Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford names Daphne David as new President and CEO

Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford has named Daphne David as its new president and chief executive officer, effective May 1, 2025. A seasoned healthcare executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience, David joins Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford at a time of continued growth and investment in advanced patient care.

David most recently served as CEO of HCA TriStar Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, where she led $160 million in capital infrastructure growth and oversaw significant expansion across multiple service lines. Under her leadership, the 234-bed facility experienced strong growth, improved patient experience, and increased physician engagement, all while reducing staff turnover.

Prior to her role at TriStar Summit Medical Center, David served as CEO for North Suburban Medical Center in Thornton, Colorado, and chief operating officer for Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park, Florida, and Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. Her successes include increasing overall market share in the face of a larger market decline, being selected as a “Hospital of the Future” site and expanding the Graduate Medical Education program to four new specialties.

“Daphne’s track record of operational excellence and patient-centered leadership makes her the perfect fit to lead Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford,” said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas. “Over the past 15 years, the hospital has undergone a generational transformation—opening a new state-of-the-art facility, expanding access to critical services lines and making significant capital investments to better serve our growing community. With Daphne at the helm, we will build on that momentum, strengthening our capabilities while staying deeply connected to the community.”

David’s appointment comes as Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford celebrates the completion of its $42 million Critical Care Unit expansion, part of a broader $600 million investment in Rutherford County over the past 15 years. The hospital has established itself as a leader in advanced specialty care, offering renowned heart surgery, Joint Commission-certified stroke and thrombectomy care, and nationally recognized orthopedic and bariatric surgery services. With continued investment in neonatal care, emergency services, and oncology, David will play a key role in further enhancing these capabilities to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Rutherford County.

“Joining the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford team during this exciting time of growth and innovation is truly an honor,” said David. “Carrying forward the mission to expand access to exceptional healthcare in Rutherford County is a responsibility I deeply value. I look forward to collaborating with the talented teams here, who have been making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives for nearly a century.”

David holds master’s degrees in Business Administration and Industrial/Organizational Psychology from William Carey University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

She succeeds Gordon Ferguson, who has served as the hospital’s CEO since 2005 and will transition into the role of vice president of Community Relations for the next year, focusing on strengthening the hospital’s community partnerships and philanthropic initiatives.