   Aug 2025 — Present

Education

• Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

  Doctor of Medicine (MD)

  1987 — 1991

• Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

  Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Epidemiology

  1996 — 1997

• Transylvania University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Chemisty

  1983 — 1987

Skills

• Research
• Health Policy
• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Healthcare
• Leadership Development