Council Fellows

Last week, our Council Fellows had the chance to experience realities healthcare professionals face firsthand at Meharry Medical College. In small groups, they stepped into clinical provider roles and participated in patient care simulations at Meharry’s advanced Simulation and Clinical Skills Center. From trauma care to complex patient scenarios, they gained valuable perspectives on the challenges of healthcare delivery. Catch the highlights from this impactful visit and stay tuned for the next session in two weeks, where our Fellows will focus on advancing the future of healthcare. --- #CouncilFellows #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #TheHealthcareCity

Council Fellows spent time at Meharry Medical College today for an immersion activity in the simulation and clinical skills center on campus. Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, President and CEO of Meharry Medical College, delivered a powerful presentation on the history of the college and the critical role of equity, inclusion, and access in healthcare. He emphasized the need for greater investment in data science, artificial intelligence, and genomics research to address healthcare disparities. He also stressed the urgency of protecting funding for institutions supporting underserved populations in urban and rural settings. Our Council Fellows will come together again in two weeks for a retreat style session focused on leading the future of healthcare. --- #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #CouncilFellows #TheHealthcareCity

Yesterday, Council Fellows reconvened for the fourth session of the program centered on social determinants of health. Dr. Tony Iton, Lecturer and Social Impact Fellow at UC Berkeley, delivered a compelling presentation on how social determinants of health drive disparities and shape life expectancy, emphasizing that health is political, shaped by policy choices, and deeply influenced by systemic inequities. He challenged traditional healthcare paradigms and highlighted the power of narratives in shaping policy, urging leaders to invest upstream in social structures to create healthier communities. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi DMD, CEO of Interfaith Dental, underscored the urgent need to integrate oral health into overall healthcare, highlighting the staggering disparities in access, particularly for underserved communities. She emphasized that oral health is not just about cosmetics. It impacts employability, chronic disease management, and overall well-being. Switzer-Nadasdi highlighted the need for policy reforms, increased Medicaid reimbursement rates, and innovative workforce solutions to bridge the care gap. Council Fellows participated in breakout sessions to work through case studies tackling current challenges for Interfaith Dental. Stay tuned for more insights from our second day of session 4! --- #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #CouncilFellows #TheHealthcareCity

Time is running out to join us at the Council Fellows Alumni Reception! Reconnect with your peers, expand your network, and engage in meaningful conversations with leaders shaping the future of healthcare. This is your chance to strengthen the connections that make the Council Fellows Alumni network so powerful. You won’t want to miss out—secure your spot today! https://hubs.li/Q039KHwB0 --- #NashvilleHealthcareCouncil #CouncilFellowsAlumni #TheHealthcareCity

Reconnect with your Council Fellows alumni network on March 18 for an evening of candid dialogue, meaningful connections, and impactful conversations that are shaping the future of healthcare. This exclusive event is only available to current Council Fellows alumni members, and we’d hate for you to miss out on the relationships, insights, and energy that make this network so powerful! Renew today to ensure you're in the room, engaging with the leaders driving change: https://hubs.li/Q038f98X0 --- #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #CouncilFellows #TheHealthcareCity

Last Friday, Council Fellows met virtually for the third session of the program tackling how to prepare for the next generation in healthcare. Uttara P Marti, Managing Director at Evercore provided an insightful overview of healthcare investment trends, highlighting the evolving market environment, the role of AI in the industry, and the impact of regulatory scrutiny on mergers and acquisitions and IPOs. The discussion emphasized the growing focus on value-based care, women’s health, and Medicaid. April Hansen, CEO of Barton Associates Inc., shared insights on workforce innovation in healthcare, emphasizing the need for agility, purpose-driven leadership, and technology to address workforce challenges. Her presentation underscored the urgent need for innovation in healthcare talent management. Eric Qui?ones, M.D., Chief Health Advisor of World Wide Technology, highlighted the transformative role of AI, emphasizing its potential to address physician and nursing shortages, enhance clinical decision-making, and improve patient outcomes. He stressed the need for healthcare AI adoption and cybersecurity resilience to drive meaningful digital transformation in the industry. Council Fellows engaged in Q&A with each speaker and enjoyed an early morning social hour to bounce ideas and discuss relevant current events prior to the start with the featured guests. We can’t wait to have this group together in person again! In two weeks, the Council Fellows will reconvene for an upcoming retreat style two-day session: Leading the Future of Healthcare. --- #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #CouncilFellows #TheHealthcareCity

