Synergizing Wellness + Prosperity: Bridging Health, Business, and Community in Nashville

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

With this forward-looking spirit, the Synergizing Wellness + Prosperity event gathered Nashville’s leaders in healthcare, government, and business to address the city’s most pressing health, economic, and environmental challenges. Hosted at Soho House & Co Nashville by NashvilleHealth , the event focused on transforming ideas into collaborative action for a healthier, more resilient community.

About Nashville Health

Founded by Bill Frist, M.D. , Nashville Health is a community-driven initiative designed to address disparities in health outcomes across the city. The organization emphasizes collaborative efforts to improve the wellness and prosperity of every Nashvillian. Led by CEO Mark H. Yancy , Nashville Health works across sectors to ensure sustainable solutions that prioritize the well-being of residents. As Nashville continues to grow, Nashville Health’s mission remains clear: to substantially and measurably improve the health of every individual, especially those in underserved communities.

Workforce Wellness: Supporting Those Who Keep Nashville Thriving

The opening panel focused on Nashville’s workforce and the barriers faced by workers in key sectors like healthcare, hospitality, and entertainment. Max Goldberg , co-founder of Strategic Hospitality LLC , shared a powerful story about one of his employees who almost lost his job because of the bus schedule. “If we’re serious about economic growth, we have to be equally serious about the barriers that prevent workers from thriving,” Goldberg emphasized. His story highlighted the critical need for improved public transportation and infrastructure to support shift-based workers, who are the backbone of the city’s service sectors.

Participants were enthusiastically encouraged to support Mayor Freddie O'Connell 's transit referendum, Choose How you Move, derived from the incredible Imagine Nashville initiative led by Alex Jahangir and John Faison, Sr. . This data driven approach to public policy is being watched closely, not only in Tennessee but across the entire country.

Dr. Shubhada Jagasia of Ascension Saint Thomas noted that transportation challenges have widespread implications, especially for healthcare workers who are essential to patient care. “We need to invest in the people who sustain Nashville, not just in its skyline,”she stated. Panelists agreed that a holistic approach to workforce wellness—including competitive wages, affordable housing, and accessible transit—will be crucial to Nashville’s continued growth and success.

Huge shout out to Terry Rappuhn , Keith Branson and the incredible team at Westminster Home Connection for the work that they do to repair and rebuild affordable housing for lower-income, older adults and special needs community members! Their work exemplifies bringing dignity and impact to the communities they serve in Nashville and beyond.

Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Beyond the “Poverty of Imagination”

The second panel addressed the social determinants of health, with an emphasis on housing, food access, and educational equity. Pastor John Faison, Sr. 's words resonated throughout the room: “We are not defeated by a preponderance of issues; we are defeated by a poverty of imagination.” His call for innovative thinking was met with applause, underscoring the need for bold, new approaches to tackle the root causes of health disparities in Nashville.

Katina Beard from Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center discussed how rising costs and stagnant wages force many residents to make tough choices between essentials like healthcare, housing, and food. “We can’t have a thriving city if half of its population is barely getting by,” she remarked. Erin Hafkenschiel from ThinkTennessee further emphasized that while Nashville leads in job creation, the quality of jobs and wage growth are critical factors that need to be addressed to ensure equitable outcomes.

Climate Change and Community Prosperity: From Local Impact to Global Leadership

The final panel, led by Senator Bill Frist, explored the impact of climate change on Nashville’s prosperity, linking local health outcomes to broader environmental challenges. Kendra Abkowitz, PhD, MBA from the Mayor’s Office provided compelling data from a recent heat-mapping study, which showed significant temperature differences across Nashville neighborhoods due to inadequate green spaces and infrastructure. “Extreme heat is the number one weather-related cause of death, and its impact is felt most by vulnerable populations,” Abkowitz warned, calling for a coordinated urban heat strategy.

Benjamin Ryan PhD, MPH, REHS, FRRHHed from Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University brought a global perspective, connecting Nashville’s local actions to broader climate leadership. “What starts local becomes global, and what is global circles back to impact us locally,” Ryan noted. He emphasized the importance of integrating environmental health science into medical education to prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders for the challenges posed by climate change.

Incredible Event Sponsors!

The Synergizing Wellness + Prosperity event would not have been possible without the support of incredible sponsors. A special shout out to Raj Patnaik, CEPA? , Founder and Managing Partner of The Patnaik Group at Morgan Stanley, whose commitment to improving Nashville’s community wellness was instrumental in bringing this event to life. Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Wellpoint Community , the DETTWILLER FOUNDATION , Cressey & Company Frist Cressey Ventures all deserve kudos for their unwavering support. These partnerships exemplify community hyper-collaboration that enables Nashville Health’s mission of improving health and prosperity for all residents.

Closing Reflections

The Synergizing Wellness + Prosperity event underscored that the solutions to Nashville’s most pressing issues lie in cross-sector collaboration. As Senator Frist aptly stated, “Our health outcomes are linked to everything from economic policy to climate action.” With the insights shared at this event, Nashville is poised to become a national model for inclusive, sustainable growth. As Lincoln’s quote reminds us, the best way to shape a healthier, more prosperous Nashville is through intentional, collaborative action.

#WellnessAndProsperity #NashvilleHealth #CommunityWellness #ClimateAction Alfred Degrafinreid II Marjorie Pomeroy-Wallace Cindy Kent Troy D. W. Terry Rappuhn Freddie O'Connell The Hermitage Hotel Marquinta Harvey, PhD Catherine Bass Joe Bucher, AIA Douglas Slakey, MD,MPH NashvilleHealth NACD Nashville Nashville Health Care Council Lydie Marc

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