Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Celebrates 100 Years of Care

Courtesy of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford

In Rutherford County, TN, growth is part of everyday life. For Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, it’s also a responsibility – one that shows up in expanded care, new services and a commitment to meeting the needs of a community that continues to evolve. 

What began as a small hospital with just a few labor and delivery rooms has grown into a regional destination for advanced care. Today, more than 3,400 babies are delivered here each year, and services continue to expand – from women’s health to cardiovascular surgery, where more than 900 procedures have been performed locally in recent years, allowing patients to stay closer to home. 

Still, growth tells only part of the story. “There’s a mission here that you can feel,” says CEO Daphne David. “We’re here to provide health care, but how we do it matters.” 

That philosophy – often described as “health care with heart” – is shaped by a faith-based mission rooted in compassion, dignity and service. David saw that in action early in her tenure at the hospital’s Medical Mission at Home event, where more than 1,000 community members received free care, from medical services to basic necessities. “Not a penny is collected,” David says. “It’s simply about meeting people where they are.” 

That same approach carries into patient care, from a robust chaplain program to efforts that help patients with essentials like clothing, transportation and other basic needs – extending care beyond the walls of the hospital. For David, it’s also personal. After a family member received care here, she saw firsthand the level of collaboration and compassion that defines the experience. “It’s different,” David says. 

That connection runs deep across the community, with generations of families supporting the hospital even as new residents continue to move into the region – creating a unique moment where legacy and growth intersect. 

With its 100-year milestone on the horizon, Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford is looking ahead while honoring that legacy. 

“There’s a real sense of purpose here,” David says. “You feel it in the people, in the history and in where we’re headed next.” 

For more information about Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, visit ascension.org/saintthomasrutherford.