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ABOUT US
CELEBRATING 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.
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
Building Healthier
Communities
Exceptional Care to Every
Patient Every Day
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.
We consistently exceed expectations by representing the highest ethical and moral standards.
We put others first in a spirit of warmth and friendliness that respects the dignity of all.
We remain financially strong and committed to ensuring sustainability as part of our community responsibility.
We lead our region’s healthcare with integrity, innovation, education and service.
We empower our physicians and staff to do the right thing.
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
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.
Kevin Carter
Chairman
Allen Ray
Past chairman
Dr. Carl Owens
Laurin Wheaton
Vice mayor, City of Cookeville
Joseph Jestus, MD
Medical staff president
Ernest Buchanan, MD
Vice chairman
Cheryl Sandlin
Danny Rader
Scott Copeland, MD