Nashville General establishes Advancement Committee to boost fundraising, marketing and research

The Hospital Authority’s newly formed Advancement Committee met to introduce members and hear staff briefings on marketing, clinical research and foundation programs aimed at strengthening Nashville General Hospital’s role as the city’s safety-net provider.

The committee, convened by the board chair, heard a mission reading and remarks from Interim CEO Dr. Elders before staff presentations. Kathy Poole, public information officer and senior director of marketing and patient experience, outlined the hospital’s history, services and outreach efforts, noting that Nashville General — founded in 1890 — serves about 60,000 patients a year across three campuses and has added an imaging center, a freestanding pharmacy and a new Cerner electronic medical record system.

"Our goal is simple: to ensure that every effort, whether marketing, philanthropy, or research, aligns toward improving the health and wellness of Nashville," Poole said.

Dr. Alicia Fehr, senior director of population health and clinical research, detailed the research office’s work since it reopened in 2023. She told the committee the hospital currently has five open studies (mostly oncology), several pending site selections and active partnerships with Meharry Medical College, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Tennessee State University. Fehr described the financial model for trials, including nonrefundable startup fees that support research staffing and infrastructure.

"We are working toward observational studies with a principal investigator scientist based here at Nashville General," Fehr said, emphasizing interinstitutional collaboration and the need to build trust with patients enrolled in trials.

Kate Haygood, acting manager of the Nashville General Hospital Foundation, described the foundation’s focus on health equity, access and social determinants of health and highlighted signature programs such as a medication fund, the Dispensary of Hope and the Nashville General Hospital Food Pharmacy. Haygood traced the foundation’s evolution from a small charity founded in 1977 into a larger nonprofit aligned with the hospital’s strategic priorities.

"This realignment marks a new era of collaboration, transparency and shared purpose between Nashville General and the foundation," Haygood said.

Committee members discussed the Advancement Committee’s scope and next steps. Dr. Martin said the committee could play a leadership role in studying what the hospital should look like in five years, while Mr. Harvey urged a focus on stakeholders and practical action. Dr. Scott called for local government investment to help make the hospital "state of the art," and Interim CEO Dr. Elders stressed the importance of community partners and federal developments that could affect funding needs.

Kathy Poole said the committee will create a vetted capital "wish list" for items that the foundation might help fund, starting at the committee level and moving to the foundation for consideration.

The board made and seconded a motion to adjourn; members voted in favor and the chair declared the meeting adjourned. The committee plans to meet again in January; staff encouraged members to meet with marketing and foundation staff before that meeting to learn more about programs and priorities.

Reporting note: quotes and attributions in this account come from the meeting’s transcript and the staff presenters who identified their roles during the session.