Health Care Council Launches Leadership Search
In case you missed it, Caroline Young, who has served as president of the Nashville Health Care Council since 2008 and been with the organization since 2004, announced her intention to step down last month. Under her leadership, the Council experienced consistent membership growth and strong retention with membership currently at 265 organizations. She led the creation of strategic programming for the council, which today includes 70 high-level events with annual attendance of more than 6,000. Young will continue in her role while the search for new leadership is underway and will assist in the transition.
HealthStream Acquires HealthLine Systems
Nashville-based HealthStream has closed on the previously announced acquisition of San Diego-based HealthLine Systems. Through this transaction, market-leading products for credentialing, privileging, quality management, and contact center optimization have been added to HealthStream's comprehensive solution offering for healthcare organizations. The purchase price for the acquisition was approximately $88 million, which was paid in cash.
TriStar Centennial Welcomes Cardiothoracic Surgeon
TriStar Centennial Medical Center recently announced minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgeon Sreekumar Subramanian, MD, has joined the team. Subramanian completed a seven-year, integrated BS/MD program at Union College and Albany Medical College in upstate New York. After serving for a decade in active duty in the U.S. Armed forces, where he was deployed on multiple missions including as a combat trauma surgeon in Iraq, he completed a surgical residency in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, which included a fellowship in complex aortic surgery. From there, he was recruited to work as a cardiac surgeon in Leipzig, Germany, where he acquired advanced training in percutaneous and minimally invasive valve surgery and surgical innovations. He most recently served as fellowship program director and assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson.
Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About!
Awards, Honors, Achievements
The American Bar Association’s Health Law Section recently released its 2015 Second Annual Regional Law Firm Recognition. Of the top 10 firms in the South, three are headquartered in Nashville and three others have a major presence here. Coming in at #1 is Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis, LLP, followed by Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC (#2), Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP (#3), Stites & Harbison, PLLC (#4), Butler Snow, LLP (#6), and Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC (#7).
The Tennessee Ambulance Service Association (TASA) has named Vanderbilt LifeFlight’s Vernon Carl Pierce the Jimmy Studdard EMT of the Year. As an advanced EMT, Pierce has been with LifeFlight since 2009 and works for the Event Medicine division, which provides emergency services for more than 600 events a year, including EMS coverage for the Nashville Predators.
For a sixth consecutive year, Hospital Corporation of America has been named a World’s Most Ethical Company® by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. The 2015 designation recognizes 132 organizations that have fostered a culture of ethics and transparency at every level of the company. HCA is one of only three healthcare services organizations honored this year.
Wishes Granted
Help spread the word … the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation awards child medical grants to families in need of financial assistance to help pay for their children’s healthcare treatments, services or equipment not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health plan. Qualifying families can receive up to $5,000 annually per child to help pay for medical services. To help fund the grants, UHCCF has recently unveiled its latest children’s book, “Oliver & Hope’s Superhero Saturday,” which is available through uhccf.org for $13.95. The third book in the award-winning series is geared to children ages 3-8. Parents can go online to purchase any of the books or to apply for a grant.
Pandyra Joins NashvilleTMS
Kari Ann Pandyra, RN, recently joined the NashvilleTMS team as a clinic coordinator for the transcranial magnetic stimulation practice, which offers FDA-approved depression treatment for patients who have not benefited from initial antidepressant medication. Pandyra most recently served as TMS nurse coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in nursing and psychology from Elmhurst College and is also a certified yoga instructor.
Local Companies Rebrand
This year has seen a number of local companies rebrand. Cogent Healthcare’s office in Brentwood has officially rebranded as Sound Physicians. The combined organization now operates more than 180 hospitalist programs, 22 critical care programs, and numerous transitional care programs across 35 states, and employs more than 2,400 colleagues nationwide.
Saint Thomas Health recently announced all 65 of its physician practices are coming together under one common name: Saint Thomas Medical Partners. A strategic focus on coordinated care first led Saint Thomas Health to seek greater unity in 2013 when its five Middle Tennessee hospitals assumed the Saint Thomas name. Renaming its physician practices is a continuation of that effort.
Five years after joining The Advisory Board Company, Nashville-based Southwind is rebranding as Advisory Board Consulting and Management. The local arm, which was founded nearly 20 years ago by John Deane and continues to grow, will serve as the D.C.-based parent company’s home for consulting and management services.
