For Dr. Chris Frost, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer for Lifepoint Health and a longtime supporter of Special Olympics Tennessee, medicine has always been about more than treating patients. It is about community, compassion and helping people live fuller lives.
That journey started early.
“As a kid, I had medical illnesses that put me in frequent contact with doctors,” Frost said. “I was always impressed with the men and women who cared for me and other kids my age.”
That experience made a lasting impression. Initially, Frost considered becoming a counselor to help people. He majored in psychology, hoping to listen and guide others through life’s challenges.
“I was the friend everyone came to with problems,” Frost said.
But everything shifted when his college roommate asked for help in a chemistry lab.
“I remembered how much I loved science,” Frost said. “Medicine is the great connection between having an interest in people and applying science.”
Now, as a leader at Lifepoint Health, Frost focuses on delivering quality healthcare to rural communities. But for him, leadership is not about titles or where someone went to school. It is about humility, teamwork and listening.
“I have worked with leaders from Ivy League schools and community colleges,” he said. “What really matters is not the school. It is humility, partnership and a willingness to listen.”
That mindset led him to Special Olympics Tennessee.
When Lifepoint announced its partnership with Special Olympics, Frost did not waste a moment.
“I think it took me four seconds to walk up to our CEO and say, ‘How do I get involved?’” Frost said.
Since then, he has volunteered at events, served on the Board of Directors and made meaningful connections with athletes and families.
“The athletes we get to work with are some of the most joy-filling and grateful people you will ever meet,” he said.
For Frost, working with Special Olympics athletes is a constant reminder of what true success looks like.
“Some athletes want to win gold medals. Others just want to cross the finish line or make a new friend,” Frost said. “That really reminded me - success does not look the same for everyone. And that is OK.”
That same belief applies to his work in health care. Frost is passionate about promoting inclusive health - health care that looks at the whole person, not just their medical condition.
“Inclusive health is not just about treating the body,” he said. “It is understanding how things like food access, transportation and support networks affect someone’s health. We have to see the whole person.”
And he believes no one does that work alone.
“Inclusive health takes a team - from doctors and nurses to social workers and volunteers,” Frost said. “No one’s role is more important than another’s.”
At the heart of both Special Olympics and health care, Frost sees the same mission: creating spaces where everyone can thrive.
“Whether you are in a hospital room or on a playing field, it is about lifting each other up,” he said. “That is where passion meets purpose.”
For Frost, volunteering with Special Olympics Tennessee is not just another item on his to-do list. It is a reminder of what matters most: community, dignity and joy.
And if there is one message he hopes others take away from his journey, it is simple but powerful:
“A holistic approach to care is about seeing the whole person,” Frost said. “When we do that, we do not just help people live. We help them live well.”
