Amy Cooper has been named Executive Director of Healthfirst Inc, responsible for over-seeing the network’s Medicare and Commercial ACO programs, as well as other organizational activities. Ms. Cooper has been Executive Director of Healthfirst’s Medicare ACO (ACCGM) for the past year, during which she facilitated greater collaboration and care coordination within the network, helping to lower hospitalization and re-admission rates for the Medicare population. Ms. Cooper has been instrumental in helping Vermont’s independent physicians navigate the dynamic health care environment and will continue to do so on a greater scale in her new role. “Amy’s previous experience in health care and other industries gives her a broad perspective and fresh outlook that will serve her well in her new role,” said Dr. Paul Reiss, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Healthfirst, Inc . “As busy clinicians taking care of patients, we need assistance to stay on top of changes at the state and federal level that will materially affect our practices. Amy has played a key role in keeping us well-informed, while looking out for our interests and our patients’ interests.” Prior to her involvement with Healthfirst, Ms. Cooper served for three years as a management consultant to health care providers and insurers as an associate at L.E.K. Consulting in Boston. She then transitioned to working in the e-commerce industry, holding positions at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com, before co-founding her own consumer internet company. She moved to Vermont with her family in the summer of 2013. Ms. Cooper holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Harvard College. About Healthfirst Healthfirst is Vermont’s only Independent Physician Association (IPA). The mission of Healthfirst is to promote and foster a vital network of high quality independent healthcare practices throughout Vermont.