Buffkin / Baker Recruits President and COO for aptihealth

January 4, 2023 – Executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has recruited Tim Koehler as president and chief operating officer of aptihealth, a Saratoga Springs, NY-based tech-driven behavioral healthcare provider. Partner Jackson Ross led the assignment.
“I am grateful to our entire aptihealth team for their dedication and hard work in helping us build a powerful, high-impact behavioral healthcare company,” said Dan Pickett, CEO of aptihealth. “With the addition of Tim, a seasoned healthcare expert who brings a relentless focus and strong track record of driving growth, profitability, innovation, and transformation, we are positioned well to accelerate the value we bring to all of our stakeholders. Tim’s success at building a value-based care business that served a difficult and complex population—similar to aptihealth’s—will enable us to effectively and profitably build upon our mission to transform care.”
Most recently, Mr. Koehler was COO at Bluestone Physician Services, where he spearheaded the company’s market expansion and transition from fee-for-service to value-based care, including the creation of Bluestone ACO. At Bluestone Physician Services, he built and led teams responsible for on-site medical care for high-risk patients living in residential care settings. As CEO and founder of Bluestone ACO, Mr. Koehler created one of the highest performing ACOs in the country when measured by savings per beneficiary. Prior to Bluestone, Mr. Koehler spent nearly two decades at UnitedHealth Group (UHG) in executive and management roles, the last of which was as president of the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance (DPCA). At DPCA, he led development of the business model to support all core operational functions including call center, claims, eligibility, payments, network operations, fulfillment, capacity planning, product development, and a proprietary technology platform. DPCA contracted with 27 UHC health plans and five non-UHC plans including three independent BCBS plans and over 350 self-funded employers.
Mr. Koehler joins aptihealth at a time of significant growth, having served more than 10,000 patients for leading national and regional health plans. The organization expects to more than double its patients in 2023, with a majority covered by value-based care contracts.
“From the first discussions with the team at aptihealth, I was impressed by the deep clinical science, compelling care models, and the rich and uniquely interactive technology platform the company created to serve individuals with complex behavioral healthcare needs,” said Mr. Koehler. “I am proud to be joining an organization with such a critical mission and with so many passionate employees. I look forward guiding aptihealth as it accelerates its value-based-care transformation and next stage of rapid growth.”
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Aptihealth’s virtual-first model and proprietary screening, assessment, and treatment programs give members fast, convenient access to precise, personalized care. Employing over 200, aptihealth has raised over $65 million in funding from leading international private equity firms.
A Specialty Boutique Firm
Buffkin / Baker is a specialty boutique search firm composed of industry leaders in their respective fields and each has over a decade of retained search experience. Their focus as search professionals is to recruit leaders in digital marketing/advertising, technology, healthcare, media/entertainment, finance, higher education, and non-profit. The firm serves public, private, venture, and private equity-backed companies. Its office locations include Nashville, TN; New York; Washington, D.C.; and Winston Salem, NC, with affiliate offices in London.
Buffkin / Baker is a member of Panorama Search, an international federation of retained firms with 18 firms and over 30 offices globally. Buffkin / Baker formed in 2017 with the merger of the Buffkin Group and Baker and Associates LLC.
Mr. Ross serves as an associate partner for the firm where he is actively engaged in searches for our healthcare, private equity, and digital transformation practices. He is a results-driven leader with over 20 years of experience building brand awareness across the healthcare and digital continuum. Mr. Ross’ broad experience in both mature and entrepreneurial environments provides him with a foundation to drive enterprise growth, quality, and culture for Buffkin / Baker.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media