William O. Cooper, MD, MPH is a practicing physician, researcher, teacher, and administrator. He has led School of Medicine programs, including the Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy, the Master of Public Health Program and the Pediatrics Office for Faculty Development.

He is an internationally recognized expert in medication safety in children and has published over 100 scholarly articles to date. Dr. Cooper has been involved with the Vanderbilt PARS® program since 2009 and served first as a messenger and currently as Chair of the Vanderbilt Professionalism Committee.

In his role as Vice President for Vanderbilt University Medical Center Patient and Professional Advocacy, Dr. Cooper oversees the Medical Center’s professional programs and provides leadership and direction for the Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy. Dr. Cooper is the lead author of the 2017 study 
published in JAMA Surgery which demonstrates the relationship between unsolicited patient complaints and increased risk for postoperative complications.