CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Vicky Gregg was inducted into the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame in October, recognizing a career of institutional leadership and sustained contributions to the state’s healthcare landscape. The induction, held at Belmont University, honored Gregg’s role in shaping policy, governance and philanthropic activity that continue to influence healthcare delivery across Tennessee.
Gregg began her career at Erlanger as a bedside nurse and rose through clinical and executive ranks to leadership positions in the private sector. After roles with Humana she joined BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, where she served as chief executive officer for ten years and became the company’s first female CEO — a milestone noted in coverage about her efforts in “breaking the glass ceiling.” Times Free Press chronicled that period and her leadership influence in the community.
Her tenure is credited with advancing organizational strategy and championing initiatives that moved the industry toward proactive, population-focused care; a profile of her leadership appears in the Nashville Business Journal.
A central element of Gregg’s legacy is her early advocacy for population health models. In the mid-1990s she promoted an approach that emphasized prevention and longitudinal management of health across the lifespan rather than episodic sick care. Under her leadership BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee established the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation in 2003, an enduring philanthropic vehicle that continues to support community health programs and systemic improvements.
Gregg’s governance experience extends widely. She has been sought after for board service at public and private entities, including Quest Diagnostics and Acadia Healthcare, and she maintains active involvement with the BlueCross BlueShield Foundation. Locally, she has served on the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority Board, also known as the Erlanger Health System Board of Trustees, and played an instrumental role in Erlanger’s conversion to a 501(c)(3) governance model. Now a member of the inaugural Erlanger Health Board of Directors, Gregg remains focused on broadening access to care and strengthening regional health systems.
Beyond healthcare organizations, Gregg holds civic leadership roles, most notably as chair of the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga — a role covered in an EPB profile highlighting her leadership and perspectives on organizational culture and breaking barriers. EPB’s article underscores how her combination of clinical experience, executive management and board-level oversight positions her at the intersection of healthcare strategy and community infrastructure, a perspective that has informed efforts to align resources and policy for improved population outcomes.
The Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame seeks to honor individuals whose work has fundamentally shaped the state’s health and healthcare community. Created by Belmont University and the McWhorter Society and supported by the Nashville Health Care Council, the Hall of Fame recognizes pioneers and contemporary leaders whose careers serve as models for future generations of healthcare professionals.
Peers and community leaders cited Gregg’s pragmatic leadership and commitment to action as reasons for her selection. Her induction underscores a career characterized by institutional transformation, an emphasis on preventive and population-based care, and sustained civic engagement. As healthcare systems in Tennessee confront evolving challenges, Gregg’s contributions continue to inform strategies to enhance access, equity and long-term community health.
Additional reading and profiles:
– Guidon Partners portfolio: https://guidonpartners.com/portfolio/vicky-gregg/
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-gregg-235a5834
– EPB feature: https://epb.com/newsroom/epb-news/vicky-gregg-glass-ceiling-leadership/
– Times Free Press: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/may/03/breaking-the-glass-ceiling-vicky-gregg-brings-new/
– Nashville Business Journal profile: https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/potmsearch/detail/submission/6553815/Vicky_Gregg