Gordon Ferguson Receives Tennessee Hospital Association CEO of Distinction Award

Gordon B. Ferguson, FACHE, former president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, has received the Tennessee Hospital Association’s 2026 CEO of Distinction Award for his nearly four decades of healthcare leadership and service in Tennessee.

THA presented the award Sept. 24–25 during its 88th Annual Meeting in Nashville. The CEO of Distinction Award recognizes leadership and service by an individual member throughout their career, along with contributions to the healthcare industry as a whole.

Ferguson retired in 2025 after 19 years as president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford. During his tenure, he led major growth at the hospital, including its 2010 relocation to a new campus and subsequent expansions of hospital capacity, emergency care, surgical services, and women’s health. His tenure saw expansion of clinical programs and services to keep patients close to home, including expanding critical care, strong, and open heart surgery.

“Having worked closely with Gordon during his time leading Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, I have seen firsthand how his contributions to healthcare and his commitment to excellence have shaped our health system and the wider healthcare community,” said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas.

Ferguson became president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford in 2006. At the time, the hospital had 215 beds. Under his leadership, it grew to 418 beds and expanded its role as a regional tertiary center.

One of Ferguson’s most significant projects was the relocation of Middle Tennessee Medical Center to its new campus, now Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, in 2010. The project required more than a decade of planning, land acquisition, regulatory approvals, and construction. Ferguson oversaw the transition as patients moved from the former hospital to the new site of care in a single day.

The campus continued to expand after the move, adding labor and delivery rooms, surgical suites, emergency care capabilities, a medical office building, and parking infrastructure.

Ferguson also helped expand care beyond the Rutherford County campus. He played a key role in the acquisition and integration of four rural Ascension Saint Thomas hospitals and oversaw the development of Westlawn Neighborhood Hospital. He also made clinician recruitment and retention a priority, helping grow the medical staff from approximately 250 to 970 clinicians.

That growth expanded access to specialty services, including cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and women’s health.

Ferguson also supported programs that addressed barriers to care. He helped launch the Dispensary of Hope at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, a medication assistance program that provides free medications to people who need them. The program later expanded nationally across Ascension.

Ferguson’s service extended beyond Ascension Saint Thomas. He was a longtime participant in THA Legislative Day on the Hill, served on the THA Awards Committee, and previously served on the THA Innovative Solutions board. He also participated in Friends of Tennessee Hospitals and worked with Rutherford County legislators on healthcare policy issues, including TennCare funding and Certificate of Need reform.

His community leadership included service with the Tennessee State Board of Education, United Way of South Central Tennessee, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Murfreesboro Noon Rotary Club, and the American College of Healthcare Executives of Middle Tennessee. He also supported mobile health missions and the Saint Louise Clinic, which provides care to uninsured Rutherford County residents.

Ferguson placed a strong emphasis on developing future healthcare leaders. He served as a preceptor for administrative fellows, mentored graduate students, and supported emerging leaders across Ascension.

“Gordon is a distinguished healthcare leader whose career has been defined by his commitment to improving patient care, advancing healthcare innovation, and giving back to the community,” Tahir said. “His career is a shining example of what it means to lead with integrity, tenacity, and a true calling to serve others.”

THA recognized Ferguson alongside eight other individuals and one community partnership as part of its 2026 Awards of Excellence. The awards recognize accomplishments in patient care, hospital leadership, workforce development, and community health.

Ferguson previously received the American College of Healthcare Executives Regent’s Award for Young Administrator of the Year, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Business Legend of the Year, American Red Cross Hero of the Year, and Nashville Business Journal Healthcare Hero recognition.