The 2025 class of Council Fellows collaborated in-person today at Vanderbilt University - Owen Graduate School of Management for the second session of the cohort’s programming. Cost of care was the focus of discussion with diverse leaders sharing their invaluable views on the healthcare sector Sam Hazen, CEO of HCA Healthcare, shared the fundamental challenges facing the U.S. healthcare system, emphasizing the rising cost of care driven by increasing demand, technological advancements, and supply fragmentation. He highlighted the need for greater efficiency, workforce development, and the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing operations. Eric Evans, CEO of Surgery Partners, Inc, walked Council Fellows through an overview of diverse models of care and the role ambulatory services play in the cost of healthcare. He also discussed practical steps to address the industry’s cost challenges and highlighted the imperative nature of stakeholders working together to align incentives to move the healthcare system forward. George Renaudin, President of Insurance of Humana provided insights on the evolving landscape of Medicare Advantage. He highlighted industry challenges such as rising healthcare costs, regulatory pressures, and the need for increased provider trust, interoperability, and AI-driven efficiencies to improve patient outcomes while controlling expenditures. There was robust discussion amongst Council Fellows and with each of the featured guest speakers today! The programming will bring our Council Fellows together again in two weeks for their third themed session: preparing for the next generation. --- #CouncilFellows #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #TheHealthcareCity

Reconnect. Exchange ideas. Strengthen your network. Fellows Alumni - you're invited to a night of purposeful networking and reconnecting with fellow alumni. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and expand your network. Register today >>> https://hubs.li/Q0356-k90 --- #CouncilFellows #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #TheHealthCareCity

Today, Council Fellows gathered for a virtual session on innovation in healthcare. The session provided insights from two industry leaders. Bradford "Ford" Koles, Jr., Vice President and National Spokesperson of Advisory Board, shared a thought-provoking exploration of industry trends, strategic imperatives, and the role of leadership in driving innovative change. Dan Scher, Vice President of Strategic Planning and Sustainability of Medxcel shared the critical role carbon reduction strategies play in the healthcare sector, underscoring the industry’s responsibility to mitigate environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability. The session also included small group discussions on challenges and opportunities in key areas of innovation: virtual care expansion, value-based care models, data security, AI and machine learning, and health equity and social determinants of health. Bringing focused, solution-oriented attention to these critical topics is one way the Council Fellows program helps not just participants but the broader ecosystem and the patients it serves. In two weeks, the Council Fellows will reconvene for an immersive activity and discussion centered on the program’s next theme: Cost of Care. Stay tuned for more insights from this year’s engaging sessions! --- #CouncilFellows #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #TheHealthcareCity

?? As the snow fell in Nashville, the Council Fellows gathered virtually for the second day of orientation. Council Fellows program Senior Director Lydie Marc provided an overview of the upcoming session topics including innovation in healthcare, cost of care, health equity, the industry’s future, and what opportunities lay ahead in preparing for the next generation. Council Fellows were encouraged to leverage the expertise within the class of 2025 and to embrace productive disagreement in upcoming sessions. Today’s session featured a panel discussion led by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D., who founded the Council Fellows program in 2013. Senator Frist emphasized the importance of Nashville’s healthcare ecosystem and the collaboration fostered through initiatives like the Fellows program. Program alumni Puneet Singh, CEO of CareBridge and Mike Uchrin, CEO and Co-Founder of Monogram Health Health joined Dr. Frist as panelists. Both emphasized the importance of specialized hospital care and robust transition programs to improve patient outcomes. The conversation also addressed the challenges of scaling operations while maintaining quality, balancing growth and profitability, and how strategic partnerships and innovation enable sustainable success. This engaging discussion underscored the role of mentorship, collaboration, and a future-focused approach in building a thriving healthcare ecosystem. We look forward to bringing this year’s energetic class of Council Fellows together later this month for their first theme-focused session: Innovation in Healthcare! --- #CouncilFellows #NashvilleHealthCareCouncil #TheHealthcareCity