The challenge of change

Cynthia Facemire takes care of the growing pains.

She and the team she leads in the Expansion and Transition Department are the “go-to” people when it comes to finding creative ways to accommodate the swell of patients, faculty, staff and services at Vanderbilt Health’s space-challenged Nashville campus.

“We are a growing, changing, fast-paced organization,” Facemire said. “Growth brings more staff and the need for more space, and we don’t have it. We’re pretty landlocked. Every nook and cranny is full.

“We have to be creative in reconfiguring spaces … to ensure that we provide an aesthetically pleasing environment for our patients, our visitors and for our faculty and staff to do their work in.”

Facemire was one of two recipients of the C. Wright Pinson Leader Award honored during Vanderbilt Health’s quarterly Leadership Forum held May 6. The organization’s top leadership award is named for former Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD.

Facemire was nominated for the award by Lee Ann Liska, MBA, President and Chief Operating Officer, Vanderbilt University Hospital, Kyle Harris, MBA, Associate Operating Officer for Hospital Operations, and Rory Langefeld, MPH, Vice President of Adult Ambulatory Operations.

Whether it’s setting up temporary clinic space in the Medical Center East Garage for COVID-19 antibody infusions during the pandemic, or relocating an inpatient unit, often at moment’s notice, Facemire “accepts the challenge of change, and turns it into smooth transitions,” they wrote in their nomination letter.

“Her expertise in how to accomplish the ‘unthinkable’ in an ‘unreasonable’ amount of time is all in a day’s work,” they wrote, “though sometimes that is accomplished at night, on the weekends or on holidays.”

“I do work a lot of hours,” Facemire chuckled. “I pour a lot of myself into my work.”

Facemire grew up in Chattanooga and earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. A registered dietitian and licensed dietitian nutritionist, she worked at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga as chief dietitian before arriving at Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) in 1986.

She began as associate director of nutrition, overseeing a clinical staff of more than 35 dietitians who supported the hospital and clinics. Later, as director, she added responsibility for six Allied Health programs and for the food operations at VUH, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, and the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital.

In 2006, the food service division was turned over to an outside vendor. Facemire continued to oversee clinical nutrition, the dietetic internship, and Allied Health, but also began working with Terrell Smith, MSN, RN, who, at the time, directed Patient- and Family-Centered Care for Vanderbilt University Hospitals and Clinics.

The following year, “I was given the opportunity to change direction and join a newly formed team, Expansion and Transition,” Facemire said. The team’s first challenge was to plan for the November 2009 opening of VUH’s Critical Care Tower.

During that time, Pinson encouraged Facemire to enroll in program he helped develop, the Master of Management in Health Care (MMHC) program run jointly by the Medical Center and the Owen Graduate School of Management.

“I was fortunate to be selected in the inaugural class (in 2008),” she said. “That was quite a busy year … but it allowed me to form some deeper connections with colleagues and some lifelong friends, as well.

“That’s what I like most — the opportunity to work with every department and service that touches patient care,” Facemire continued. “I get to work with amazing people across the organization. I am continually inspired by their knowledge and desire for excellence.”

The challenge continues.

In January 2026, after the medical ICU moved from the Critical Care Tower to the newly opened Jim Ayers Tower, a “capacity crisis” in the emergency department required Facemire to call for volunteers who could quickly “re-operationalize” 16 beds in the now-open space in the CCT.

As new floors open in a sequential fashion in the Jim Ayers Tower, four more of these “backfill” projects will be needed this year. Each time, Facemire’s group will be allotted just two weeks to refurbish, reset and re-occupy space as it becomes available.

In addition, she said, “there will be openings for radiology, a satellite pharmacy, several support spaces, and the new Jim Ayers Tower lobby.” To outfit the new spaces, Facemire’s team works closely with Planning, Design, and Construction.

Facemire explained: “We set the furniture standards for the organization and participate in choosing the artwork” with Jenny Lewis, Vanderbilt Health’s art curator. Then they help staff adjust to their new space through training and follow-up to work out any kinks.

“We do manage complaints,” Facemire said. “There’s a phone number to call that rings to our department. We facilitate getting that issue to the correct person to get it resolved, whether it’s a toilet that’s running over or ‘I’m stuck on an elevator!’”

Facemire said she was honored, humbled and overwhelmed to receive the Pinson Leader Award. She was quick to acknowledge others whose support makes it possible for her to do the work she loves: her Expansion and Transition team members — Vickie Thompson, Tammy Masnica, Jan Gressman, Shatika Fears, and Kim Nielsen; hospital leadership; and her family.

Facemire also recognizes that after 40 years at Vanderbilt, retirement is on the horizon. Yet “we’ve got new clinics to open this fall at Crystal Terrace,” she said.

It’s good that she sees opportunity for growth in every challenge that comes her way. As she put it: “There’s always more opportunity.”

Watch Cynthia Facemire’s video from the Spring Leadership Forum.

If you are a VUMC employee, you can nominate a colleague for an Elevate Credo Award, C. Wright Pinson Leader Award, or Vanderbilt Health Team Award. Visit the Elevate website to fill out a nomination form. Employees demonstrate credo behaviors when: they make those they serve the highest priority; respect privacy and confidentiality; communicate effectively; conduct themselves professionally; have a sense of ownership; and are committed to their colleagues. Elevate award nominations are accepted year-round. If a nomination is received after the cutoff for an award selection period, the nomination will be considered for the next period. VUMC VOICE will post stories on each of the award winners in the weeks following their announcement.