Murfreesboro, TN – The medical community came-together Saturday night for this black tie annual 2025 Rutherford County Gala at the Stones River Country Club. In addition to honoring those who donated $1,000 or more to the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation, it also served as the platform to honor the medical community that went “the extra mile” during the previous year. This was the local hospital’s 18th annual gala.
The Foundation recognized the recipients of the Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award and the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation Physician Champion award.
The Foundation also recognizes the recipients of the Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award and the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation Physician Champion award.
Susan and Lee Moss
This year, Susan and Lee Moss will receive the Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award, and the Murfreesboro Anesthesia Group (MAG) will be honored with the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation Physician Champion Award.
Susan Moss has been a steadfast partner to her husband, Lee, offering unwavering support in both his professional and community pursuits. She is actively involved in Charity Circle, Bible Study Fellowship, and First United Methodist Church, where she participated in both children’s and adult choirs. Lee Moss, a respected banking leader, spent 28 years at SunTrust Bank, where he served as president of the Rutherford County market. He later became chairman and CEO of MidSouth Bank before becoming president of Franklin Synergy Bank.
His leadership has earned him numerous honors, including the 2004 Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award and the Rutherford County Chamber’s 2019 Business Legend of the Year.
Together, Lee and Susan have made significant contributions to their community, including a lead gift to expand the neonatal intensive care unit at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, now named the Lee and Susan Moss Family NICU. Their enduring commitment to service and philanthropy makes them deserving recipients of the Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award.
Murfreesboro Anesthesia Group
Physician Champion award
Founded in 1971, Murfreesboro Anesthesia Group (MAG) has been providing top-tier anesthesia services to hospitals and medical centers throughout Rutherford County. Established by Dr. Fred Lovelace and Dr. Kenneth Hunt at Rutherford Hospital, MAG has since grown to include 13 anesthesiologists, 46 CRNAs, and nine office staff. The group now supports more than 20,000 cases annually, including 4,000 labor and delivery epidurals and 7,000 regional nerve blocks.
Murfreesboro Anesthesia Group has been a key partner in advancing Ascension Saint Thomas’s Cardiac Surgery Program, enhancing patient care and heart health outcomes in the community. Known for pioneering ultrasound-guided regional nerve blocks in Middle Tennessee, MAG’s commitment to innovation and patient safety earned them the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation Physician Champion Award. Their ongoing efforts to raise the standard of care in Rutherford County highlight the significant role they play in the healthcare community.
The Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation is honored to recognize these outstanding leaders and organizations for their dedication to improving healthcare and supporting the community.
Inky Johnson
Guest Speaker
The motivational speaker at the Ascension Rutherford County Gala was Inky Johnson.
39-year-old Inquoris Desmond Chade Johnson is an American motivational speaker and former college football player. His football career ended in 2006 at the University of Tennessee with an injury that permanently paralyzed his right arm. Johnson studied psychology and became a motivational speaker.
Tears flowed as Johnson inspired those attending with his story of faith and perseverance.
He noted, “The one thing we all have in common is that we will encounter adversity, but we have to decide how we respond to it. My arm and my hand are paralyzed but my heart isn’t, my mind isn’t, my dedication isn’t, my work ethic isn’t, my commitment isn’t.”
