Dr. Shar Najafi-Piper brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her position as CEO of Copa Health, an organization known for its commitment to providing services to those with complex care needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health disorders. Services include housing, employment, day services, and medical and behavioral health treatment provided at integrated clinics. Founded in 1957, the organization’s geographical footprint covers several Arizona counties and Salt Lake County in Utah and is known for its compassionate care, quality, outcomes, and innovation.
A licensed psychologist, Najafi-Piper has over 24 years of experience in behavioral health. As a clinical executive over the past 15 years, she has demonstrated notable skill on the business side of the health and human services industry as a strategic and innovative visionary. Dr. Najafi-Piper has expertise in fully integrated continuums of care to meet the highly complex needs of vulnerable individuals and their families.
Within her field, she is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Arizona Psychological Association Conventions Committee, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the National Council for Behavioral Health, and has been a CARF International (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) surveyor since 2014. Within the community, she sits on several boards Valley-wide and belongs to a leadership-based international organization of chief executives with more than 34,000 members.
Supported by a forward-thinking leadership team and board of directors, she leads efforts that focus on ensuring that the services that Copa provides meet the needs of the community. The organization continues to build upon its reputation of being able to adapt to changes in the economic environment and to improve care models as best practices dictate. Innovation is driven by the best possible outcomes for the individuals served and treatment is offered with an agreed-upon ‘best life’ perspective coupled with world-class care. Najafi-Piper and the organization have earned recognition at local and national levels for leadership and innovation.
Increased collaboration with community partners and stakeholders ensures better outcomes for people through coordination of care and reduces health inequities through focused community outreach. Najafi-Piper led efforts to bring a group of exceptional providers together to form the first behavioral health Accountable Care Organization in Maricopa County.
Najafi-Piper leads Copa Health’s workforce from a perspective of compassion and innovation that attracts highly efficient and forward-thinking top management. This management style does not stop at the highest level of leadership and has a positive domino effect through all layers of managers and supervisors. Her leadership style includes listening carefully to the needs and ideas of frontline staff, which not only increases the quality of care but effectively mitigates a disconnect between leadership and staff. Enhanced training in all areas and bi-annual organization-wide meetings support a healthy culture for the organization’s 1100 staff members.