Committee recommends interim CEO Veronica Elders as Hospital Authority’s nominee

The Hospital Authority CEO Performance & Search Committee voted to recommend interim CEO Dr. Veronica Elders as the committee’s nominee for permanent chief executive officer of Nashville General Hospital.

Chair Smith opened the committee’s deliberations by framing the search process, saying about 200 national applicants responded and that AMN Healthcare helped the board narrow the field to two finalists. In presenting the committee’s recommendation for the full board, the chair cited recent operational and fiscal gains under Dr. Elders’ leadership, noting that the Metro Council approved a full subsidy for the hospital and the institution secured more than $7 million in capital improvements during the interim period.

Multiple hospital clinicians and staff spoke during public comment to endorse Dr. Elders. Sue Fort White, executive director of Our Kids, called Elders “masterful in supporting and building up this team” and said the Metro Council’s recent full subsidy reflected confidence in Elders’ leadership. Dr. Josh Baxter, who described nearly 20 years at Nashville General, credited Elders with “millions of dollars in savings” and said she had restored staff confidence: “Her dedication is evident not only in her vision for the future, but her daily engagement,” he said.

Physician and clinical leaders echoed that theme. Dr. Christina Nelson, chief of anesthesiology, said recruitment of cardiology and surgical subspecialty staff improved under Elders, and Dr. Christine Jett, senior director of nursing, said continuity would help the hospital preserve recent gains. Doria Gibbons, employee health coordinator, told the committee staff morale had visibly improved and said she had chosen to remain at the hospital because of Elders’ leadership.

Board members debated continuity versus bringing in external leadership. Some members emphasized the advantage of institutional knowledge at a hospital that has undergone rapid operational changes; others said an outside leader could offer a clean break from a previous administration that some clinicians described as having left staff “bruised.” Mr. Lesser reminded the body that the selection is “about substance” and the board’s policy role, while Mr. Harvey and Chair Smith stressed the risk of losing momentum.

AMN Healthcare’s representatives, Mick and Julie, summarized their national search as disciplined and highly engaged, and reminded the committee the formal vote being taken is a recommendation to the full board. The committee conducted a straw poll and then a formal motion. After a motion to recommend Dr. Veronica Elders and a second, the committee voted; the chair announced the motion carried and that the committee will forward the recommendation to the board for final action at tomorrow’s meeting.

The committee’s action is advisory: the full Hospital Authority board will consider the recommendation and may accept it, reject it, or take a different action tomorrow. If the board accepts the recommendation, staff indicated the next step will be to extend an offer to Dr. Elders; AMN noted that the board could direct a different procedural path if it wished.

The committee adjourned after brief procedural remarks and an invitation to attendees to collect provided lunch.