BENTONVILLE - Last month, Whole Health Institute announced Walt Cooper, PhD as chief executive officer. Prior to this role, Cooper served as managing director for healthcare initiatives, overseeing strategic planning, budget, and operations at Whole Health Institute, and before that, he served as head of Walmart Health innovation and optimization. Cooper co-founded Cortica Healthcare, treating children with neurodevelopmental conditions. He has had a highly-decorated career in the military, holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Harvard, and a Master of Science from Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Cooper follows Tracy Gaudet, who recently resigned from the institute in this leadership role. 

Walt Cooper, PhD, Chief Executive Officer for Whole Health Institute. Cooper previously served as Managing Director for Healthcare Initiatives, overseeing strategic planning, budget, and operations at Whole Health Institute. Prior to that role, he was Head of Walmart Health Innovation and Optimization. Cooper co-founded and served as president of San Diego-based Cortica Healthcare, treating children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. At Cortica, Cooper developed an operational infrastructure that enabled this novel clinical model to grow and expand.

Cooper has also worked with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs following a highly decorated career in the military. Cooper served as a Special Forces Officer in the US Army and was recently appointed to the Green Beret Foundation’s Board of Directors.  During his 14 years on active duty, he led troops during multiple combat deployments, taught as an Assistant Professor of Social Sciences at West Point, and worked as a speechwriter for General David Petraeus. He continues to serve as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves.

Cooper graduated as valedictorian from West Point, holds a Master of Science degree from Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Harvard.