Tennessee Hospital Association Re-elected Board Chair
The association's leadership shift signals continuity for operators navigating state health policy.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in People
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The Tennessee Hospital Association re-elected Jim VanderSteeg as its board chair during the organization's 88th Annual Meeting in Nashville. The move ensures leadership stability for the group, which coordinates industry priorities across the state.
Why it matters
The board chair role is critical for guiding the association’s engagement with state regulatory changes and legislative priorities affecting hospital operations. Maintaining consistency in leadership allows for a more predictable advocacy strategy for the state's healthcare providers.
The Tennessee Hospital Association successfully re-elected its chair and confirmed six board changes during its 88th Annual Meeting. The organization also established new terms for at-large members through 2029 and ex-officio positions running from 2026 to 2028.
The players
Jim VanderSteeg
He serves as president and CEO of Covenant Health and was re-elected to lead the association's board.
Matt Schaefer
He is the president and CEO of Dolly Parton Children's Hospital and will serve as the association's chair-elect.
Michael Ugwueke
He is the immediate past chair of the Tennessee Hospital Association board.
Zach Chandler
He is a board ex-officio member serving a term through 2028.
The details
The election occurred at the Omni Nashville Hotel, finalizing the governance structure that oversees the association's strategic direction. This leadership team manages the policy agendas and unified lobbying efforts for hospitals statewide, influencing how institutions handle reimbursement, compliance, and care delivery standards. The appointment of Matt Schaefer as chair-elect marks a planned succession, positioning the organization for long-term consistency in its regulatory interactions.
Timeline
The Tennessee Hospital Association held its annual meeting on September 24-25, 2026.
Zach Chandler serves his term as a board ex-officio member from 2026 to 2028.
At-large board members are serving terms extending through 2029.
Market Landscape
This election follows the precedent set during the 87th Annual Meeting by prioritizing leadership continuity to manage complex industry regulatory cycles. The board’s structure serves as a benchmark for how regional healthcare networks align their advocacy efforts against current state policies.
Healthcare operators should monitor the association's upcoming legislative priorities for the next cycle under this renewed leadership. Review how the board's strategic focus on state-level compliance affects your local hospital’s operational budget and resource allocation.
The takeaway
Leadership continuity helps maintain a stable advocacy front when facing complex state-level healthcare regulations. Operators should track the Tennessee Hospital Association's public policy briefings to align their own strategic plans with the broader industry consensus.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership and governance, visit the People section.
More information
View the current list of board members on the official Tennessee Hospital Association portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Mountain Press.
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