Nashville General names Dr. Veronica Elders interim CEO, board approves retroactive pay adjustment
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Summary
The Hospital Authority Board voted to appoint Dr. Veronica Elders as interim chief executive officer, approving a retroactive compensation augmentation tied to market data and directing staff to finalize a contract.
The Nashville General Hospital Authority Board voted April 24 to appoint Dr. Veronica Elders as interim chief executive officer and approved a compensation augmentation retroactive to March 17.
The board made the appointment after the CEO search committee unanimously recommended that Elders, who has been serving as the hospital’s managing agent and chief nursing officer, continue in the role while the board conducts a nationwide CEO search. The board also approved a separate resolution setting interim pay at a level the resolution described as the 50th percentile for interim CEOs at comparable safety‑net hospitals; the increase was to be applied retroactively to March 17, when Elders began running daily operations.
Why it matters: The board’s decision gives the hospital a single executive leader during a period of organizational change while the search committee conducts a full CEO search. The pay adjustment formalizes compensation for duties Elders has been performing since mid‑March and authorizes staff to complete a written contract based on the resolution’s terms.
Board discussion and vote: The search committee presented its unanimous recommendation that Elders continue to lead the organization on an interim basis. As the committee chair summarized, “The unanimous view of the committee … was that Dr. Elders has been doing an excellent job as an interim manager.” The board then took a voice vote to appoint Elders as acting CEO; the motion passed by voice. The board subsequently voted to adopt the resolution that set the compensation terms; that motion also passed by voice. The record contains no roll‑call tally for either voice vote.
Scope and next steps: The resolution instructs staff to implement the approved compensation change retroactive to March 17 and to prepare a written contract reflecting the interim appointment and the salary augmentation. The resolution also specified that if Elders later returns to her chief nursing officer duties when a permanent CEO is hired, she will revert to her previous salary.
What the board did not decide: The board did not finalize a permanent CEO hire; the search committee will continue a nationwide search and return to the board with recommendations. The board approved the interim appointment and compensation only.
Quotations: David Esquivel, chair of the CEO search committee, told the board that the committee’s recommendation was unanimous and that Elders had been performing the CEO functions since March 17. The resolution read to the board described Elders as having “served admirably in the role of managing agent since her appointment on March 17.”
The board adjourned after confirming the interim appointment and will continue the CEO search process at upcoming committee meetings.
