THA Celebrates Outstanding Healthcare Leaders at 2023 Annual Meeting
The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) honored eight hospital and health system executives and leaders at its annual meeting this month.
The awards were presented by THA President and CEO Wendy Long, M.D., and THA Chair Janelle Reilly, market CEO, CHI Memorial, Chattanooga.
Awards were presented to the following individuals: • CEO of Distinction: James Ross, president and CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare, Jackson • Small and Rural Hospital Leadership: Thomas Kidd, CEO, Macon Community Hospital, Lafayette • Senior Executive of Distinction: Teresa Freeman, vice president/chief nursing officer, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital • Trustee of Distinction: Jill Aplin, board chair, CHI Memorial, Chattanooga • Nurse Leader of Distinction: Nikki Polis, senior vice president and chief nursing executive, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis • Clinical Nurse of Distinction: Natalie Huffine, charge nurse, medical surgical unit, Henry County Medical Center, Paris • Patient Safety Leadership: Jennifer Radtke, vice president of quality and patient safety, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville • Diversity Champion: Cyrilyn Walters, M.D., medical director, ambulatory services, Regional One Health, Memphis.
The CEO of Distinction Award is the association’s highest honor. It recognizes leadership and service by an individual member in addition to contributions to the healthcare industry.
James Ross, president and CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare (WTH), has dedicated his entire career to WTH. He began in the organization as an EMT, then moved on to a variety of roles – registered nurse, director, vice president, and now president and CEO. A true servant, his strong leadership has focused on concern for patients for 37 years.
Ross is well-respected by his team at WTH and works tirelessly with local and government leaders to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care. The Small and Rural Hospital Leadership Award is presented in recognition of significant contributions to rural healthcare in Tennessee.
Teresa Freeman, vice president and chief nursing officer, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, has worked clinically and administratively at the hospital throughout her career, which began in 1987.
She has led many quality improvement and cost reduction initiatives. She also has worked with the performance improvement teams for hospital-acquired conditions to improve documentation and nutritional status.
In addition, she has created new job classifications and very flexible hours and pay to engage and retain staff. The Trustee of Distinction Award recognizes an active or recently retired member of the board of directors or associate/advisory board of a THA member institution.
About THA – The Tennessee Hospital Association was founded in 1938 and serves as an advocate for hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations across the state. The initiatives of THA support the efforts of Tennessee’s hospitals to ensure high quality care for the patients and communities they serve.
