Dr. Karl VanDevender is a physician who has practiced internal medicine at the Frist Clinic since 1982. He has served as President of the Frist Clinic and Chairman of the Board of Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Nashville Metropolitan General Hospital.

Dr. VanDevender is a graduate of University of South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Dr. VanDevender earned a Masters degree in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Oxford in England. Dr. VanDevender received his M.D. degree from the University of Mississippi. His internship and residency in internal medicine were performed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. VanDevender is board certified in Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
In recent years Dr. VanDevender has worked with The Alan Alda Center of Communicating Science to explore more empathetic communication in the medical arts.

Dr. VanDevender has two children and two grandchildren. He is married to the novelist Ann Patchett.