Vanderbilt University Medical Center will name the new expansion tower for Vanderbilt University Hospital the Jim Ayers Tower in recognition of Janet and Jim Ayers’ philanthropic legacy and abiding interest in improving the health care and quality of life for Tennesseans.
The naming of the 15-level, 470,000-square-foot tower, currently under construction on the main campus in Nashville, honors the couple’s steadfast community leadership and longtime connection to VUMC. The tower is scheduled to open its first floor in October 2025.
A Parsons, Tennessee, native, Ayers has achieved business successes in financial services, real estate and health care ventures, and he is widely recognized for increasing educational opportunities for young people. In 1999, he established The Ayers Foundation, now known as the Ayers Foundation Trust, which supports a wide range of programs and institutions.
“We are honored to announce the Jim Ayers Tower, which will allow us to better fulfill the mission of Vanderbilt University Medical Center to make health care personal for the patients we serve, said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "The tower’s new space is essential as we expand to meet the needs of our rapidly growing Middle Tennessee communities.
“As our largest facility expansion to date, this structure is being named to recognize the unparalleled dedication of Janet and Jim Ayers to the health and well-being of all Tennesseans.”
Read more about the Jim Ayers Tower and watch a video from the Ayers in this article from VUMC News.
