Michael and Rowena Cuffe Endowed Professor of Health Research and Innovation established at Belmont University

The Michael and Rowena Cuffe Endowed Professor of Health Research and Innovation has been established at Belmont University thanks to a $1.5 million gift from Drs. Michael and Rowena Dolor Cuffe. The endowed professorship will be housed within the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine and will help position the university as a hub for national health research.

According to an article on Belmont University’s website, the Cuffes are quoted as saying of the purpose of their gift, “We believe Belmont is well positioned to make a difference in American medicine. Strengthening health research and innovation is essential to advancing healthcare.”

Michael Cuffe, M.D., M.B.A., is an HCA Healthcare executive. He retired in 2026 after 15 years with the company, where he served in positions such as Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer. He is also a Belmont University Board of Trustees member, and was named to the Modern Healthcare 2026 list of Most Influential Clinical Executives.

Rowena Dolor, M.D., M.H.S., is Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Duke University. She was also an adjunct associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for 12 years.

The couple’s $1.5 million gift will establish the Michael and Rowena Cuffe Endowed Professor of Health Research and Innovation, which will be matched through the Johnson Academic Challenge as part of the university’s Hope Transforms campaign. The Johnson Academic Challenge provides matching support for gifts that establish endowed chairs and professorships, meaning the gift from the Cuffes will go twice as far. 

The Michael and Rowena Cuffe Endowed Professor of Health Research and Innovation will be part of the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine and will connect research and teaching across the university’s health sciences and business programs. The individual in this position will lead original research, build partnerships across disciplines, and mentor students as a means of positioning the university as a hub for health research.

Belmont University President Greg Jones said, “Many of the challenges impacting our world do not fit neatly within a single discipline. Addressing them requires leaders who can connect discovery and innovation with practical solutions that create lasting impact. This professorship will allow Belmont to bring together expertise across health care and business, cultivating new ideas, preparing future leaders and advancing work that improves lives and strengthens communities. We are grateful to Mike and Rowena for their extraordinary investment in that vision."

For more information about Belmont University, visit the school’s website.