Health Care Council Announces 2011-2012 Board of Directors

NASHVILLE – The Nashville Health Care Council announces the appointment of its 2011-2012 board of directors. Ben R. Leedle, Jr., president and CEO of Healthways, will be the new chairman. Leedle succeeds Joey Jacobs, chairman and CEO, Acadia Healthcare, who served as 2009-2011 Council chairman, and who remains on the board as a director. William F. Carpenter III, chairman and CEO of LifePoint Hospitals, will be the new vice-chairman.

“The Health Care Council is an important catalyst for growth and expansion of Nashville’s health care community,” Leedle said. “As Council chairman, I look forward to working with Council members to cultivate a positive business environment for health care companies, guiding and encouraging the next generation of health care leaders and entrepreneurs, and advancing Nashville as the nation’s health care capital.”

Four new members joined the board on July 1 for three-year terms. They are Bill Gracey, president & COO, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee; C. Wright Pinson, M.B.A., M.D., deputy vice chancellor for Health Affairs & CEO, Vanderbilt Health System; Mike Schatzlein, M.D., president & CEO, Saint Thomas Health; and Wayne T. Smith, chairman, president & CEO, Community Health Systems.

The following board members were re-elected to serve three-year terms on the board: Chairman Ben R. Leedle, Jr., president & CEO, Healthways; Victor L. Campbell, senior vice president, HCA; and Thomas G. Cigarran, chairman emeritus, Healthways.

Eight new members representing health care companies and professional services organizations that support the industry joined the 2011-2012 board for one-year terms. They are Kevin Campbell, partner, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings; Kell Holland, president & CEO, Willis of Tennessee; Jim Horrar, CEO, QHR; Tom Klaritch, executive vice president, HCP, Inc.; George Lazenby, CEO, Emdeon; Rock Morphis, managing director, Heritage Group; Kirk Porter, senior vice president, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; and Brian Wiese, partner, KPMG.

In addition, Melissa Waddey, senior director of Strategic Planning at LifePoint Hospitals was elected to serve another one-year term as chairman of the Council’s Leadership Health Care group.

“We are honored to have such world-class industry executives serving on the Council’s Board of Directors,” said Council President Caroline Young. “These board members bring outstanding experience and leadership to the organization, and we are pleased to have their support and participation as the Council continues to grow and expand program activities.”

About the Nashville Health Care Council
The Nashville Health Care Council, founded in 1995 as an initiative of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, is an association of health care industry leaders working together to further establish Nashville’s position as the nation’s health care industry capital. The health care industry is Nashville’s largest and fastest growing employer, generating more than $70 billion in revenue and over 400,000 jobs globally. For more information on the Council, please visit www.healthcarecouncil.com.