Caroline Young joined Frist Cressey Ventures as Vice President of Partnership Development in 2021. In this role, Ms. Young focuses on accelerating value for FCV’s partnerships and enhancing relationships with industry-wide stakeholders. Prior to FCV, Ms. Young partnered with Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to launch NashvilleHealth, a collaborative initiative to drive community-level health improvement. Prior to that role, Ms. Young led one of the nation’s premier health care industry associations, the Nashville Health Care Council, where she cultivated a national network of executives in support of industry leadership and innovation. Ms. Young currently serves on the board of Cumberland Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CPIX). She holds an MS from the University of Tennessee and a BA from the University of Mississippi.

How did you become an executive in the health care industry? Did you always have an interest in health care?

I’ve worked within the health care ecosystem for the past two decades. As a high school and college student, I worked at a restaurant within a local hospital. While I knew clinical care was not for me, I was always impressed with the nurses, doctors, and care teams. Their patient focus and positive spirit were evident so many years ago, and it’s been steadfast during these challenging pandemic years. I’m hopeful my efforts in health care make a positive difference in their work.

You recently transitioned to venture capital after many years as a healthcare association and nonprofit executive – congratulations! What inspired you to move to VC, and what excites you most about your new role?

My new role at Frist Cressey Ventures (FCV) offers a front-row seat to the health care transformation rapidly occurring across our country. We interact daily with entrepreneurs who are thinking big about improving patient experiences and offering better care. I’m excited about being hands-on, helping these inspirational women and men build leadership teams or identify board talent, discern smart go-to-market strategy and build strategic relationships.

Much of your career has focused on fostering innovation in health care and developing healthcare leaders. How do you do this effectively?

Nashville is a unique health care hub, home to numerous companies providing care in locations across the nation. These organizations generate nearly $90 billion in revenue and employ 570,000, including 16 publicly-traded health care companies. Decisions made by executives working within our Nashville health care ecosystem impact care nationally, and at times globally. Developing leaders at our local level directly correlates with improved national leadership in health care. A key ingredient to this success is fostering a strong network where executives from diverse health care sectors can get to know each other and build trusted relationships. With this strong connectivity comes entrepreneurial thinking and ultimately, better patient care quality and outcomes.

You’ll be joining us at the 2022 WBL Summit as moderator for a fireside chat with Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Chief Health Officer of Google – we’re so excited for your session! With this being your first Summit, what are you looking forward to the most about attending?

I am so honored to moderate the session with Dr. DeSalvo and have this wonderful opportunity to interact with other women at the Summit. I’m certain the time together will be unparalleled and a real gift as we look to refresh our friendships and ignite new relationships.

Personally or professionally, what might the WBL network be surprised to know about you?

I love international travel, and I’ve been lucky to visit many countries around the world. During these adventures, I’ve had the opportunity to tour such amazing sites as the Taj Mahal, the ruins of Pompeii, Machu Picchu, and the Great Wall of China. I’m ready to hit the road again!