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“My sisters and I were raised by a single mom. Therefore we learned early that hard work, discipline and accomplishment were important. I was always attracted to healthcare and never saw myself working in any other industry. As a result, I researched roles where I could use business skills in a clinical environment and impact how care was delivered,” recalled Beth Price.

Ultimately, she decided to pursue an undergraduate degree in health information management at Ithaca College … about an hour away from her hometown of Rochester, NY. After graduation, she moved to Boston to be closer to her soon-to-be husband David. When it came time to pursue a master’s degree, several area healthcare leaders advised Price to focus on business rather than health to broaden her baseline knowledge.

For her, it proved to be the ideal path to achieving her goals of positively impacting patients’ lives through strategic, compassionate business decisions. After 17 years in Boston, the opportunity came for Price to relocate to Nashville to work with a new joint venture between HCA and Tennessee Oncology –– the Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

A little more than three years into her tenure with SCRI, an exciting new challenge presented itself at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. The NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center was looking for someone to develop and implement targeted regional oncology strategies to grow its clinical enterprise by expanding care in the community and increasing the center’s national presence.

“Every day presents me with an opportunity to work with incredibly talented individuals and with the opportunity to improve the experience and outcome for patients when they seek healthcare,” Price said of her role. “There is a dynamic relationship between conducting research to develop new services and improve current treatments and providing smooth and safe delivery of high-quality care every day. In my view, cancer care is one of the most significant areas in healthcare where these dimensions, if done well together, can positively impact millions of lives.”

Despite the tremendous advances in cancer care, Price … along with other oncology leaders … is continually challenged to find ways to convince individuals to seek screening and prevention services. “Given the prevalence of the disease –– 1 out of every 3 women and 1 out of every 2 men will have cancer –– we need to be diligent and proactive so that cancer is identified while at an early stage when the chance of survival is greatest,” she said. Unfortunately, Price added, too many people ignore the signs. “It’s difficult to make people want to come in and have a colonoscopy, but it is a matter of life or death.”

Just as she is passionate about staying “on message” during the workday, Price brings that same energy to her family and friends.

“My husband was born and bred in Boston, I thought it would be a huge transition, but it’s been easy,” she said of the move to Nashville. “People here are so nice. We’ve made great friends.”

She and David, a real estate agent, stay busy raising three young children –– Mitchell, 9, Olivia, 6, and Gillian, 3. Between karate, soccer, horseback riding, gymnastics and dance, there isn’t a lot of down time, but it suits Price perfectly.

“My kids are the best and my husband. I could not do what I do without him, and without his help. We’re definitely a team.”

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