The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) announced the recipients of its 2025 Awards of Excellence, honoring individuals whose leadership and service have strengthened hospitals and advanced patient care across Tennessee. The awards were presented during THA’s 87th Annual Meeting, held September 18–19.
“This year’s honorees reflect the best of our field, leaders and caregivers who put patients first, lift up their teams, and strengthen their communities,” said Wendy Long, MD, MPH, THA President and CEO. “Their dedication reminds us that when hospitals are strong, communities are stronger. We are proud to celebrate their impact.”
THA recognized the following individuals with this year’s awards:
- President’s Award: Hurricane Response: Ballad Health Employees at Unicoi County Hospital
- CEO of Distinction Award: C. Wright Pinson, M.B.A., M.D., Deputy CEO & Chief Health System Officer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Senior Executive of Distinction Award: Andrew McGill, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Business Development, and Advocacy (retired), CHI Memorial
- Trustee of Distinction Award: Mayor Rogers Anderson, Williamson County Mayor, Williamson Health Trustee, Williamson Health
- Nurse Leader of Distinction Award: Angelita Rodgers, D.N.P., R.N., Nursing Director, Emergency and Medicine Services, Regional One Health
- Clinical Nurse of Distinction Award: Gary Huie, R.N., Staff Nurse, Erlanger Baroness Hospital Medical ICU, Erlanger
- Patient Safety Leadership Award: Dorris Dotson-Suggs, M.S.N., R.N., Vice President of Quality and Clinical Effectiveness, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
Videos of award winners are available here, and photos are available here.
The following provides details on each award and the recipients, including highlights from their nomination materials:
The President’s Award recognizes an individual or group whose work represents an extraordinary commitment to Tennessee hospitals and the patients we serve.
This year’s award is presented to the employees of Ballad Health – Unicoi County Hospital for their extraordinary response during the unprecedented storms in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. In the face of rising floodwaters and the difficult task of evacuating the hospital, these caregivers showed remarkable courage and resilience, continuing to provide compassionate care to patients under the most challenging circumstances. Their actions reflect the highest ideals of Tennessee’s hospitals and an unwavering commitment to serve their communities.
The CEO of Distinction Award recognizes leadership and service by an individual member in addition to contributions to the healthcare industry.
C. Wright Pinson is honored for decades of transformative leadership in Tennessee healthcare. For more than 16 years, he served as Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he helped build one of the nation’s leading transplant programs, performing Middle Tennessee’s first liver transplant. Today, he leads the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network, a collaboration of 66 hospitals and more than 7,000 providers across the region. He is also a longstanding THA leader, including service as Board Chair from 2018 to 2019.
The Senior Executive of Distinction Award recognizes leadership and service by an individual in support of a THA member hospital or health system.
Andrew McGill, retired Senior Vice President of Strategy, Business Development, and Advocacy at CHI Memorial, is honored for three decades of visionary leadership in Tennessee healthcare. He advanced physician integration through the development of Mountain Management Services and the Memorial Physician Enterprise, led the creation of the region’s first hospitalist group, and oversaw major facility expansions, including the Guerry Heart & Vascular Center. His collaborative spirit, advocacy at every level of government, and unwavering commitment to patient-centered care have left a lasting impact on hospitals, providers, and communities across the state.
The Trustee of Distinction Award recognizes an active or recently retired member of the board of directors or associate/advisory board of a THA member institution.
Rogers Anderson is honored for exemplary governance and community stewardship spanning 37 years of service as a Williamson Health trustee. A U.S. Air Force veteran and longtime Williamson County Mayor, he has aligned hospital and county priorities to expand access, strengthen finances, and support essential services like EMS, 911, and school athletic trainers. Anderson played a pivotal role in the system’s $180 million expansion, adding the Boyer-Bryan West Tower, new ICU and med-surg beds, an expanded Cardiac Center, and an upgraded Emergency Department and new NICU. His steady leadership through crises and unwavering focus on patients and community exemplify trustee excellence.
The Nurse Leader of Distinction Award recognizes outstanding contributions by a registered nurse leader employed at a THA member hospital or health system.
Angelita Rodgers is honored for exceptional nursing leadership that elevates patient outcomes and staff development at Regional One Health. She launched a Nurse Manager Leadership Development Program, advanced fall and Hospital Acquired Pressure Injury (HAPI) prevention protocols from the ED to house-wide practice and strengthened nurse–physician collaboration to improve length of stay and patient experience, all while mentoring emerging leaders throughout her organization.
The Clinical Nurse of Distinction Award recognizes outstanding contributions by a registered nurse employed at a THA member hospital or health system.
Gary Huie is honored for extraordinary bedside care and patient advocacy in Erlanger’s MICU. A former U.S. Military Police officer and armed security guard at Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Gary later found his true passion in nursing. His steadfast, around-the-clock support of a medically complex patient, coupled with expert clinical judgment and coordination across teams, earned a DAISY Award following an unprecedented number of nominations. His work exemplifies the compassion, skill, and perseverance that define nursing excellence.
The Patient Safety Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has taken extraordinary and innovative steps to make patient safety and quality a top priority in their organization.
Dorris Dotson-Suggs is honored for embedding a rigorous, data-driven culture of safety across a multi-hospital system. She leads enterprise readiness for DNV accreditation, sustains internal audits, and guided a complex EHR transition with patient safety at the forefront. Her work has strengthened compliance, reduced risk, and advanced continuous improvement in quality outcomes.