Belmont University Announces 2024 Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame Inductee Class

Now in its 10th year, the Hall of Fame celebrates having inducted more than 50 health and health care pioneers

Belmont University today announced the 2024 Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame inductee class. Honorees will be inductees at a breakfast celebration October 15 at Belmont’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.   

With a mission to honor those who have made significant and lasting contributions to the health and health care industries, the Hall of Fame was created 10 years ago by Belmont University, the McWhorter Society and the Nashville Health Care Council, a founding partner. Since its inception in 2015, the Hall of Fame has inducted more than 50 health care leaders.   

This year’s inductees include:  

• Stan Edmunde Brock: Founder and President of Remote Area Medical (RAM ®), headquartered in Rockford, TN, which has provided more than $200 million in free healthcare services to more than 950,000 patients from Alaska to Vermont; instrumental in the Tennessee Volunteer Medical Services Act of 1995 passage, allowing health care professionals to cross state lines to provide free care; recipient of many honors and awards including the 2012 CNN Hero, 2017 Lions Club International Humanitarian Award, American Institute for Public Service – Jefferson Award (Bronze), 2010 Inamori Ethics Prize, two Emmy Awards, 2007 Inductee TN Aviation Hall of Fame and the 1995 Award of Merit-Rural Health Association; honored by both Congress and Presidents.  
  
  
• Walter Hughes, MD: Pioneer in pediatric infectious diseases research and treatment and founding chair of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Department of Infectious Diseases; initiated pediatric AIDS research at St. Jude and established the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trial Unit in collaboration with the Regional Medical Center at Memphis and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital; held the Arthur Ashe Chair in Pediatric AIDS Research; co-founder and inaugural president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of America; 1997 recipient of the Distinguished Physician Award from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, which was later renamed the Walter T. Hughes Distinguished Physician Award; former division head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; former Physician-in-Chief at Louisville Children’s Hospital.
   
• R. Milton Johnson: Former CEO and Chairman of HCA Healthcare where he worked for 37 years and led the company through significant growth and steady advancement in its clinical agenda including the company’s recognition as one of the world’s most ethical companies for multiple consecutive years during Johnson’s tenure; Established the HCA Healthcare Leadership Institute in which more than 17,000 leaders have participated; Former Chair of the HCA Foundation, Federation of American Hospitals and Nashville Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors; current Chair of the Board of Trust at Belmont, Treasurer and Board Member for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Board Member of FirstBank.
    
•  C. Wright Pinson, MBA MD: Pioneering liver transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon who initiated three liver transplant programs in the Pacific Northwest and Tennessee; directed the Vanderbilt Transplant Center for 18 years (now 5th largest in the nation) training many residents and research fellows; former Associate Vice-Chancellor for Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer; current Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center which receives top accolades for quality and service; responsible for many innovative business development initiatives including the statewide Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network; Significant contributor to the Nashville and state community, currently chairing the Board of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. 

These four distinguished inductees represent diverse areas of health care, from humanitarian efforts and infectious disease research to healthcare administration and surgical innovation. Their collective contributions have significantly advanced healthcare delivery, research and accessibility in Tennessee and far beyond. 

"The 2024 inductees to the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame represent the best of our state's rich health care legacy," said Dr. Greg Jones, president of Belmont. "From pioneering medical research and innovative health care delivery to transformative leadership and humanitarian efforts, these individuals have made profound impacts on health care and the wellbeing of countless people and communities. As we welcome the inaugural class of the Thomas F. Frist Jr. College of Medicine this summer, we are inspired by the dedication, innovation and compassion exemplified by this year's honorees. Their contributions will continue to shape the future of health care and serve as a beacon for our students and faculty and the broader health care community in Tennessee and beyond." 

The nomination process for the 2024 inductee class began in October 2023 and was open to a wide range of health care professionals. A selection committee comprised of health care leaders from various sectors across Tennessee carefully evaluated the accomplished nominees.  

Eligible nominees included practitioners, executives, entrepreneurs, mentors, teachers, scientists, researchers, innovators or any person with a significant connection to the health or health care field who: 

• Was born, lived or worked in Tennessee 

• Made a significant impact and lasting contribution to health care at the local, state, national or international level 

• Exhibited the highest ethical and professional character 

• Served as an outstanding role model in their community  

An outcome impacting the future of health care in Tennessee and beyond is the more than $4 million that has been raised to support McWhorter Society Endowed Scholarships since the establishment of the McWhorter Society and the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame. More than 250 students have received scholarships since 2014.  

For information on sponsorship opportunities for the October 15 induction event and to view a comprehensive list of Hall of Fame inductees since 2015, please visit the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame website.