{"id":498475,"date":"2026-06-18T04:48:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/498475\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T04:48:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:48:14","slug":"a-hospitals-next-chapter-why-dr-brad-stancombe-delayed-retirement-for-vanderbilt-clarksville-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/498475\/","title":{"rendered":"A hospital\u2019s next chapter: Why Dr. Brad Stancombe delayed retirement for Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The longtime Clarksville neonatologist says the hospital\u2019s transition could expand local care and attract more physicians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After nearly three decades in Clarksville, neonatologist Dr. Brad Stancombe has seen thousands of newborns enter the world while helping build one of the region\u2019s most critical health care services from the ground up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was also preparing to retire. Then came the opportunity he\u2019d hoped for: bringing Vanderbilt to Clarksville. \u201cI was considering retiring a year ago,\u201d Stancombe said. \u201cI was asked to stay on to help bring on this new hospital. Since that has been my goal for a number of years, I more than happily agreed to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, as Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital enters its first months under new ownership, Stancombe\u2019s enthusiasm is clear. He understands that, for longtime residents, the hospital may still feel like Tennova with a new sign out front. The transition could reshape health care in a region where many residents still look to Nashville for specialized care.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe number one goal is quality,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That focus has already translated into action.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"768\" data-attachment-id=\"565661\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/clarksvillenow.com\/local\/a-hospitals-next-chapter-why-dr-brad-stancombe-delayed-retirement-for-vanderbilt-clarksville-hospital\/vanderbilt-clarksville-hospital\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/clarksvillenow.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/43\/files\/2026\/06\/Vanderbilt-Clarksville-Hospital.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1200,800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital (CMC EDC, contributed)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vanderbilt-Clarksville-Hospital-1200x768.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vanderbilt-Clarksville-Hospital-1200x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital (CMC EDC, contributed)\" class=\"wp-image-565661\"\/>Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital (CMC EDC, contributed)<\/p>\n<p>More nurses, new equipment<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within days of Vanderbilt assuming ownership, the hospital brought in dozens of additional nurses, helping relieve one of the community\u2019s biggest frustrations: emergency room overcrowding. Patients who once waited for beds are now being moved more quickly into hospital units, improving both care and the patient experience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hospital is also investing in new equipment, including imaging technology, patient beds and specialized neonatal equipment. Another sign of change is renewed interest from health care professionals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen the Vanderbilt sign went on the building, I\u2019ve already had about 10 physicians reach out wanting to come interview,\u201d Stancombe said.<\/p>\n<p>Recruiting physicians to Clarksville<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, recruiting physicians to Clarksville was difficult. Doctors trained in major academic centers often gravitated toward larger metropolitan areas. Now, Clarksville\u2019s growth is changing that equation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Physicians see a community with expanding amenities, a strong military presence, a growing university, family-friendly neighborhoods and increasing professional opportunities. They also see a chance to practice medicine with support from one of the nation\u2019s leading academic health care systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Vanderbilt name is accelerating that momentum.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Physicians are attracted not only by the hospital\u2019s resources but also by the ability to remain connected to Vanderbilt\u2019s academic medical system. Young specialists can work alongside experienced local physicians while maintaining relationships with department leaders, continuing education programs and clinical resources in Nashville.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stancombe stresses Vanderbilt\u2019s goal is not to become a referral pipeline sending patients to its main campus in Nashville.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe want to build this facility where it has the quality and capability to take care of patients from all areas around us,\u201d Stancombe said. That vision aligns with something he has believed since arriving nearly 30 years ago: Great health care should be available close to home.<\/p>\n<p>Growing number of advanced services<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, Vanderbilt physicians provide neonatal care, labor and delivery services, specialty clinics, cancer treatment, pediatric subspecialties and a growing number of advanced services throughout the region. More specialties are expected to follow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a community that has long celebrated growth in manufacturing, education and quality of life, health care may be the next frontier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs someone who\u2019s lived here for 30 years, I am very, very excited about this,\u201d Stancombe said. \u201cI think the community is going to see a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For now, retirement can wait. There is still work to do. Dr. Stancombe is helping write what may be the most significant chapter in Clarksville\u2019s health care history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The longtime Clarksville neonatologist says the hospital\u2019s transition could expand local care and attract more physicians. After nearly&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":498476,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[163,521,85,46],"class_list":["post-498475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-healthcare","tag-health","tag-healthcare","tag-il","tag-israel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/498475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=498475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/498475\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/498476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=498475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=498475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=498475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}