Event efforts collectively raise more than $1 million for student support
The Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame inducted its 2018 class, made up of seven health care legends from across the state, at a luncheon and ceremony in Belmont’s Curb Event today. Hosted by Partner at DVL Seigenthaler John Seigenthaler, Jr., the Hall of Fame seeks to recognize and honor the pioneers and current leaders that have formed Tennessee’s health and health care community and encourage future generations of health care professionals.
Created by Belmont University and Belmont’s McWhorter Society with the support of the Nashville Health Care Council, a Founding Partner, this year’s inductees include:
- Monroe Carell, Jr.: Former CEO of Nashville-based Central Parking Corporation; Prominent philanthropist who led efforts to fund the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
- Carol Etherington: Initiated Victim Intervention for the Davidson County Police Department; Established coalitions that led to the founding of the Nashville Prevention Partnership and volunteer mental health pools for the Red Cross; Current Chair of the Metro Nashville Board of Health & Associate Professor of Nursing, Emerita, at Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health
- John Henry Hale & Millie Hale: Brave and innovative practitioners who paved the way for justice and equality; Opened their home to become the Millie E. Hale Hospital when African Americans couldn’t be treated at ‘white’ institutions; Created a holistic community center; Dr. Hale was Professor of Clinical Medicine and Surgery at Meharry; Millie Hale created a training center for nurses across the South
- Lynn Massingale: Known as a major influencer on emergency medicine, nationwide; Founded TeamHealth and served as CEO (1979-2009) and now Chairman; Was named a Hero of Emergency Medicine by the American College of Emergency Physicians and received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Previous EMS Medical Director of Tennessee
- William Schaffner: Professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy and Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Nation’s pioneer of rigorous infection control in hospitals; His Nashville standard became the standard of excellence nationwide; National leader on adult immunizations; Served as President of the National Foundation for Infectious Disease and is now Medical Director; Longest serving member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
- Matthew Walker, Sr.: Founded the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center, Inc.; Was one of the first African Americans voted into the Nashville Academy of Medicine; Credited for training half of the African Americans in the US at the time of his death; Served as a Professor at Meharry for four decades; First African American Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
But this year’s event didn’t simply announce the induction of these impressive health care pioneers. Seigenthaler announced that monies raised through the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame have surpassed the $1 million mark since the event’s inception. Coupled with other McWhorter Society fundraising efforts, this brings the total amount raised for McWhorter Society Endowed Scholarships to $3.4 million.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “I am grateful for Belmont’s placement in Tennessee—a state widely recognized as a central hub for health care in the US. As an institution of higher learning offering programs in nursing, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy, social work and health care business administration, Belmont is committed to equipping students to skillfully and confidently meet the challenges they will face in the ever-changing health care arena. We are deeply grateful for these leaders who have set such inspiring examples for our students and other health care providers.”
For more information on the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame, click here.
