From CTC leader to COO Nasser Khan to drive de novo growth and technology at Acadia Healthcare
Nasser Khan, Acadia Healthcare elevated a senior executive to a newly created chief operating officer role as the company seeks to accelerate expansion of its comprehensive treatment center network and strengthen clinical performance.
Dr. Nasser Khan will assume the COO position on June 30, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The promotion creates a formal C-suite operations post that had previously been handled by executive vice president of operations John Hollinsworth, who will retire the same day and remain on as an advisor through the end of 2024 to support the transition.
Khan joined Acadia Healthcare in 2022 to lead the company’s comprehensive treatment center business, a segment that comprises the majority of the company’s footprint (, https://bhbusiness.com/2022/09/19/acadia-healthcare-taps-walgreens-vet-dr-nasser-khan-to-lead-largest-segment/). He oversaw roughly 145 CTC facilities and has driven a push to expand the chain, with plans to open 14 new centers in 2024 and a March acquisition of three North Carolina clinics. Jacob Cooper, Acadia’s senior vice president and COO of the CTC line, will step into the role of CTC group president.
A physician with operational experience in specialty pharmacy and health technology, Khan previously served as senior vice president of operations at Shields Health Solutions, a Walgreens Boots Alliance subsidiary, and held clinical and leadership roles at Biograph and DaVita. His background includes a medical degree and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, positioning him to oversee both clinical standards and network growth.
Company leaders have framed the COO appointment as alignment with peers in size and complexity, reflecting Acadia’s five-point growth strategy that emphasizes facility expansion, de novo development, joint ventures, acquisitions and a broader care continuum. Executives also intend to grow outpatient services, including partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs, which currently contribute modestly to revenue but are viewed as long-term growth opportunities.
Acadia reported softer than expected patient volumes in the first quarter but maintained full-year guidance. With the COO role now established, Acadia Healthcare plans to concentrate on improving clinical outcomes, supporting staff, and leveraging innovation and technology to scale services and meet rising community demand for medication-assisted treatment and comprehensive behavioral health care.
