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Caroline Young

The Nashville Health Care Council (NHCC) tapped an in-house source of experience and expertise in naming Caroline Young as its new president.

Young was serving as interim president for the council in addition to heading the NHCC’s Leadership Health Care organization when she was selected for the permanent position.

The search committee, headed by Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce president Ralph Schulz, included former NHCC chairmen Wayne T. Smith of Community Health Systems, Tom Cigarran of Healthways and Dr. Harry Jacobson, vice chancellor of Health Affairs for Vanderbilt University.

“Caroline’s experience, leadership skill and strong relationships with council members and industry leaders across the country made her the clear choice for this position,” said Smith.

Young replaces former NHCC president Matt Gallivan, who moved to Community Health Systems in a newly created position as vice president of government relations.

“I was given a tremendous opportunity to work with Matt Gallivan, our past president, who led the council for 10 years. His vision and insight were instrumental in growing the council and in building it into the world-class group it is today. Matt was a terrific mentor both for the council membership and for our staff and for me,” Young commented.

In assuming the post, Young said, “For more than three decades, Nashville entrepreneurs have been innovators in the nation’s healthcare industry. Products and services developed here positively impact the delivery of quality patient care literally throughout the world on a daily basis. It is a true honor to be able to work with the talented healthcare executives who belong to the council, and it’s a great opportunity to work with these world leaders on initiatives that are important not only to our city, but to our country and beyond.”

Prior to joining the Heath Care Council staff in 2004, Young was a principal in the healthcare practice of the Ingram Group, a public affairs and government relations firm. She also served as founding executive director of the Tennessee Biotechnology Association and director of communications and advertising for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Young, a Nashville native, holds an MS in mass communications from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a BA in journalism from the University of Mississippi.

She commented, “In the four years that I have been a part of the Health Care Council team, a number of new healthcare companies have formed here or relocated to Nashville. Our healthcare industry is truly on the move, and it has been a lot of fun to support this dynamic growth through council programs. I look forward to my new role as president working with our board to continue raising Nashville’s profile as the nation’s healthcare industry capital.”

She continued, “We have a small staff so I have had the opportunity to be involved in both the strategic planning for the council and the implementation of our programming at every level, giving me a greater understanding of the overall big picture for the council. One of the initiatives that I am most proud of is our Leadership Health Care (LHC) program, which is dedicated to growing the talents of the next generation of Nashville’s (and the world’s) healthcare leaders. In just the seven years since Leadership Health Care was formed, it has grown to more than 350 members.”

Teresa Sparks, LHC vice chair and CFO of Symbion, commented, “I am so pleased for Caroline and her promotion. She has continually demonstrated her leadership abilities and will be even more effective in her new role. The council is privileged to have her representing both Nashville and the healthcare industry.”

The NHCC was founded in 1995 as a program of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership 2010 initiative.

“Thirteen years later it has a reputation as a world-class organization with a diverse membership of 161 companies, operating on a regional, national and international scale,” Young said. “Decisions made in Nashville, without a doubt, help to shape the nation’s healthcare industry landscape, so it’s very important that the council provide the executives running these companies with the relevant and timely information they need to make good business decisions and continue to be successful.”

She concluded, “My focus in the coming year will be re-energizing our efforts to engage our members and listen to their needs and to make sure we are bringing relevant resources and opportunities to them on a regular basis. The hallmark of Nashville’s healthcare industry leaders is their innovative, market-based approaches to addressing key healthcare challenges and turning them into opportunities. I am committed to ensuring that the council is an important source for its members in those efforts.”

Young has recently been invited to join Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL), a forum for senior executive women in the industry who network nationally across all segments of healthcare (see sidebar). Membership in WBL is by invitation or nomination only.

Lynn Shapiro Snyder, founder and president of WBL said, “Women have been advancing to the C-suite level in the healthcare industry at a pace exceeding other industry sectors — and Caroline Young’s selection as president of this important association is indicative of that trend.”



WBL Active in Nashville
BY KELLY PRICE

Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL) provides a national forum for senior executive women in the industry to network exclusively with other senior female executives across all segments of healthcare.

WBL’s goal is to help these leaders improve their businesses and continue to grow professionally, as well as to increase the visibility of senior executive women and women board members in the healthcare industry.

WBL connects women in the healthcare sector at the senior vice president level and above with their peers, provides information on becoming effective board members and leaders, and assists with board searches.

The national non-profit was founded by President Lynn Shapiro Snyder, senior member with Epstein Becker & Green, PC.

Nationally more than 1,800 female executives and board members currently participate in WBL. Nashville has a large contingency of “Foundation Associates” who participate in national activities and meet locally for informal dinners.
Visit www.womenleadinghealthcare.org for more information, a nomination form and the dates of future WBL events.



May 2008

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