James Ross, Chief Executive Officer at West Tennessee Healthcare has been installed as the board chair of the Tennessee Hospital Association.
The announcement was made during the THA’s 81st Annual Meeting last week, when the organization elected its 2020 Board of Directors.
Paul Korth, CEO at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, will serve as chairman-elect. Wright Pinson, M.D., MBA, FACS, CEO at Vanderbilt Health System in Nashville, is the THA immediate past chairman.
“I consider it an honor and privilege to be elected as chair of the Tennessee Hospital Association,” Ross said, “It was a great honor to be elected into that role and to represent the over 170, 180 hospitals across the state.
“It also caught me off-guard to be recognized for the diversity and leadership award … I really take that award on behalf of West Tennessee Healthcare, and all the work we’ve done in diversity and our leadership – as well as diversity in our workforce – but also the health equity side of it, which is trying to meet people where they are, meet them with the needs they have – particularly with social determinants of health.
“It was a surprise to me to receive the award, but I happily accepted that on behalf of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.”
Ross received this award for his advocacy for diversity among patients, employees and organizational leadership. The health system’s Diversity and Cultural Competency Task Team explores cultural competency within the organization to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare.
Ross has served as chair of the THA Council on Inclusion and Health Equity and has been a member since its inception. He also is a supporter of the THA Agenda 21 Program, which matches minority healthcare students with hospital executives for summer internships in hospitals across the state.
(PHOTO: NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM FILE – James Ross presents Shawn Baldwin, M.D., with the West Tennessee Healthcare’s “Doctor of the Year” Award for 2018)
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