The 2016 Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame inductees were unveiled in Nashville during the McWhorter Society Luncheon at Belmont University last month. With a mission to honor men and women with strong ties to Tennessee who have made significant and lasting contributions to the health and healthcare industry, the Hall of Fame was created by Belmont University and the McWhorter Society and is supported by the Nashville Health Care Council, a Hall of Fame Founding Partner.

The nomination process began in February and was open to practitioners, executives, entrepreneurs, mentors, teachers, scientists, researchers, innovators or others who have a strong connection to healthcare field. Nominees must have:

• Been born, lived or have worked in Tennessee
• Made a significant impact and lasting contribution to healthcare at the local, state, national or international level
• Exhibit the highest ethical and professional character
• Serve as an outstanding role model in their community

From the highly qualified candidates nominated for 2016, the selection committee chose six for the prestigious honor. A recipient of the Nobel Prize, a senior advisor to the Clinton Administration, and a 'Best CEO in America' are among the group being inducted at a formal ceremony later this year. 

Jack Bovender, Jr.: A 40-year healthcare veteran and the retired chairman and CEO of Hospital Corporation of America, Bovender is credited with the heroic rescue of patients in an HCA hospital in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. A champion of implementing patient safety measures and of fostering diversity in leadership, Bovender was named an Institutional Investor’s “Best CEO in America” for healthcare facilities three times. In 2015, he was inducted into the national Health Care Hall of Fame.

Stanley Cohen, PhD: Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in medicine in physiology, Cohen served as a faculty member at Washington University and is a distinguished professor emeritus of Biochemistry at Vanderbilt. Born in 1922, the renowned biochemist has dedicated his lifetime research to cell growth, benefitting both burn victims and cancer patients. His work on epidermal growth factors has led to discoveries for individual cancer therapies and served as the basis for drugs that target cancers and immune system dysfunctions.

Henry W. Foster, Jr., MD, FACOG: The former dean of Meharry College’s School of Medicine and professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Foster has been a lifelong champion of helping young people realize their full potential. He served as President Bill Clinton’s senior advisor on Teen Pregnancy Reduction and Youth Issues, became the senior program consultant for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and directed “Consolidate Health Services for High-Risk Young People,” and pioneered a national model for regionalized perinatal healthcare systems. 

Frank Groner, LLD: The former CEO of Memphis’s Baptist Memorial Hospital, Groner brought national prominence to the Baptist system and served as both Commissioner of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals and as a health consultant to the federal government. During his tenure, he led Baptist Memorial Hospital to become the largest non-government hospital in the nation and was responsible for many innovations in quality and patient satisfaction. 

Paul Stanton, MD: The former dean of the James H. Quillen College of Medicine and vice president for Health Affairs was named the eight president of East Tennessee State University in 1997. Now president emeritus, the vascular surgeon continues to teach medical students. He also served as a member of Governor Phil Bredesen's TennCare Roundtable and assisted in conducting the first review and recommendation of changes for Tennessee’s Medicaid program.

Colleen Conway Welch, PhD, CNM, FAAN, FACNM: The former dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing has served on numerous national committees including being a member of President Reagan’s Commission on HIV Epidemic and the National Bipartisan Commissions of the Future of Medicare. Still teaching and mentoring the next generation of nurse leaders, Welch is also the founder of Friends of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research.

In addition to recognizing Tennessee’s most influential health and healthcare leaders, the Health Care Hall of Fame serves as an ongoing educational resource to document the rich history that has contributed to Tennessee’s position as a leader for national healthcare initiatives.

Debuting last year, members of the inaugural class of the Hall of Fame were: Thomas F. Frist, Jr., MD; Thomas F. Frist, Sr., MD; Ernest William Goodpasture, MD; Jack C. Massey; Clayton McWhorter; David Satcher, MD, PhD; Mildred T. Stahlman, MD; and Danny Thomas. 

For more information on the 2016 event and honorees, click here.