The Nashville Health Care Council announced the 2026 class of Council Fellows, welcoming 29 senior healthcare leaders from diverse sectors to address the industry’s most pressing challenges. The program reflects the Council’s commitment to fostering collaborative leadership and includes a mix of genders, cultural backgrounds, and participants from outside Tennessee—bringing broad perspectives to shape the future of healthcare.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. January 6, 2026 — The Nashville Health Care Council today announced the 2026 class of Council Fellows, a select group of senior healthcare leaders who will spend the coming months examining the forces reshaping the nation’s health system. The class reflects a wide mix of experience and perspectives from across the country.
This year’s Council Fellows class will participate in a five-month experience designed to meet the demands of today’s healthcare environment. Through discussions with nationally recognized experts and peer executives, participants will take a closer look at issues such as affordability, workforce pressures, and the operational realities shaping care delivery. The program is structured to deepen understanding while fostering relationships that support leaders in their day-to-day work.
“For 30 years, the Council has created spaces where leaders can engage in the hard, necessary conversations that move healthcare forward,” said CEO of the Nashville Health Care Council, Apryl Childs-Potter, “Council Fellows is a powerful extension of that work, and this new class reflects the range of voices and perspectives needed to navigate the moment we’re in.”
This year’s cohort brings together leaders from diverse roles, organizations, and geographies - including many joining from outside Tennessee. The class also includes a strong showing of women in senior leadership positions, reflecting the continued evolution of the industry’s executive landscape. The Council remains committed to assembling cohorts that mirror the complexity of the healthcare system and the leaders shaping its future.
“Healthcare is at its best when leaders work across boundaries,” Childs-Potter said. “The 2026 Council Fellows class embodies that spirit. Their collective experience will enrich the conversations ahead, and we’re honored to welcome them into the program.”
Running from January through April, the 2026 program features engagement with Executives in Residence President and CEO, Intermountain Health, Rob Allen, Distinguished Scholar, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Former Director, CMS Innovation Center at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Liz Fowler, Vice president and national spokesperson, Advisory Board, Ford Koles, CEO, TeamHealth, Leif Murphy, and Managing Director, Tuckson Health Connections, LLC, Dr. Reed Tuckson, each offering perspective and guidance throughout the experience.
Members of the 2026 Council Fellows class include:
“Each year, Council Fellows bring together leaders who are willing to think differently about what’s possible in healthcare,” said Vice President, Educational Programming & Talent Development, Lydie Marc. “This class brings a depth of experience and perspective that will shape important conversations in the months ahead and strengthen the collaborative work that defines Nashville as the Healthcare City.”
About the Nashville Health Care Council
The Nashville Health Care Council strengthens and elevates Nashville as The Healthcare City. With a $72.1 billion economic impact and 372,160 jobs locally, Nashville’s healthcare ecosystem is a world‑class healthcare hub. Founded in 1995, the Council serves as the common ground for the city’s vibrant healthcare cluster, offering engagement opportunities where the industry’s most influential executives come together to exchange ideas, share solutions, build businesses and grow leaders. For more information, visit www.healthcarecouncil.com.
For more information on the Council, please visit www.healthcarecouncil.com.
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