News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville Regional Medical Center is bringing in Ricky Shelton as its new Chief Strategy Officer.
Shelton has worked for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals for 14 years, where he’s received recognition and awards for leadership and sales growth. Shelton said he’s covered a lot of ground in his time building relationships in the healthcare sector.
“I’ve traveled about 600,000 miles over middle and East Tennessee, calling on doctor’s offices and building relationships with the physicians and nurse practitioners and the nurses and the office staff,” Shelton said. “Sharing about our medicines and educating them on that… I understand the inter-workings of medical practices and doctor’s offices like that.”
Shelton can no longer serve on CRMC’s Board of Trustees now that he is an employee. Shelton said he is selecting Vice-Mayor Laurin Wheaton to take his spot on the board, which is a natural fit with her experience.
“It’s a natural appointment for me to do that for her, she’s Vice-Mayor, she’s also in the healthcare field,” Shelton said. “She’ll bring a lot of knowledge with her background in healthcare to the board and she’ll be starting the first of January and going through the August 2022 term.”
When CRMC CEO Paul Korth reached out, Shelton said the CSO role covered areas Shelton felt he was already involved in. Whether it be healthcare, government or communications, Shelton said he will navigate the medical center’s future strategy.
“It’s looking at the business dynamics and using market analysis to determine what service lines need to grow,” Shelton said. “Where is our market coming from and how best can we serve… Not just Cookeville and Putnam County but the entire region for medical services?”
Shelton said the pandemic has put an emphasis on what it means to be a regional medical center. Shelton said being able to connect with state leaders will be a benefit to CRMC in the future.
“There’s really not been anyone in that type of role, and so I have a good working relationship and knowledge obviously with the city council, but with our state representatives, state senators, Governor Lee,” Shelton said. “Being able to interface and work with them on issues that are important to the medical center and to healthcare in general.”
Currently, Shelton serves as the Mayor of Cookeville, working in city government for 15 years. Shelton also serves on the Executive Committee of the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, Joint Economic and Community Development Board, E911, UCHRA and UCDD. Shelton is set to begin this new role January 4, 2021
