"The RMHI’s are a very important component in the mental health continuum of care in Tennessee. Therefore, we felt that it was important to identify permanent leadership for the institute. We were challenged to select a superintendent from a pool of outstanding internal and external candidates," said Ben Dishman, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Michael Coppol has amassed eighteen years of experience as an Administrator/CEO of psychiatric hospitals including his most recent appointments at; Vencor Hospital Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 2000-2001, Musatatuck State Developmental Center, Butlerville, IN, 1998-1999. Coppol’s professional accomplishments include;

• Creating and implementing partial and intensive out-patient programs
• Implemented a full continuum of mental health services and a mental health management company
• Negotiated approximately 50 managed care contracts with behavioral managed care companies and state Medicaid agencies
• Developed and managed a new psychiatric hospital that was a joint venture between West Virginia University Department of Behavioral Medicine and Ramsay Healthcare Corporation.

He has earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio and a MS degree in Hospital Administration from the University of Alabama, Birmingham.