MTMC President and CEO Gordon Ferguson

Gordon Ferguson got his first look at what it is was like to work at a hospital by working as an orderly while in college.

The president and chief executive officer of Middle Tennessee Medical Center saw a glimpse of the complexity of running a hospital and decided to go into hospital administration.

Ferguson, a University of Tennessee at Knoxville alum, said deciding to embark on his chosen career has to do with his desire to be of service to others and his interest in business administration.

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce named Ferguson, who led the effort to build and open the new medical center last year, 2011’s businessperson of the year.

Ferguson was the driving force behind getting the $267 million hospital built in the first place. He was tenacious and never let no be the final answer when it came to getting approval from Ascension Health, MTMC’s parent company.

But he was a part of a team effort that began when Ferguson started at MTMC back in 1998. Back then, hospital executives knew there was a need for a more accessible hospital in growing Murfreesboro.

The opening of the medical center in October 2010 was “really a dream come true,” Ferguson said. The new hospital fully fulfilled the vision executives had for the hospital. The medical center caters more to the patient with larger patient rooms, natural light, artwork and provides state-of-the-art technology for better patient care.

The CEO will receive his award at the Business at its Best 2011 Celebration, the Chamber’s annual gathering to celebrate the past year and look ahead to the future.  Business Legend of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, Leadership Rutherford, Pinnacle Award and Diplomat of the Year awards will be given out. The event is Friday, Feb. 4 at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center.

Retired First Tennessee Bank President Charlie Myatt is the recipient of the Business Legend of the Year award.

Myatt, an MTSU graduate, served in numerous positions with First Tennessee before becoming the regional president in 1988 and returning to Murfreesboro.  

“Gordon Ferguson, CEO of Middle Tennessee Medical Center, is very deserving of this year’s Businessperson of the Year award from the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce,” remarked Paul Latture, president of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. “This past year, Gordon led an endeavor that was not only transformational for the hospital, but it was truly transformational for the entire county.

“With Gordon’s leadership of this new hospital facility, a new day has begun for our community, and we are grateful for his commitment and enthusiasm for Rutherford County. I know our board of directors is proud to have selected him for this recognition, as it is well deserved,” he continued.

Ferguson said he was surprised by the honor. He feels “very privileged to be recognized this way.”

He said the timing for the new medical center was good because it provided a needed spark for development in the city of Murfreesboro and brought new jobs to the area both directly and indirectly.

MTMC employs more than 1,000 associates, hiring some 200 new employees with the move to the new facility.

Not only being more accessible to patients, the new building and state-of-the-art technology is allowing the medical center to recruit talented physicians to the area.

Ferguson doesn’t take all of the credit for the development of and opening of the new hospital in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“I am only as successful as our associates,” he said, adding he counts on them to live out the values of the hospital organization and provide quality patient care.

Before joining MTMC nearly 13 years ago, Ferguson served as vice president of operations for eight years at Clarksville Memorial Hospital, which is now Gateway Medical Center.

Ferguson’s first hospital administration job was director of planning at Baptist Medical Center Princeton in Birmingham, Ala. He then moved on to Baptist Hospital in Knoxville where he served as vice president for corporate services.

“He has been an outstanding addition to our region since his arrival from East Tennessee,” commented Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg. “He extends a long lines of extraordinary administrators at Middle Tennessee Medical Center.

“It would be hard to understand how anyone could have done a better job managing the projects that he has been a part of since he arrived here … .”

Since moving to Murfreesboro, Ferguson has been involved in a number of organizations and charities.

He is involved at First United Methodist Church, member of the Chamber of Commerce and its incoming president, Noon Rotary and United Way.

Ferguson is slated to chair the American Heart Association Heart Walk later this year, he has served as finance chair for the March of Dimes and is a participant in the American Diabetes Foundation Tour de Cure.

Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
Business at its Best 2011 Celebration

Friday, Feb. 4 at Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center

Reception at 5:30 p.m.
Dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Reservations are $60 for Chamber members and $80 for non-members.  For reservations, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 615-893-6565.