Brady Cannon is a dedicated public affairs professional with a robust background in government relations, community outreach, and strategic communication. Before joining Vanderbilt University Medical Center, he served as Senior Public Affairs Manager at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, where he led key advocacy efforts for the city’s growing hospitality industry and oversaw significant public-facing projects such as the Music City Walk of Fame.

Prior to this, Cannon gained valuable experience as a Legislative Aide at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies and as Field Coordinator for a successful Metro Council campaign. His career includes further experience in legislative affairs, event management, and relationship building through previous roles in the Office of Former U.S. Senator Bob Corker and the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.

A graduate from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Political Science, Cannon is originally from Roane County in East Tennessee and now calls East Nashville home. He enjoys exercising, traveling, live music, watching the Vols, and playing golf.

Traci T. Pope is the Director of Community Relations at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital within the Office of Government and Community Affairs, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She joined the hospital in 2015, with over 15 years of experience in health care. Traci is a graduate of Lipscomb University and has a Master of Management degree in Health Care (MMHC) from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management. She is very involved in the community, past chairman of the board for Leadership Wilson, class of 2017; 2023 Chairman of the Board, Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce, current board member; Rotarian with the Mt. Juliet Noon Rotary Club, current president; Board Member for Wilson Rides Inc.; Leadership Middle TN, class of 2025; member of the Wilson County Health Council; and an active member in her church. Traci was awarded “2021 Woman of Excellence” on behalf of the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce for her contribution and leadership to the business environment. She is married to John, and they have two children.

Harris King brings a unique background to Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Government & Community Affairs office. Prior to joining the medical center, King worked at the Tennessee General Assembly as a Research Analyst for the House of Representatives. He managed all proposed legislation for the Health and Insurance committees and worked directly with members of the General Assembly to provide technical summaries and an objective perspective on how the proposed legislation would impact the law.

Before working for the General Assembly, King navigated the political arena as a director for multiple state and federal-level campaigns. This experience allowed him to work with legislators in a different capacity and develop a holistic perspective as to the thought process of a lawmaker.

In addition to working in government relations, King is a student at the Nashville School of Law. King graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee, receiving a double major in Political Science and Philosophy with a concentration in legal and political studies. As a product of East Tennessee, he loves all things outdoors including backpacking, mountain biking, running, rock climbing, and kayaking.

Bridget Winstead joins the office of government relations and community affairs at VUMC with a background in public relations, corporate communications and federal politics. From beginning her career in the U.S. Senate to earning her master's degree in Los Angeles, Bridget’s diverse professional experience ranges from operations and logistics at the highest level in the public sector, to public relations in the private sector. Bridget is originally from Franklin, Tennessee and graduated from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky where she was a dual-collegiate athlete and English/Government double major. After college, political passion took her to Washington, D.C. where she worked in a U.S. Senate Leadership Office and for the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee under Senator Bob Corker.

Following Washington, Bridget attended the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism as a Dean’s Scholar where she graduated with her master’s degree in Strategic Public Relations. Prior to joining VUMC, Bridget worked in the world of consumer/lifestyle public relations at DKC where she developed communication strategy for a myriad of corporate and hospitality clients. As a recent graduate of Nashville's Young Leaders Council, Bridget currently serves on the Board of Directors for Cumberland Region Tomorrow and as a Board of Directors Intern for Operation Stand Down Tennessee.

Bridget now resides in East Nashville with her dog, Bogey.