The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga proudly announced Dr. Ken Grubbs (’97, ’20) as the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. This prestigious award is the highest annual commendation given to an alumnus or alumna for their extraordinary service to their alma mater, field and community.
Dr. Ken Grubbs is the executive vice president for accreditation and certification operations and chief nursing officer for The Joint Commission. In this role, Grubbs has executive leadership for the accreditation and certification of more than 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs.
Grubbs began his career in healthcare as an emergency department nurse and has held various leadership positions, primarily focusing on emergency and medical-surgical intensive care services. Previously, he served as vice president of regulatory and accreditation services for HCA Healthcare.
Grubbs received his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and bachelor’s in nursing from UTC in 1997 and 2020, respectively, along with an MBA from Western Kentucky University.
“It is clear that Ken’s professional journey is impressive, and we are proud that he is a two-time alumnus of UTC,” said Kim White, Vice Chancellor of Advancement. “His dedication to the field of healthcare is evident and impacts the quality of care that is received around our country. We’re honored to recognize Ken with this award.”
The value of the education I received at UTC and how that education was foundational to my career continues to pay dividends in many different ways. It is one of the best investments I made in myself.
Meet the Award Winners of 2024
Hear from our award winners about their experiences at UTC and what makes it so special.
Outstanding Service Award: Roger Smith
The Outstanding Service Award recognizes a community leader who demonstrate exemplary personal service to UTC and the community.
GOLD Excellence Award: Lily Sanchez
The GOLD Excellence Award award recognizes alumnus/a who demonstrate extraordinary service to their alma mater, their field and their community. The award recipients embody our institutional vision, mission and core values.
Past Award Winners
See a list of our past award winners.
Distinguished Alumni Award Outstanding Service Award GOLD Excellence Award