Dr. Jan Young has had a distinguished career in education, health care, the military, and philanthropy. Currently as Executive Director of The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Dr. Young has overall accountability for facilitating the Foundation’s philanthropic activities, management, community relations, and strategic direction. The Assisi Foundation is a health legacy foundation created from the sale of St. Francis Hospital in 1994. Its mission is effective philanthropy. With the mission of “effective philanthropy”, the Foundation strives to respond to the diverse needs of our community to support health, lifelong learning, social justice, and stewardship of resources. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over two hundred ninety million dollars to not-for-profit organizations serving people primarily in Memphis, Tennessee and the surrounding metro area. Dr. Young serves in an advisory capacity for multiple nonprofits and is a past Board member of Philanthropy Southeast.
Prior to joining the Assisi Foundation in 1995, Dr. Young served as Senior Vice President of Operations at St. Joseph Hospital in Memphis with leadership accountability for clinical and support services for the 450-bed facility. In addition, she has worked as a management consultant and as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Tennessee and University of Memphis in nursing administration. She is retired from her private clinical practice as a licensed, primary care Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Young received her Doctorate of Nursing Science with honors and was the recipient of the Faculty Award from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences College of Nursing. She is the recipient of the Outstanding Alumna Award from both the University of Tennessee and the University of Memphis as well as an honorary doctorate from Christian Brothers University.
Dr. Young’s military service began with the U.S. Army Nursing Corps Reserves and later transferred to the Air National Guard. She received the national honor of Outstanding Air National Guard Nurse and led the team that received the Air National Guard’s first Outstanding Health Promotion Program Award. After serving in numerous roles of progressive responsibility, Dr. Young was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and served as the Air National Guard Advisor to the Assistant Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Medical Force Development and Nursing Services. In that role, she focused on national policy issues, analysis and evaluation. At the completion of that tour, she was appointed to her terminal assignment as the Air National Guard Assistant to Air Education and Training Command, retiring as a Major General.