Cooper named president of Mercy Clinic Northwest Arkansas

Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas announced the appointment Thursday (Jan. 20) of Dr. Scott Cooper as president of Mercy Clinic Northwest Arkansas. He replaces Dr. Steve Goss, who retired after 18 years in the position.

Mercy Clinic Northwest Arkansas includes more than 200 integrated, multispecialty physicians at 22 clinic locations.

“I have known Dr. Cooper for years and have seen firsthand how he has distinguished himself as a dedicated health care professional, with decades of experience in Northwest Arkansas and a clear emphasis on physician leadership within Mercy,” Eric Pianalto, president of Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, said in a statement. “It’s a tremendous benefit for our leadership team to add his voice and perspective.”

Cooper is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. After 18 years as an independent provider, he joined Mercy in 2014, when his practice integrated into the Mercy network of healthcare providers in Northwest Arkansas.

He credits Mercy’s record of high ratings for health and safety as one of the reasons for taking on the new leadership role.

“Mercy has a history of performing at the highest levels, with a demonstrated commitment to quality health care and patient safety,” Cooper said. “It’s a pivotal time to serve in this position as Mercy services expand to meet the needs of our region’s fast-paced population growth over the next decade. People are finding out what’s here in Northwest Arkansas, and Mercy is an important part of that draw.”

Serving as president of Mercy Clinic Northwest Arkansas is just one of many leadership positions Cooper has held in his career. He previously served as president of the Arkansas Orthopaedic and Arkansas Medical societies and currently is the state’s representative to the Board of Councilors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

According to the release, Cooper is adding Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas physicians Dr. Lance Faddis, recently named chief administrative officer, and Dr. Sonal Bhakta, chief medical officer, to his leadership team.

“Our collective approach better enables us to keep improving overall patient experiences and care,” Cooper said. “Working in tandem with Dr. Bhakta and Dr. Faddis is not only an honor, but it also sets up a beneficial leadership dynamic for the future of Mercy in Northwest Arkansas.”