KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norman Majors, a longtime administrator at The University of Tennessee Medical Center, will retire at the end of the year, announced medical center CEO Joe Landsman. Majors began his career at the hospital in 1978.
"Norman has spent the past 34 years leading efforts to expand healthcare services and access to individuals from all across the Knoxville and East Tennessee region," Landsman said. "He is admired and respected both inside and out of our organization because of his fairness, willingness to work with and develop others and his dedication to improving the healthcare system for our community. We are so appreciative of all the contributions Norman has made throughout his career."
When Majors joined the hospital, he initially signed on for a six-month temporary assignment. At the end of that period, hospital leaders asked him to stay. He worked his way up through the years to his current title of senior vice president and chief administrative officer. Landsman credits Majors with leading efforts to expand access to healthcare for families throughout the region by adding healthcare facilities and realizing affiliation agreements with other care providers on behalf of the medical center. He also was instrumental, along with the late Dr. Bob Lash, in the formation of UT LIFESTAR.
"My years at the medical center have been extremely rewarding in that I've had the opportunity to work with, and hopefully assist in the professional development of, so many wonderful people," Majors said. "They've supported our efforts to enhance medical services throughout the entire community and they've helped us make many new treatment modalities and services both available and accessible to all those we serve. Thanks to their talents and positive attitudes, they've also allowed me to have fun through it all."
Additional accomplishments by Majors that Landsman pointed to include the creation of UT Home Care Services and the construction and opening of the medical center's Heart Hospital, Cancer Institute, Heart Lung Vascular Institute, 12-story East Tower and multiple parking garages. Majors also will be involved in the official grand opening of the medical center's new Cancer Institute in October.
A lifelong resident of the region, Majors grew up in Grainger County and began his career in broadcasting, eventually becoming news director of a Knoxville radio station before entering the healthcare field.
"I look forward to spending more time with my wonderful family," Majors said. "My wife, Pat, and I plan to travel, play some golf and continue to be active in community service. I'm also quite certain we'll find enough time to take our grandchildren to Walt Disney World again."
In addition to enjoying newfound family time, Majors has agreed to stay on part-time with the medical center in 2013. In his role as senior advisor to the CEO, Majors will see through the completion of numerous facility and other strategic projects currently underway.
The mission of The University of Tennessee Medical Center, the region's only hospital to achieve status as a Magnet® recognized organization, is to serve through healing, education and discovery. UT Medical Center, a 581-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, serves as a referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The medical center, the region's only Level I Trauma Center, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville. For more information about The University of Tennessee Medical Center, visit online at www.utmedicalcenter.org.
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