Jane Freedman, MD, the Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer at Vanderbilt Health, speaks during Leadership Forum. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Vanderbilt Health is entering a new era with a new President and CEO starting in January, an expanding network of care sites, and a vision for the future that aims to make Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt the nation’s “partner of choice.” At the Leadership Forum, leaders presented these themes as a concerted effort to widen access while protecting the qualities that define the institution.
Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of Vanderbilt Health and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, will retire at the end of 2026, and David C. Miller, MD, MPH, will succeed him on Jan. 1, 2027.
Jane Freedman, MD, Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer, said the organization is ready.
“I am grateful to be part of this organization, and I am confident in what we will accomplish together,” said Freedman. “As our new CEO Dr. David Miller arrives in January, I know we are in great hands.”
Tribute to a transformational tenure
Freedman framed the scale of growth under Balser’s leadership ahead of a conversation hosted by John Seigenthaler. Since stepping into the top role in 2009, Balser has led Vanderbilt Health to caring for more than 3.6 million patient visits annually, expanding the workforce from 10,000 to more than 43,000 — and strengthening the Medical Center’s financial position to underpin future growth.
“Through periods of growth, challenges and transformation, his leadership has been steady — and bold. Jeff has inspired excellence and fostered a culture of innovation, collaboration and service,” Freedman said. “He also helped build one of the nation’s leading academic and research enterprises. Vanderbilt is home to the nation’s largest transplant program, a highly selective medical school, and one of the country’s most distinguished physician-training programs.”
Acute Care Center reaches six-month goal in one week
The newly established Acute Care Center at One Hundred Oaks opened in August to ease emergency department traffic and immediately began caring for about 22 patients per day, Freedman said. The center’s early results exceeded expectations, reaching its six-month goal in one week.
“That is a significant step forward. We will continue looking for innovative ways to improve access, reduce wait times, and enhance the experience for patients and families,” she said.
Monroe Carell charts a course to 2040
Jamie Phillips, MHA, FACHE, President of Monroe Carell, and Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, Chair of Pediatrics and System Pediatrician-in-Chief, outlined a strategy to advance Monroe Carell as demand for pediatric services continues to grow across the region and caring for young patients becomes increasingly more complex.
“By 2040, we aspire to be the nation’s partner of choice in pediatric medicine, where clinical excellence meets relentless innovation,” said Phillips. “This vision isn’t simply about expansion. It’s about becoming more impactful, more innovative and more accessible for the children and families who rely on us.”
Phillips and Salazar emphasized reach, noting that Monroe Carell serves more than 1 million children and has provided care for children from all 50 states. Rehabilitation services; cardiology care, under the newly named Golisano Pediatric Heart Institute; neurosciences innovation; and research are among the top priorities, the leaders said.
“By expanding access, investing in signature programs, strengthening research, training the next generation of pediatric care providers, and building an integrated system of care, we are positioning Monroe Carell to lead nationally while remaining focused on what matters most: improving the lives of children and families,” said Salazar, the James C. Overall Professor of Pediatrics.
