In response to Dr. Joseph Webb's departure, the Nashville Hospital Authority Board voted yesterday to immediately revoke his powers as CEO of Nashville General Hospital. This decision came after Webb announced his resignation less than two weeks ago. The Board removed his authority to enter new contracts, make personnel changes, and limited his spending to $5,000 without Board approval, as reported by NewsChannel 5.
Webb’s contract was set to continue through June 30, and he was expected to be paid for the remainder of the term, even after stepping down this Friday. His annual salary of over $500,000 means he could receive about $150,000 for the next three and a half months without serving as CEO, according to NewsChannel 5.
Dr. Veronica Elders, Nashville General’s Chief Nursing Officer since 2019, was appointed to take on CEO responsibilities until an official interim CEO is chosen, as per the WSMV report.
The Hospital Authority Board is looking for a new permanent CEO, but the search is expected to take some time. They emphasized their commitment to patients and the hospital’s future during this transition. The reasons behind Webb’s removal of powers were not fully disclosed, but the Board mentioned it was standard procedure. However, findings from Metro’s Internal Audit division, released around the time of Webb’s announcement, revealed Webb had signed unauthorized contracts worth over $4.5 million.
In a separate move, Mayor Freddie O'Connell appointed Dr. Chike Nzeruethe, a nephrologist and professor at Meharry Medical College, to the Hospital Authority Board. This appointment is seen as a way to strengthen the connection between the hospital and the medical college, whose faculty and students often collaborate with Nashville General. Christy Smith, vice chair of the board, expressed confidence in Elders’ ability to lead during this time, stating, "I feel like she will be a great collaborator," as mentioned by The Tennessean.
Finally, Nashville General Hospital will end its contract with former Metro councilman Jerry Maynard, whose marketing and lobbying contract had faced controversy due to its cost to Metro taxpayer. This move could signal the Board’s intent to review the hospital’s agreements and governance following Webb’s leadership.
