Hightop Health, a premier comprehensive outpatient mental health platform, today announced the appointment of Raymond Kotwicki, MD, MPH, DFAPA, as its President and Chief Medical Officer of Intensive Outpatient Services.

Upon its launch in July of 2023, Hightop leadership emphasized key drivers of the business model, including hiring best-in-class clinicians to create a true clinician-centric culture.

“It’s easy to say we’re going to partner with the best of the best, but much more challenging to execute and attract pedigreed talent aligned with our ethos and strategy,” Rob Butler, Hightop Health CEO, said. “Bringing Dr. Kotwicki onto the team is an important step in the right direction. His experience is of the highest caliber, and his passion for creating a clinician-centric culture makes him the perfect fit for our organization.”

Hightop established itself with their foundational practice, Psych Atlanta, a nationwide Center of Excellence in Interventional Psychiatry and Treatment Resistant Depression–including cutting edge treatments and research. In Hightop’s next phase of expansion, Kotwicki will bring his clinical expertise by spearheading the launch of Intensive Outpatient Programs in 2024.

Kotwicki’s extensive experience brings a unique advantage to building an IOP Clinic where patients can receive transformative care. Prior to joining the Hightop team, Kotwicki was the Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer at Skyland Trail, a nationally acclaimed private, nonprofit residential and day treatment organization for adults with mental illnesses. A noteworthy thought leader in the mental health space, Kotwicki currently serves as Vice President of the Southern Psychiatric Association and has served as the past president of the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians’ Association. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and has presented more than 425 invited lectures, symposia, and seminars to thousands of attendees.

“The pandemic both increased the numbers of people with psychiatric disorders and raised public awareness of the essential needs for highest quality mental and holistic health services,” Kotwicki said. “It’s the ideal time to establish an Intensive Outpatient Program from which people across the nation seek care. And with Hightop’s clinician-centric mindset, we can ultimately revolutionize the way we provide mental healthcare to patients.”

Throughout his career, Dr. Kotwicki has received numerous distinctions, including the following:

• Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association’s 2019-2020 Psychiatrist of the Year award
• Emory University’s most prestigious Dean’s “Golden Apple” Teaching Award
• Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
• Mental Health America and Eli Lilly’s “Heroes in Fight” Clinical Team Award
• National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Exemplary Psychiatrist Award
• Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University’s “Distinguished Achievement Alumnus Award” in 2017

In addition, Kotwicki is also an adjunct professor at both the Emory University School of Medicine as well as the Rollins School of Public Health, where he is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of bright psychiatric minds.

“We are fortunately off to a fast start with incredibly talented clinical leadership and having Dr. Kotwicki join our team furthers our momentum. His unique blend of clinical experience coupled with his entrepreneurial background building evidence-based, high quality IOP programs will create significant value for those in the community seeking this type of care. To me, that’s what Hightop is all about,” said Butler.