NASHVILLE – After serving since September as interim chief executive officer for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Luke Gregory has been named to permanently fill the role, effective immediately. The appointment was announced to hospital faculty and staff by C. Wright Pinson, MBA, M.D., deputy vice chancellor for Health Affairs and chief executive office of the Vanderbilt Health System, at a town hall meeting held Wednesday.
“Luke has served in an exemplary manner and in many roles since joining Vanderbilt,” Pinson said. “He is supportive of our Children’s Hospital team, tested and experienced in leadership, and lives Vanderbilt’s caring attitude in all he does. His values, wisdom and congenial personality inspire confidence and trust.”
“I am delighted to have him in a permanent capacity as chief executive officer for Children’s Hospital at this important juncture as the hospital is poised for expansion,” said Pinson. “His selection and appointment to this position is supported unanimously by Dr. Balser and the hospital’s entire senior leadership team.”
Gregory’s appointment comes at an important period in the hospital’s history. With the announcement last fall for a multi-phase, multi-year expansion to the facility, Children’s Hospital is poised to begin a phase of strategic growth as inpatient bed space and services are increased.
“Luke has extensive experience and enjoys an excellent reputation in health systems management. After vetting this appointment with colleagues across the country, I concluded we are most fortunate to have Luke Gregory,” said Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs and dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
With a distinguished career in health care administration, Gregory joined Vanderbilt in 2007 as senior vice president and chief business development officer in the Office of Business Development.
While in this role, Gregory was active in the development of Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks, the acquisition of Franklin Bone and Joint, and was instrumental in the partnership expansion of Vanderbilt Home Care with Walgreen’s to include home infusion services.
Gregory was also named chief business development officer for Children’s Hospital in July.
“It is indeed an honor for me to welcome Luke into his new role with Children’s Hospital. I have had the great pleasure of working with him and have found him to a man of integrity and compassion,” said John Brock III, M.D., the Monroe Carell Jr. Professor and surgeon-in-chief for Children’s Hospital. “Luke has a wealth of knowledge in the management of hospitals and he will be an outstanding asset to the Children’s Hospital enterprise. We are very fortunate to have someone of his character and leadership skills to take this position.”
Gregory earned his undergraduate degree from Emory University and holds multiple master’s degrees, including a Master in Religion from Vanderbilt; and a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Health Administration from Georgia State University. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
“We are indeed most fortunate to have Luke Gregory with us. I am completely confident in his passion and commitment to the mission of Children’s Hospital and delighted to have him as a partner,” said Jonathan Gitlin, M.D., the James C. Overall Professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics. “Luke understands our devotion to families, patients and community, and entirely supports our academic mission that is so essential to benefit our children. He will be an extraordinary leader.”
A longtime Nashvillian, Gregory served as senior vice president of Operations with Baptist Hospital and was CEO for the Blakeford Inc. His current community service appointments include: vice chair for the Tennessee Association for Homes and Services for the Aged; the Tennessee Board of Licensure for Healthcare Facilities; the Board of Visitors with Vanderbilt University Divinity School; and an executive board member with the Middle Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts of America.
“Luke’s rich background in health care administration has enabled him to quickly step in and understand our hospital. He has embraced every opportunity to learn about caring for children and families even as he has taught our team new ways to approach a challenge,” said Margaret Rush, M.D., chief of staff for Children’s Hospital. “It has been a true pleasure to work with him as he has engaged with leaders, faculty and staff to further our mission of providing excellence in children’s health care. I look forward to continuing to support him as he leads our team in this important work.”
Gregory and his wife Susan, who also works in health care as a social worker, are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary this year.They have two children, Kate and Ben. Kate is employed by Emory University’s Department of Development and Alumni Relations. Ben is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to permanently join a community resource with such a rich legacy. The success of Children’s Hospital has been through the passion of our community, the hard work of so many current colleagues and the vision and commitment of my predecessors,” said Gregory.