NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Nashville Health Care Council and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D., launched an initiative today designed to engage select senior and emerging industry leaders to explore new business strategies and meet the challenges facing the U.S. health care system in the years ahead.

Working with today and tomorrows industry leaders, we will advance Nashvilles reputation for health care entrepreneurship and innovation, said Sen. Frist, who will co-direct the new initiative with Larry Van Horn, a leading expert in health care management and economics, and professor at Vanderbilt Universitys Owen Graduate School of Management. By engaging leaders and working together, we can ensure that Nashville continues to be seen as the capital of the U.S. health care delivery system.

The initiative the Nashville Health Care Council Fellows will leverage the expertise of the industrys founding leadership in Nashville as well as nationally-known figures and leading academic institutions. Spearheaded by Sen. Frist, the initiative is being shaped by a Council Board Advisory Committee whose members represent some of Nashville health cares largest and most respected organizations. It is presented in partnership with: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Community Health Systems, HCA, Healthways, LifePoint Hospitals and Vanderbilt Universitys Owen Graduate School of Management.

Our goal for this program is to create a forum for thought leadership and help guide the future of the health care industry - in Nashville and around the country, said Ben Leedle, president and CEO of Healthways and chairman of the Council.

The inaugural class of Council Fellows will bring together 20 to 30 selected applicants on a bi-monthly basis for eight day-long sessions during the spring and summer of 2013. Van Horn, alongside colleagues at the Owen School, is developing a rigorous curriculum that blends three key elements: discussion of topics such as value creation and effecting change; immersion opportunities at Nashvilles leading health care organizations; and leadership development.

Council staff person Judith Byrd will oversee the Fellows initiative as executive director. The initiative will convene at the Owen Graduate School of Managements Center Building and will feature nationally-respected CEOs and guest speakers from Nashville and across the nation who represent various interests related to both the health care industry and leadership studies. Additional curriculum is provided through Harvard Business School industry case studies.

Participants in todays launch announcement included Sen. Frist, Leedle, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper (TN-5), Van Horn, and Nashville Health Care Council President Caroline Young.

Leading Through Unprecedented Change

The launch of this innovative initiative comes amidst sweeping reform that impacts every corner of the health care industry. The impact on Nashvilles $70 billion a year industry that includes more than 500 dedicated and supporting companies in Nashville is certain to be historic, likely the most impactful milestone since Nashville first took its place more than four decades ago as the focal point of health care innovation.

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Nashville Health Care Council, Frist Launch Fellows Initiative to Engage Health Care Leaders, Advance Nashville’s Legacy