Tennessee Voices, Episode 311: Ascension's Shubhada Jagasia, Nicole Schlechter and Kristen Toth

David Plazas, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Ascension is one of the nation's largest health care systems and its Saint Thomas Midtown center is transforming from a large, general hospital to a series of boutique, specialized hospitals.

Among the areas of focus is women's health, be it obstetrics and gynecology or other specialties such as oncology and cardiology.

Maternal health is of critical concern as the United States was the only developed nation where maternal mortality has risen since 1990, according to the World Health Organization.

Concerns over women's health and well-being have increased since the reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision in June and the enactment of Tennessee's strict "trigger" law.

On this episode of the Tennessee Voices video podcast, three women healthcare leaders from Ascension shared their perspectives and experience on how the system, which is nonprofit and Catholic, is looking to serve and heal women.

Ascension leaders Dr. Shubhada Jagasia (top, left), Dr. Nicole Schlechter (right) and Kristen Toth (bottom, left)
Ascension leaders Dr. Shubhada Jagasia (top, left), Dr. Nicole Schlechter (right) and Kristen Toth (bottom, left)

They are:

  • Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown

  • Dr. Nicole Schlechter, vision chief for women's services at Ascension Saint Thomas Health

  • Kristen Toth, Ascension Saint Thomas Health vice president for women, children and oncology services

They discussed the hospital's birth design experience and efforts to fight heart disease in women. They also shared how they entered the health care profession and showed why it matters that more women assume health care leadership roles.

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About Tennessee Voices

The Tennessee Voices videocast is a 20-minute program, which started in March 2020 and invites leaders, thinkers and innovators who have written guest columns for a USA TODAY Network Tennessee publication to share their insights and wisdom with me and our viewers.

Please email your ideas for future guests to me at dplazas@tennessean.com. Thank you for watching.

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Watch past episodes: Tennessee Voices videocast

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and an editorial board member of The Tennessean. Tweet to him at @davidplazas. 

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Voices: Discussion on women's health with Ascension leaders