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ABOUT US

A Century of Care

WHERE IT STARTED

Delivering innovative healthcare. All for the community.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

From humble origins located in a small facility just a few blocks away to now the premier healthcare institution in the region, Cookeville Regional Medical Center has seen tremendous growth throughout the last 100 years.

It all began with one man’s vision. That man was Dr. William Howard, who was described as a “kind and unselfish citizen who only administers kind treatment to those who come in contact with him.” He was also described as a “man of vision, a man of action and a pioneer” when the Tennessee Academy of Family Practitioners named him General Practitioner of the Year in 1962.

It’s fitting that the founder of what would eventually become Cookeville Regional Medical Center is described that way, as compassionate care is at the center of everything we do.

His vision inspired many local surgeons who had seen the brutal results of World War II to come home to serve residents with needed medical care instead of having to travel what used to be four hours to Nashville for care.

When it came to the point that Dr. Howard could not keep the hospital open any longer, the citizens stepped up and asked the city to help.

All of this happened at a time when healthcare services were desperately needed, as contagious diseases, such as smallpox, typhoid, scarlet fevers, flu, diphtheria, whooping cough, meningitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis were going around.

Not much was known about those diseases at that time, but doctors still found innovative ways to get the citizens the best healthcare possible – all without leaving home.

After all, innovation is at the core of Cookeville Regional’s existence.

As Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s chief executive officer, I have seen this hospital grow tremendously. I joined this facility in 1999 and at that time, there was less than 700 people employed here.

I have seen this facility grow in services and employees. I’ve seen this region grow and the number of people moving in is not slowing down.

There are now more than 2,400 employees on staff, all with the same goal: to provide the best and compassionate care to our community.

We will continue to grow.

We will continue to invest in the best, state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to bring the best healthcare to the Upper Cumberland.

We will continue to deliver compassionate care. After all, it is the way we care.

From starting a new family, getting your heart taken care of, diagnosing and treating cancer, getting surgery — whether it’s a joint replacement with the best orthopedic team around or other surgeries with the da Vinci Xi robotic system — and rehabilitation services to get you back on course, there is no need to go anywhere else for your healthcare needs.

Everything Cookeville Regional does is for the community.

Cookeville Regional will continue to innovate over the next 100 years, with the same goal of providing the best quality care for the entire region.

I’m excited to see what the future holds. Cookeville Regional is a gem of the Upper Cumberland and it’s exciting to see where we can go.

Thank you for 100 years of your support.

Paul Korth, CEO

MISSION

Building Healthier
Communities

VISION

Exceptional Care to Every
Patient Every Day

VALUES

W

Working Together

We create a culture of teamwork where we value and nurture our greatest assets — our physicians and staff — and build an environment of mutual trust, respect and best practices.

E

Excellence

We consistently exceed expectations by representing the highest ethical and moral standards.

C

Compassionate Care

We put others first in a spirit of warmth and friendliness that respects the dignity of all.

A

Accountability

We remain financially strong and committed to ensuring sustainability as part of our community responsibility.

R

Regional

We lead our region’s healthcare with integrity, innovation, education and service.

E

Empowerment

We empower our physicians and staff to do the right thing.

Leadership

Administration: 931-738-2000

Paul Korth

Chief Executive Officer

Ricky Shelton

Chief Strategy Officer

Buffy Key

Chief Operating Officer

Tommye Rena Wells

Chief Financial Officer

Luke Hill

Chief Legal Counsel

Dr. Bruce "DW" Johnson

Chief Medical Officer

Scott Lethi

Chief Nursing Officer

Joseph Jestus, MD

Medical Staff President

Les Bernstein

Chief Information Officer

Angel Lewis

Senior Vice President of Human Resources

Board of Trustees

Cookeville Regional Medical Center is overseen by a board of trustees. They appoint the CEO, approve the budget and audit and purchases. Members are appointed by the city council, except for the Cookeville city mayor and the medical staff president. They meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m.