Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Society Gala Honors 2025 Award Winners

The Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation will host its 18th annual Rutherford Society Gala on March 29, at 6 p.m. at the Stones River Country Club. The event will feature keynote speaker Inky Johnson, a former University of Tennessee football player turned motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and author. This gala celebrates philanthropic excellence and recognizes donors who have contributed $1,000 or more to the foundation.

This year, Susan and Lee Moss will receive the Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award, and the Nashville Anesthesia Group (MAG) will be honored with the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation Physician Champion Award.

Susan Moss has been a steadfast partner to her husband, Lee, offering unwavering support in both his professional and community pursuits. She is actively involved in Charity Circle, Bible Study Fellowship, and First United Methodist Church, where she participated in both children’s and adult choirs. Lee Moss, a respected banking leader, spent 28 years at SunTrust Bank, where he served as president of the Rutherford County market. He later became chairman and CEO of MidSouth Bank before becoming president of Franklin Synergy Bank.

His leadership has earned him numerous honors, including the 2004 Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award and the Rutherford County Chamber’s 2019 Business Legend of the Year.

Together, Lee and Susan have made significant contributions to their community, including a lead gift to expand the neonatal intensive care unit at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, now named the Lee and Susan Moss Family NICU. Their enduring commitment to service and philanthropy makes them deserving recipients of the Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award.

Nashville Anesthesia Group (MAG): A Commitment to Innovation and Patient Care

Founded in 1971, Nashville Anesthesia Group (MAG) has been providing top-tier anesthesia services to hospitals and medical centers throughout Rutherford County. Established by Dr. Fred Lovelace and Dr. Kenneth Hunt at Rutherford Hospital, MAG has since grown to include 13 anesthesiologists, 46 CRNAs, and nine office staff. The group now supports more than 20,000 cases annually, including 4,000 labor and delivery epidurals and 7,000 regional nerve blocks.

MAG has been a key partner in advancing Ascension Saint Thomas’s Cardiac Surgery Program, enhancing patient care and heart health outcomes in the community. Known for pioneering ultrasound-guided regional nerve blocks in Middle Tennessee, MAG’s commitment to innovation and patient safety earned them the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation Physician Champion Award. Their ongoing efforts to raise the standard of care in Rutherford County highlight the significant role they play in the healthcare community.

The Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation is honored to recognize these outstanding leaders and organizations for their dedication to improving healthcare and supporting the community.

For more information about the event, or to join the Rutherford Society, please contact Gina DeJean at 615-396-4809 or visit rutherfordfoundation.org.