(left to right) Jim Hollender, MBA, Chief Operating Officer of Monroe Carell, Juan Salazar, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, and Mike Nesbitt, Northern Ireland Minister of Health (photo by Kara Jones)
Northern Ireland’s Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt, recently wrapped up a meaningful visit to Vanderbilt Health as part of a broader trip to Nashville coordinated by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Health Minister Nesbitt explored health care strategies across Vanderbilt Health that align with Northern Ireland’s priorities.
Nesbitt met with Vanderbilt Health leaders at the Annette and Irwin Eskind Family Biomedical Library and Learning Center, followed by a panel discussion and tours of key clinical facilities. The visit featured discussions on health care topics such as preventive health, mental health, population health and innovative community-based care models. During the panel discussion, Vanderbilt Health specialists offered insights into the institution’s innovative approaches to addressing these health care priorities.
The panel featured:
- Cindy Powell, MD, Senior Vice President for Population Health;
- Nick Weimer, MBA, Vice President for Primary Care and Walk-In/Urgent Care;
- Barron Patterson, MD, professor and vice chair for Ambulatory Services and Population Health in the Department of Pediatrics; and
- Stephan Heckers, MD, MSc, the William P. and Henry B. Test Professor of Schizophrenia Research, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, system psychiatrist-in-chief, and holder of the Donald and Charlotte Test Clinical Directorship in Psychosis Programs.
Dialogue among the panel members emphasized actionable strategies for improving access to care and delivering effective mental health interventions.
Nesbitt toured various clinical facilities at Vanderbilt Health. Kyle Harris, MBA, associate operating officer for Hospital Operations, guided a tour of Jim Ayers Tower, showcasing Vanderbilt Health’s commitment to cutting-edge health care delivery and operational excellence.
Additionally, Nesbitt explored pediatric health care and innovative approaches to improve child health outcomes at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. This tour was guided by Jim Hollender, MBA, MS, Chief Operating Officer of Monroe Carell, and Juan Salazar, MD, MPH, chair of Pediatrics, system pediatrician-in-chief and the James C. Overall Professor of Pediatrics.
