After 41 years of dedicated service to pediatric patients and as a passionate advocate for children’s health care, Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, is planning to retire within the coming year. A nationwide search will be conducted for Rush’s successor.
Rush has spent her entire medical career at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Monroe Carell, arriving at VUMC in 1984 as a motivated resident passionate about helping the tiniest of patients in neonatology, joining the faculty in 1990, and rising through the ranks as a well-respected leader.
Over her four decades as a true servant-leader, she has contributed to Vanderbilt’s mission and been a champion for children across various roles as an investigator, an acclaimed leader and mentor in education and clinical care, and ultimately, as a highly accomplished senior administrative leader as President of Monroe Carell.
In each chapter of her career, she has been devoted to ensuring children receive high-quality, compassionate pediatric health care and that Monroe Carell is “a place of unwavering hope and healing” for all families.
“The services of Monroe Carell are a vital resource regionally and nationally. Under Dr. Rush’s leadership the hospital has continued to flourish and to be recognized among the nation’s very best,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
“I want to thank Meg for her remarkable service and commitment to the Medical Center and the children and families we serve. She is the embodiment of those who dedicate their careers to our organization. As she advanced through successively responsible roles, her capabilities, warmth and compassion have always shown through.”
Rush arrived at Vanderbilt four decades ago to do her residency and fellowship after graduating from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Training under the late neonatal medicine pioneer Mildred Stahlman, MD, she found her home in neonatology. For a time, she engaged in basic science research following her fellowship training, studying the role of vitamin A in lung development. As part of her research journey, she played a key role with the Institutional Review Board, helping to restructure the institution’s policies and committees.
Among her many roles over the years, Rush served as program director for the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program, associate director of the Pediatric Residency Program, medical director of Neonatal Transport and co-chair of VUMC’s Ethics Committee.
Prior to being named President in 2020, Rush joined the Monroe Carell senior leadership team as chief of staff in 2007, subsequently adding the responsibilities of executive medical director in 2012, during which time she led important quality and safety initiatives, including sponsoring Quality Academy, now in its 10th year.
During her presidency, Monroe Carell has continued to achieve national accolades and recognitions, with the hospital earning the title as the No. 1 children’s hospital in Tennessee and the Southeast for four consecutive years and maintaining its recognition — for 18 years straight — as a nationally ranked pediatric facility on the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” list. In 2024, Monroe Carell was again named a Leapfrog Top Hospital, a safety and quality designation earned by only eight children’s hospitals across the nation.
“Dr. Rush has been steadfast in her service to generations of patients, families and colleagues. As the health care needs of Tennessee’s children have grown, Meg has played an instrumental role in the strategic growth for Monroe Carell as the hospital advanced both in the size of its geographic footprint across the region and the scope and depth of its clinical programs,” said C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, President of the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network and former Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer.
“I want to express my deep gratitude to her for her partnership over the years, and for a job well done.”
Monroe Carell now has 30 off-site and affiliated locations, serving more than 1,800 children daily.
During her tenure, recent examples of projects include the completion of the most recent four-floor, 160,000-square-foot expansion atop the existing pediatric facility; the opening of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt Surgery and Clinics Murfreesboro facility; the successful relocation of the pediatric burn program, as well as the pending move of the pediatric dialysis program, to the pediatric clinics; and most recently, Rush announced plans to create Tennessee’s first and only pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit for children 13 and younger recovering from life-altering illnesses or injuries.
While incredibly proud of the tangible accomplishments along the way, Rush says the people — the children, their families and nearly 4,000 faculty, staff and trainees — and the connections she’s made along the way are truly the most meaningful.
“It’s really a pretty simple recipe: I believe what’s most important is staying anchored in the mission, our why — to provide excellent clinical care and support of children who come to us for their health needs — and caring for and connecting with each other as caregivers,” she said. “And this is more than just a place you come to work — it is a special place of hope.”
Building off the leaders before her, she believes she’ll leave a solidified foundation for teams to continue shaping the future of Monroe Carell for children in Tennessee and beyond.
“I’ve helped guide the ship and the teams on board, and we’ve done some really incredible work over the past five-plus years, including navigating a pandemic. But ultimately, if people pause, they’ll realize it’s their work, not mine. These people are resilient, innovative and empowered for the work that lies ahead,” Rush said. “Monroe Carell has amazing teams, and I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone for their unwavering commitment to the work we do every day. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to our community for standing behind us every step of the way.”
In recognition of her work on behalf of children, Rush has earned several notable honors over the years. She was named a “Woman to Watch in Medicine” by Nashville Medical News in 2008 as well as a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Living and Giving Honoree. Nashville Lifestyles honored her in 2015 as a Top 10 Women in Business. In 2019, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She was also named to the 2022 class of “Women of Influence” by the Nashville Business Journal.
Using her voice at the national level, Rush began serving a three-year term on the Children’s Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees in 2023. Earlier this year, she was elected to serve as the vice chair as well as the chair of the Governance Committee for 2025.
While her official roles may come to an end, she says her voice and advocacy on behalf of children will not. “My heart is to help advocate for the future of children in some manner … not sure what yet, but I will figure that out,” she noted.
As she looks forward, she’s excited to do more of what she loves most, spending time with her family, her husband, Tim, and her daughters, Katie and Libby and their families.
“I am so incredibly grateful to my family, Tim, my girls and Charlie for the support and patience they have given me along my journey,” Rush said.
