NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Dennis Vonderfecht has been awarded the 2009 Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime of service by the Tennessee Hospital Association. The award recognizes leadership and service by an individual member to THA throughout his or her career, in addition to achievements and contributions to the healthcare industry.
“Dennis has always been a great supporter of THA,” said Craig Becker, president of THA. “During his tenure at Mountain States Health Alliance, he has been very active in the association, serving as chairman of the board, along with a number of councils and committees. His commitment to quality health care in Tennessee and his leadership are to be commended.
“Dennis was named CEO at Johnson City Medical Center about the same time I became president of THA. He has since gone from being the CEO at one hospital to developing a healthcare system that owns facilities across northeast Tennessee and southern Virginia. He has done a great job,” Becker said.
The Distinguished Service Award is the highest award presented by the THA, and nominees must have served as the CEO of a Tennessee healthcare institution for a minimum of 10 years. The award highlighted how Vonderfecht had been a driving force of health care in the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee for two decades, from when he first became the CEO of Johnson City Medical Center in 1989 to the creation of Mountain States Health Alliance in 1998 and through the current era of a growing hospital system and major regional hub of health care.
“Dennis has been committed to providing superior health care to our region for 20 years,” said Maureen MacIver, chair of the Mountain States Board of Directors. “He grew a single Johnson City hospital to an integrated health system of 14 hospitals. With this growth our region can now attract physician specialists to provide all of our care at home. The idea of ‘Bringing Loving Care to Health Care’ is not just a catchy tag line for Mountain States Health Alliance. This is Dennis’ vision of health care, and every strategy and action is based on what is best for patients and their families. Patient-centered care means quality, safety and dignity for all who enter a Mountain States facility.”
Vonderfecht’s list of affiliations and community involvement includes serving on the boards of directors of the THA, the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence, the Tennessee Business Roundtable, the State of Tennessee Perinatal Advisory Committee, the Hospital Alliance of Tennessee, Premier Inc., the Valley Corridor Summit Inc., the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and the State of Tennessee Perinatal Advisory Council. He has served as president of the Northeast Tennessee Hospital District of THA.
Locally, Vonderfecht has been involved on the boards of directors of the Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Chamber of Commerce, United Way, American Red Cross, Rocky Mount Museum and Hands On! Regional Museum. He is also a member of the ETSU Foundation and the President’s Executive Council of Milligan College, and he is a deacon of Central Church of Christ.
A Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, Vonderfecht has also been the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award from the THA and was awarded the American College of Healthcare Executives Regent’s Award. He has also been recognized with the Health Care Heroes Award, as well as being named a finalist for Executive of the Year for the Greater Tri-Cities Business Awards. In addition, Vonderfecht was presented with a “Leaders in Christian Service” award by Milligan College and recognized as an “Honorary Alumni” by East Tennessee State University.
The award was recently presented to Vonderfecht at the THA’s annual meeting in Nashville.
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