"I have planned for this day since I began my career in healthcare 44 years ago," said Herron in a news release. "I'm thankful and blessed that I am able to retire after a rewarding career working with the best medical professionals and support personnel that our industry has to offer."
During his tenure at TriStar, Tom has overseen major expansions and renovations to the hospital, including the addition of 71 beds to the existing 586-bed comprehensive facility, renovating the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, expanding the women's and children's service lines at the TriStar Centennial Women's & Children's hospital and opening Middle Tennessee's leading Heart & Vascular Center.
He's seen the hospital receive accreditation by the Joint Commission and has overseen the beginning construction of the TriStar ER in Spring Hill, just south of Nashville. Under his leadership the hospital has received numerous service and quality accolades including being ranked the number two HCA facility for patient satisfaction as well as being named thrice as one of the country's 100 Top Hospitals by Reuters.
“Tom has also built and led a team that includes a medical staff with world-renowned physicians, highly trained medical professionals, and dedicated support staff that continue making TriStar Centennial a leader in our industry,” said Steve Corbeil, president of TriStar. “He leads by example and fosters an environment of compassionate and quality care focusing on the entire patient experience.
"I have no doubt that Tom has enhanced the legacy of TriStar Centennial and has inspired the next generation of health-care professionals," Corbeil added.
A search has begun for a new CEO to take over when he retires.
Of his time at TriStar and HCA Tom says, “Leading our talented, compassionate and world-class team has absolutely been the highlight of my career. I couldn’t have asked for a more challenging and rewarding position for the last seven years of my career.”
We'd like to highlight Tom's career at TriStar with some facility-specific milestones:
TriStar Centennial
- Multiple and simultaneous renovations and expansions over his seven-year career.
- Construction of a six-story, 148,000-square-foot medical office building.
- Expansion of the da Vinci Robotic Surgical program.
- Became a Certified Primary Stroke Center in 2010.
- Further enhanced neuroscience services by opening a new dedicated 8-bed neuroscience ICU, implementing telemedicine, and supporting the TriStar Stroke network.
TriStar Centennial Heart & Vascular Center
- Opened 200,000 square-foot TriStar Centennial Heart & Vascular Center in 2012, Middle Tennessee’s newest, largest, most technologically advanced, and complete heart program and facility.
Tristar Centennial Women’s & Children’s Hospital
- Oversaw renovations and increased capacity of TriStar Centennial Women’s & Children’s hospital, Middle Tennessee’s only OB/GYN Emergency Department.
TriStar Sarah Cannon Cancer Center
- Expansion and renovation of the new 200,000 square-foot TriStar Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in 2010.
- Brought in new technologies, including the daVinci Si surgical robot, Middle Tennessee’s first and only CyberKnife stereotactic radio therapy unit, breast MRI, and Middle’s Tennessee’s first and only Tomosynthesis (3-D mammography) imaging system.
TriStar Parthenon Pavilion
- Implemented Telemedicine to provide quicker access to behavioral health assessments by a physician 24/7.
TriStar Ashland City
- Received own license from The Joint Commission.
- Increased inpatient bed capacity by four.
- Underwent a facility renovation.
- Added hospitalist and general surgical services.
TriStar ER at Spring Hill
- Began construction in 2012 to provide 24-hour emergency services from board-certified emergency medicine physicians.
Good luck with your future endeavors Tom. TriStar and HCA will miss you.