Written by Brice Hall
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Ms. Nancy Agee delivered a presentation titled “Ethics in Professional Lives” in the Wortmann Ballroom at 7:30 p.m. She was hosted by RC’s Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) and the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity. CLEI and Pi Lambda Phi host an esteemed guest speaker once per year as part of their annual leadership speaker series. Last year, the partnership hosted legendary retired football coach Frank Beamer.
Nancy Agee is the President and CEO of Carilion Clinic, a not-for-profit integrated health care system headquartered in Roanoke, serving southwest Virginia. Prior to her current position, Agee served Carilion as Executive Vice President and COO, where she co-led the transformation from a collection of hospitals to a fully integrated, patient centered, physician-lead organization. Part of this transformation included a public/private partnership with Virginia Tech to create an allopathic medical school and research institute. Agee has directly impacted Carilion’s changing the economic landscape of the Roanoke Valley from a rail town to a leader in health science.
Agee spoke to her audience about the importance of compassion and courage in leadership. She spoke about how these principles have guided her lengthy health care career. Starting out as a nurse, Agee was inspired by the kindness of those who tended to her when she was sick with bone cancer in her knee. She has since risen to the head of one of the most reputable healthcare providers in this country, spearheading policies that allow Carillion to more effectively serve the underprivileged.
“Pi Lam was very excited to bring Ms. Agee to our campus and have the opportunity to hear her unique perspectives on being one of the few female CEOs and Presidents in the United States. She broke down the qualities of being a leader, and though the word’s definition may change depending on the person, she demonstrated a fundamental understanding of what the responsibilities and challenges of being a leader entail. Hosting such an accomplished individual was an honor for both Pi Lambda Phi and the CLEI,” said senior Dillon Kopec, Rex of RC’s chapter of Pi Lambda Phi.
Agee is a nationally recognized leader in healthcare and the immediate past chair of the American Hospital Association. Among Agee’s many awards, rankings, and board memberships, she was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare Magazine for the past three years and one of The Top 25 Women in Healthcare by the same organization. Agee received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and her graduate degree from Emory University with postgraduate studies at the Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University. She received honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from both Roanoke College and Jefferson College of Health Sciences.
“We were delighted to welcome Nancy Agee to campus. Our motto in Pi Lam is ‘lead courageously.’ Nancy has achieved international prominence in her field, yet she remains committed to pursuing ambitious projects in the Roanoke area. I hope that women graduating from RC can look up to her example of breaking new ground. I believe that everyone can benefit from her exemplary commitment to service leadership,” said senior and Pi Lambda Phi brother Johnson Mihaly.
