Executive Leadership

Kyle Strange, LCSW

Executive Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer (CCO)

Kyle Strange, LICSW is the executive vice president & chief clinical/quality officer (CCO) at BHS. He has been with BHS since 1997 and has served as the company’s chief clinical officer since 2012. Mr. Strange manages operations of the clinical services division, serves over quality assurance and compliance activities and oversees BHS’ PPO network development division.

Mr. Strange also serves on multiple BHS committees including the credentialing committee alongside BHS’ medical director and senior vice president, administrative services & chief human resource officer. He participates bi-weekly in BHS’ medical team conferences to ensure quality assurance within the care management of inpatient and outpatient cases. Mr. Strange is instrumental in the success of BHS’ client retention as well as 96+% patient satisfaction rates. He also has a key role in ensuring BHS’ compliance within URAC standards.

Mr. Strange completed his undergraduate work in psychology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He then obtained his master of social work from the University of Alabama. Prior to joining BHS, Mr. Strange’s professional experience included 10 years of direct patient care in varied mental health settings.  He has been a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) since 1996.

Shannon Goff Flanagan

Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing/Corporate Relations Officer (CMO)

Shannon Goff Flanagan is executive vice president & chief marketing/corporate relations officer (CMO). She has been with BHS since 2006. At BHS, Ms. Flanagan manages the day-to-day activities of the corporate relations and marketing divisions, directs BHS’ community and public relations presence and oversees BHS’ ancillary services including BHS A.S.S.I.S.T., Wellness First and Behavioral Comp Management.

Among Ms. Flanagan’s accomplishments are maintaining a 85+% client retention rate among BHS’ book-of-business and direct oversight of the sales, implementation and account management of BHS’ national membership as well as the State of Alabama employee assistance program provided to 65,000 state employees and their families.

Ms. Flanagan’s previous career experience includes account and project management in advertising and public relations. In addition, she worked in corporate communications with HealthSouth/Encompass Health.

Ms. Flanagan earned a bachelor of science degree in communications with a minor in business from Florida State University, where she was a member of the varsity swimming and diving team.

Dr. Godehard Oepen, M.D, Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A.

Medical Director

Dr. Godehard Oepen studied Medicine in Marburg, Fribourg/Switzerland, and Freiburg. After his term in the military, he completed a Residency Training in Neurology, obtained a PH.D. degree in Clinical Neurophysiology, and a second Residency Training in Psychiatry at the Albert Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany, where he then served as Senior Clinician and Associate Professor. In 1989, Dr. Oepen continued his research and clinical activities in Boston at Harvard University, where he underwent another required residency training in American Psychiatry at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School (HMS), including a rotation in Behavioral Neurology at Beth Israel Hospital, HMS.

His more than 110 articles, book chapters and three edited books cover a wide range of topics, from neuropsychiatric illness (Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, MS, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder) to Borderline Personality Disorder, Psychopharmacology, and Philosophical Issues in Psychiatry.

After four years at the Bedford VA Hospital and two years as Medical Director of the Harvard North Shore Geriatric Psychiatry Program in Salem/MA, Dr. Oepen joined Alabama Psychiatric Services in 1999 and was Assistant Medical Director for Clinical Services and Education at APS until its closing on 2/13/2015, coordinating APS’ CME Program and treatment quality issues, resulting in the publication of APS outcome data in two posters and two peer-reviewed articles. Since March 2015 Dr. Oepen has joined Grayson & Associates in their Riverchase office and providing inpatient care at St. Vincent’s East.

Todd Cox

Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Todd A. Cox is executive vice president & chief information officer (CIO) at BHS. Mr. Cox oversees all information technology aspects of the company including system administration as well as programming and development, eligibility maintenance and technical support.

Mr. Cox has over 30 years of IT experience including software development, database administration and large-scale IT operations.  Included in his experience is more than 20 years with a medical record software development company where he was chief technology officer, leading efforts to be one of the first three vendors in the country to achieve CCHIT certification.  His professional software development experience began in the United States Air Force with the Base Level Systems Modernization Program where he eventually led standardization efforts for more than one hundred software developers.

Mr. Cox holds a B.S. degree in computer science and mathematics from Troy State University, Montgomery.  He has various industry certifications in systems and database administration.

Liz Slater, C-SAPA

Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Safety First Division

Liz Slater is senior vice president & chief marketing officer (CMO), Safety First division. Liz is directly responsible for all Safety First marketing and sales efforts as well as regulatory compliance. Additionally, she works in collaboration with the President, Safety First division in the management of operations including client onboarding, implementation, and account management.

With 22 years’ experience, Ms. Slater has extensive knowledge related to all facets of employment screening program management. She has been instrumental in the growth of Safety First over the past several years. Her national marketing presence has expanded Safety First’s client base to include Fortune 50 and Fortune 100 companies as well as membership in national organizations including SAPAA and NDASA.

Ms. Slater earned a BS degree in Acquisition and Contract Management from Athens State University. Additionally, she holds an AAS degree in Paralegal Studies. She is the only woman in Alabama certified as a C-SAPA (Certified Substance Abuse Program Administrator) by the Commission for Drug and Alcohol Program Professionals and 1 of only 63 individuals certified in the United States.