6 minute read
Doctor on Board
Dr. Allen Sills talks about the Heritage Ball, his wife Shawne, and his role in the NFL
Interview by Susan Andrews Thompson / Photos courtesy of the Sills Family
Susan Andrews Thompson: Tell us how you got involved with the Heritage Foundation and what is your involvement today? What has it been like being on the board during the past year?
Allen Sills: In late April 2009, just before we made the move back to Franklin, my wife Shawne and I were visiting and we stumbled upon the Main Street Festival—it was a beautiful day and the energy, spirit and joy made an impression on us; it redoubled our excitement about moving to Franklin. On that day, we learned that the Heritage Foundation organized the festival. Fast-forward twelve years, and I’ve been a Heritage Foundation board member for several years now. A friend of mine, Dr. Cyril Stewart of Vanderbilt, was chairman of the board—he first mentioned to me the Franklin Theatre (which the Foundation manages) and his immense respect for the Foundation. He urged me to get involved in some way. When he retired, I ended up taking his spot on the board; I’m now on my second term.
SAT: There are so many worthy causes, why the Heritage Foundation?
AS: Franklin and Williamson County is our home, and we love the community. We feel that the area’s amazing quality of life comes from its blend of natural beauty and rich history. We believe in the Heritage Foundation’s mission to preserve historic places and help our community stay connected to, and learn from, that history. The Heritage Foundation does that by lobbying to preserve the region’s green space, parks, and trail systems, as well as regulate the pace and style of development. And, of course, my family loves attending the organization’s range of annual events— from Heritage Ball to Pumpkinfest to Dickens of a Christmas.
SAT: Have you attended the Heritage Ball in the past?
AS: Yes, we enjoy watching the folks of Franklin come together and celebrate while raising money that will go to help our community.
SAT: What is your involvement with this year’s ball?
AS: Shawne and I are honorary chairs for this year’s ball. We’re delighted to have a part in the county’s signature event and to have an opportunity to give back and help raise money for the Foundation and the people of Franklin.
This particular year, having a social event and getting people connected back together is especially meaningful to us. By getting back to normalcy, we are able to support local businesses and vendors. In particular, we are emphasizing locally sourced products—we want to give area businesses a boost and visibility as we emerge from the challenges of Covid. We also are working to demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusivity. While, of course, the ball is a very formal event, it’s open to everyone and created to reflect diversity of our county. We are working to have the widest representation possible.
SAT: What do you and Shawne like to do in your spare time?
AS: We have four children and nine grandchildren, so we’re always busy with family activities. We have a son who is a college baseball player, and we enjoy attending his games. Around Williamson County, we love biking and hiking on the Natchez Trace and kayaking and paddle boarding on the Harpeth River and its tributaries. We are avid travelers and we are blessed that Shawne can join me on work trips for meetings and speaking engagements.
SAT: Tell us about your tenure at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a neurosurgeon.
AS: I joined the faculty in 2009 as a neurosurgeon. The chairman at Vanderbilt is a friend who I met in medical school, and we did our residency together. I’ve now known him for 35 years and it was a thrill to be reunited. I see patients in the clinic, perform surgeries and have an office at both Williamson Medical Center and Vanderbilt’s campus. I was the first surgeon to base my neurosurgery practice in Williamson County.
SAT: You are the first Chief Medical Officer for the NFL. You must juggle multiple issues including the league’s Injury Reduction Plan and then along came COVID-19. Tell us about how you navigate through such vital health issues for the NFL and how this, in turn, affects our entire country?
AS: I joined the NFL in 2017. It has been a terrific experience, one that has enabled a great deal of personal and professional growth. It gives me an opportunity to work with top experts all around the world to collaborate with 32 NFL club medical staffs and the NFL Players Association on the most pressing challenges facing sports medicine and public health.
Last year, we developed and implemented a robust program of Covid protocols, the learnings from which we shared with the CDC, White House Task Force and other public health officials. It’s very gratifying to share what we do in the NFL as society grapples with how to navigate Covid. There has been enormous collaboration on the worldwide stage to find common solutions to these common challenges.
SAT: Do the COVID-19 regulation decisions you make for the NFL trickle down to many of our other athletic programs throughout the country such as the SEC?
AS: That’s the gratifying part of my job. Other organizations are interested in what we do—both on Covid and other health and safety issues—and it provides an opportunity for us to lead and help contribute solutions to broader society. I am passionate about what we learn and how to improve what we see with advancements to share with other levels of play. Everyone in every sport at every level deserves an opportunity to be as safe as possible—beyond football.
SAT: Are you a Tennessee Titans fan? What are some of your other favorite NFL teams?
AS: As an NFL employee, I don’t have a favorite team. I like watching football at all levels. It’s a thrill to have the opportunity to work with the franchises I’ve watched and admired for years as a fan.
SAT: For you and Shawne, what are some of your favorite places in Williamson County?
AS: The Natchez Trace is amazing, and the bridge is perhaps the most iconic landmark in our county. We enjoy the unique architecture. Leiper’s Fork is another favorite, with its scenic beauty—we love visiting the small restaurants and shops there. There are great places to paddleboard and kayak on the rivers and tributaries. And again, our love for the area was initially sparked by Downtown Franklin and its festivals on Main Street.
SAT: Is there anything else you would like to add?
AS: I have great appreciation for the Heritage Ball Committee and its dedicated volunteers who work so hard. Many, many people are involved in the ball’s planning. And a special thanks goes to Heritage Foundation CEO Bari Beasley and Heritage Ball Designer Amos Gott.
Shawne visited with the volunteers the day they were stuffing the invitations, a decades-old tradition. She was touched by the joy in the room and the nostalgic stories that were swapped. That volunteer spirit speaks to something we’ve always said—people who live here have so much pride in their community. The people of Franklin and Williamson County have a true spirit of caring.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to Vanderbilt Heath for stepping up as the presenting sponsor of the ball. They have a deep presence in Williamson County, which is a true service and blessing. It has been a challenging year for the entire healthcare world, and their support means a lot to me personally as well as to the Heritage Foundation.