TMA Prepares to Install New Leadership
During the Tennessee Medical Association’s annual meeting April 9-12 in Nashville, the organization will hold their transition of power ceremony with John Hale, MD, of Union City being installed as 2015-16 president. Keith Anderson MD, of Memphis, has been chosen president-elect. Anderson is board certified in internal medicine and practices at Sutherland Cardiology Clinic in Memphis. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. TMA physician leadership elections were held online during the month of February.
Grutter, Petty Join TOA
Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance recently announced the addition of two board certified orthopaedic surgeons to the practice.
Paul W. Grutter, MD, has fellowship training in shoulder and elbow surgery from Johns Hopkins and subspecialty certification in sports medicine. He also specializes in shoulder and joint replacement, knee surgery, and fracture care. Grutter received his bachelor’s degree from Truman State University where he played college football and received his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He completed a five-year orthopaedic surgery residency at Detroit Medical Center/ Wayne State University where he received national awards for his research in upper extremity disorders. A decorated veteran, Grutter served in the U.S. Air Force as a practicing orthopaedic surgeon and in the US Army in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Damon H. Petty, MD is fellowship trained in sports medicine. He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from Harvard University and his medical degree from the University of Virginia. He then performed his 5-year orthopaedic surgery residency training at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, followed by a sports medicine fellowship with Drs. James R. Andrews and William Clancy in Birmingham, Ala. He is nationally recognized for his expertise in minimally invasive shoulder surgery and reconstruction of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament. He has written and published papers for the American Journal of Sports Medicine on elbow and shoulder injuries in throwing athletes and is widely recognized as “Nashville’s Baseball Doctor.”
Staff Additions, Promotions at LBMC Member Affiliates
LBMC, one of the region’s largest accounting and business consulting firms, recently announced several new additions and promotions among its family of companies
Derek Bland has been named partner at LBMC Investment Advisors. Bland, who has more than a decade experience, joined the $900 million investment advisory firm in 2009 and has been instrumental in the growth of the company. A CPA, Bland also holds the designations of PFS (Personal Financial Specialist) and CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™). He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee - Knoxville.
Julie Capps has joined LBMC Employment Partners in the role of payroll specialist. She has seven years of payroll experience in various industries and is working on her CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation.
Eric Bartocci has joined LBMC’s Security & Risk Services Practice as an engineer specializing in intrusion detection. Previously, he was with 1901 Group in Virginia where he served as a network operations analysis. Bartocci graduated from Radford University and holds a CompTIA A+ certification.
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Expands Pipeline
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. recently announced an expansion of its pipeline with a new Phase II development program. The company has initiated the clinical development of Boxaban™ (ifetroban) oral capsule for the treatment of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). Cumberland has completed manufacturing and received clearance from the FDA for its investigational new drug (IND) submission and Phase II study associated with the product. AERD, also known as Samter’s Triad, is a respiratory disease involving chronic asthma and nasal polyposis that is worsened by aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Approximately one in 20 asthmatic adults (nearly 1 million patients in the United States) suffer from AERD.
Jarrard Announces Promotion, New Hire
National healthcare communications and public affairs firm Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock recently announced a promotion, as well as the addition of a graphics specialist to the Brentwood location.
Lacey Hunter has been promoted from advisor to senior advisor. She has worked with clients on change management and reputation building campaigns, as well as branding through cohesive messaging. Hunter, who has expertise in digital media, media relations, and content marketing, previously was a new media producer at the U.S. Department of State where she worked with staff at the U.S. embassies in Latin America and Europe. She also focused on integrating technology into traditional campaigns to increase their reach and impact among international audiences.
Shannon Threadgill has joined the firm as graphic advisor with five years of design experience. He specializes in layout and illustration and earned his degree in graphic design at the University of Southern Mississippi. Previously, Threadgill was an award-winning designer at Rise Creative.
Hospice Compassus, Life Choice Hospice Merge
Brentwood-based Hospice Compassus, which operates a nationwide network of more than 60 hospice programs, recently announced the acquisition of Life Choice Hospice as part of a recapitalization. The service area of the combined companies will expand to 90 locations in 25 states, creating one of the largest networks of community-based hospice and palliative care services in the country, serving nearly 20,000 patients and their families every year.
OGA Transforming Old Grocery Into Outpatient Clinic
Nashville-based healthcare real estate development and project management firm Oman-Gibson Associates recently announced plans to redevelop a vacated East Nashville grocery store into an outpatient medical clinic to serve the community.