Nasser Khan’s Healthcare Background and Leadership Philosophy at Acadia Healthcare
Nasser Khan’s career trajectory spans clinical medicine, management consulting, and operational leadership across multiple healthcare sectors. His experience provides a foundation for the operational oversight role he assumed as chief operating officer of Acadia Healthcare in June 2024.
Khan completed his medical education at Brown University, earning a Doctor of Medicine, a Master of Medical Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown’s undergraduate program. His clinical training included a residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Following his medical training, Nasser Khan joined McKinsey & Company as an engagement manager in the firm’s healthcare practice. This role focused on growth strategy and operational turnarounds for leading health systems. The consulting experience exposed Khan to strategic challenges facing diverse healthcare organizations and provided frameworks for addressing operational issues.
Khan subsequently joined DaVita, Inc., where he held three progressive leadership roles. He began as director of strategy and special projects before advancing to regional operations director and eventually division vice president of hospital services. These positions at DaVita involved managing dialysis services provided within hospital settings, requiring coordination between DaVita’s operations and hospital systems’ existing infrastructure.
His next role was head of program and chief medical officer at Biograph Inc., a healthcare technology company. This position combined clinical expertise with program development responsibilities. Nasser Khan led partnerships and research and development initiatives during his tenure at Biograph.
Before joining Acadia Healthcare, Khan served as senior vice president of operations at Shields Health Solutions, a subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Shields operates as a national provider of specialty pharmacy services to health systems. Khan oversaw health system operations across the Midwest and Western United States, managing relationships with hospital partners and ensuring service delivery standards.
Khan’s leadership philosophy emphasizes supporting frontline caregivers and maintaining focus on patient outcomes. “Working with our exceptional team, my focus will be on supporting our caregivers in delivering compassionate care and driving best-in-class clinical outcomes,” Nasser Khan stated when he joined Acadia Healthcare in 2022.
John Hollinsworth, who preceded Khan in operational leadership at Acadia Healthcare, noted Khan’s qualifications when he joined the company. “Nasser brings unrivaled qualifications to this position. He has successfully managed and grown multi-site, healthcare delivery networks. He understands that our people are our most important asset.”
Khan also serves on the Board of Trustees at the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, contributing to industry policy discussions and advocacy efforts. His policy expertise centers on improving access to treatment for individuals affected by the opioid epidemic. Khan continues to advocate for expanded support and resources addressing substance use disorders.
Nasser Khan’s base annual salary as chief operating officer is $515,000, according to regulatory filings. This compensation reflects the scope of responsibilities encompassing all operational functions across Acadia Healthcare’s network of 270 facilities serving more than 82,000 patients daily.
