CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Vicky Gregg was inducted into the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame in recognition of a multi-decade career that has shaped health care policy and practice across the state. The honor, bestowed at Belmont University as part of the Hall of Fame’s eighth annual induction ceremony, highlights Gregg’s contributions as an executive, board member and advocate for population health.

Gregg’s trajectory in health care began at Erlanger, where she entered the profession as a nurse before moving into leadership roles at Humana and later BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. She served as CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee for ten years, becoming the company’s first female chief executive and one of the relatively few women to lead a major health insurer in Tennessee (see Times Free Press profile: . Under her tenure, the company adopted a broader view of health care delivery that prioritized prevention and community health.

A defining element of Gregg’s legacy is her early advocacy for population health models. In the mid-1990s she promoted management approaches that addressed patient needs across the lifespan — from prevention and wellness to treatment of illness — arguing that successful health plans required capabilities beyond episodic “sick care.” Her leadership helped establish the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation in 2003, an organization that continues to support philanthropic initiatives and community health programs across the state.

Gregg’s expertise has been widely sought by both public and private organizations. She has served on numerous boards, including the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority Board (Erlanger Health System Board of Trustees) and corporate boards such as Quest Diagnostics and Acadia Healthcare. Her governance experience proved integral to Erlanger’s transition to a private nonprofit governance structure; she played an instrumental role in Erlanger’s conversion to Erlanger Health, a 501(c)(3), and now sits on the inaugural Erlanger Health Board of Directors.

“Vicky is deserving of this distinguished honor,” said Sheila Boyington, chair of the Erlanger Health Board of Directors. “Vicky is a woman of tremendous wisdom and action, not a leader who merely speaks the words and waits on others to make them happen. She has been an important colleague during the historic efforts of becoming a private non-profit hospital. We are proud to have her as part of the Erlanger Board and appreciative of her guidance and leadership in our community.”

In addition to her health sector work, Gregg serves as chair of the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga and remains an active participant in philanthropic endeavors through the BlueCross BlueShield Foundation. Her broad portfolio of leadership roles reflects a commitment to aligning public, private and nonprofit resources to improve access to care and advance population health strategies.

The Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame, created by Belmont University and the McWhorter Society with support from the Nashville Health Care Council, recognizes pioneers and contemporary leaders whose work has shaped the state’s health care landscape. Gregg’s induction underscores a career built on institutional transformation, cross-sector collaboration and sustained advocacy for preventive, community-centered approaches to health.