Ascension Saint Thomas is pleased to welcome Melanie Bull as its new Chief Advocacy Officer, effective June 1. Bull, a respected leader in public policy and healthcare advocacy, will succeed Nancy Anness, who is retiring after 30 years of dedicated service to the organization. Anness’ last day will be April 30.
"Melanie brings deep policy expertise and a strong commitment to our mission, making her an excellent addition to our advocacy team," said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas. "Her proactive approach and established relationships in public policy will help us drive forward initiatives that improve healthcare access and outcomes. We are grateful for Nancy’s decades of leadership, which have strengthened our advocacy efforts and shaped meaningful change for those we serve."
Bull brings more than a decade of experience in public policy and legislative advocacy, where she has successfully shaped initiatives to improve healthcare access. Most recently a principal at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies, she has collaborated with lawmakers to advance key legislation, including the creation of the Katie Beckett program, a Hope Scholarship for students with disabilities, and expanded insurance coverage for cancer screenings. Having worked alongside Ascension Saint Thomas as a strategic advisor and policy expert since 2023, Bull is well-acquainted with the organization’s mission and priorities. Her established relationships with policymakers and her deep understanding of healthcare advocacy make her a natural fit to lead the organization's advocacy efforts.
"Melanie has been a valuable member of Capitol & 5th Public Strategies and a true advocate for our clients," said Courtney Atnip, founder of Capitol & 5th. "Her professionalism and dedication have made her stand out in Tennessee’s government relations field. We are incredibly proud of her and congratulate Ascension Saint Thomas on a fantastic hire. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Melanie and Ascension Saint Thomas in the years to come."
Since joining Ascension Saint Thomas in 1995 as a family nurse practitioner, Anness has played a key role in expanding healthcare services for underserved populations. She was instrumental in launching several critical clinics and initiatives, including the Saint Thomas Family Health Center West, the first Saint Thomas Mobile Health Clinic in Middle Tennessee, the Saint Thomas Preston Taylor Clinic, and the Saint Thomas Holy Family Health Center.
Promoted to vice president of advocacy and healthcare access in 2008, Anness played a key role in federal, state, and local government relations, championing policies that improve patient outcomes. She also spearheaded the Medical Mission at Home initiative and has served on multiple state and community boards, further extending her impact beyond Ascension Saint Thomas.
About Ascension Saint Thomas
Ascension Saint Thomas is a leading health care system with a 125-year history of providing care to the community, and is the only faith-based, non profit health system in Middle Tennessee. Today, the health system offers a highly comprehensive system of care, with more than 250 sites of care that cover a 45-county area in Tennessee consisting of 16 hospitals and a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its partner organizations employ more than 13,000 dedicated associates who care for millions of patients each year. Ascension Saint Thomas is part of Ascension, one of the nation’s largest faith-based healthcare organizations committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visitwww.ascension.org.
