Metro Hospital Authority search committee hears AMN update: 142 expressions of interest; finalists expected after Memorial Day

The Metro Hospital Authority Board CEO Performance and Search Committee received an update from AMN on the search for a new chief executive, including candidate counts, a timetable for interviews and a plan to protect candidate confidentiality until finalists are publicly revealed.

"We had 137 expressions of interest; we're up to 142 as of today," said Nick, an AMN representative, who presented the progress report and said the pool has produced roughly 30 initial phone screens and about 10 candidates currently in process. He said AMN expects initial screens to grow to between 35 and 50 and the number of candidates 'in process' to rise toward the low 20s before narrowing to a presented slate of seven to ten candidates on April 15.

The committee was told that the search evaluation will weigh operational experience and the harder-to-measure "intangibles" such as an ability to build relationships and navigate political partnerships with the mayor's office and other health providers. "We want candidates who can demonstrate the ability to effectively navigate those relationships," Nick said.

Chair David outlined the next steps and scheduling: the committee will review the presented candidates on April 15, hold first-round interviews (provisionally scheduled for Fridays April 24, May 1 and May 8), and invite finalists for two-day on-site visits after Memorial Day to meet stakeholders and leadership. The search committee is expected to vote on a recommendation to the full board in mid-to-late June, with full-board consideration likely in July.

Committee members asked whether candidate materials would be available in advance. Nick said the committee will likely receive full information about the semi-finalists before the April 15 meeting but that some identifying details may be redacted at early stages to protect applicants who do not want a public job search disclosed. "If they get to the finalist stage, they understand that will be a fully public process," David said, explaining that Metro Legal is reviewing the proposed structure for compliance with open-meetings and public-records obligations.

AMN stressed the committee's time commitment for the process: the candidate presentation on April 15 could take up to 90 minutes and first-round interview days are expected to require several hours each. The committee confirmed it will keep the proposed dates on members' calendars.

The meeting also recorded two formal actions: the committee approved minutes from its Feb. 18 meeting by voice vote, and later moved to adjourn. Dr. Nettles moved to adjourn; Dr. Martin seconded, and the motion carried.

An unscheduled, light-hearted announcement briefly interrupted the meeting when a broadcast asked Nashville General Hospital employees to visit Abia Street Grill for an HR-week 'ice cream Sundays' event; members laughed and resumed the agenda. The meeting adjourned after the committee confirmed next procedural steps for reviewing candidates and protecting confidentiality during the search process.