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Mount Carmel Health System has promoted Tauana McDonald to CEO, making her the first Black woman to lead a hospital system in Central Ohio.

McDonald starts the role July 1, succeeding four-year CEO Lorraine Lutton, who will retire following the transition period, according to a news release. The boards of both Columbus-based Mount Carmel and its parent Trinity Health selected McDonald following a nationwide search that started late last year.

“Tauana is a dynamic leader well-poised to lead Mount Carmel into the next chapters of success,” Ben Carter, Trinity's executive vice president and COO, said in the release. “She was critical to Mount Carmel’s financial, quality and culture turnaround. Her track record of excellence speaks for itself.”

McDonald joined Michigan-based Trinity 21 years ago, and quickly advanced through leadership because of her "thoughtful and values-driven approach," the release said. She had worked at IBM and Deloitte earlier in her career.

She moved to Columbus in 2017 for the newly created role of Mount Carmel systemwide chief administrative officer, and in 2020 added roles as president and COO of its Grove City hospital.

“I’m thrilled to begin this new role and continue partnering with our incredible colleagues, staff, and physicians in building on the momentum we’ve created," McDonald said in the release.

McDonald has a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University and master’s in health service management and policy from the University of Michigan. She also is a certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Lutton announced her retirement at the end of December. Among other changes she had led a pandemic-forced restructuring, expanded Mount Carmel's Medicare Advantage health plan to new states and started construction of a fifth hospital in Dublin.

The Dublin hospital is set to open next spring.

Mount Carmel had an operating loss of $11 million on $1.99 billion revenue, the fourth operating loss in five years, according to Trinity's audit. Lutton has said it is on track to return to net income this year.

The system has four current hospitals, a nursing college, the Medicare Advantage plan and affiliated rehabilitation and behavioral health facilities. Mount Carmel has about 2,300 physicians and 9,000 staff. It operates a network of standalone ERs and other outpatient sites, and owns 70% of Diley Ridge Medical Center in Canal Winchester.

Based in Livonia, Michigan, Trinity owns Roman Catholic health systems across 27 states.

Acclaimed jazz singer Antonia Bennett, daughter of the legendary jazz icon Tony Bennett, will join the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at 3 p.m. on April 21 at the Palladium for a concert honoring Duke Ellington’s 125th birthday.

Principal Guest Conductor Joel Smirnoff will lead Bennett and the orchestra through two Great American Songbook favorites, Ellington’s “The River” and Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.”

Tickets start at $67. They’re available online here and at the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office by calling (317) 843-3800.

Bennett’s musical journey began amidst legends like her father, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. In 2023, she released the single “Right On Time,” solidifying her status as a vocalist with captivating prowess and style. The New York Times hails her voice as a blend of Billie Holiday and Rickie Lee Jones, with a hint of Betty Boop.

“I perform songs from the Great American Songbook and my own original music,” Bennett said. “With a proven track record, these songs have shaped the American musical landscape, and resonated with diverse audiences over the years. I approach my performance with the belief that there’s something for everyone.”

Smirnoff said audience members are in for a treat.

“Antonia Bennett is a unique vocal talent and performer,” he said. “Antonia appeared frequently with her father during his career, and, on occasion, I had the great pleasure of sharing the stage with them both. I am thrilled that she will grace Carmel and the Carmel Symphony with her talent this April in our centennial birthday tribute to ‘The Duke.’ This shall be a special occasion.”

Get to know Antonia Bennett

Q: When did you start in your career? A: I started my musical career while still in college.

Q: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned? A: Show up prepared.

Q: What’s one tip you want to share with our audience? A: Try to find joy in everything you do.

Q: What are you most proud of in your work? A: I always look for the sincerity in the music and try to tell the story in a way that’s accessible and truthful to me. My hope is to evoke emotions and inspire others, just as the music inspires me.

Q: Where do you want your work to be in one year? A: Everywhere music is available. In one year, I will be working on new music and putting it out everywhere music is available today. I hope the release of my new album will go well and plan to tour in support of it. Writing new music for the next album after that and pursuing new creative endeavors figure prominently.

Q: What’s your favorite tool you use in your work? A: My voice.

Q: What’s your word for the year? A: Stupendous.

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Learn more about Bennett at AntoniaBennett.com and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

December 2023/January 2024

It has become evident that since her appointment as the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s executive director last August, Anne Marie Chastain is living her passion while leading the organization further into the 21^st century.

Chastain holds a degree in clarinet performance from IU Jacobs School of Music and a master’s degree in arts administration. Her previous symphony orchestra experiences include working with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

In our conversation with Chastain, we discussed the adjustments made to the ongoing 2023-24 season and explored her perspectives on forthcoming seasons and programming. Carmel Monthly, a steadfast supporter of the CSO, is pleased to feature Chastain on our latest cover as a token of our enduring commitment to the orchestra.

Chastain shared some more about her personal background and musical journey.

“I come from a musical family, and [music] has always been a part of my life,” Chastain said. “Classical music, Broadway and jazz…it’s ingrained into who I am. I ended up at Indiana University and studied music [there], and I have a history degree as well. I love performance…[it’s] changed my life. [Going] into the business side of the arts and helping to promote the arts in our community is exciting and incredibly rewarding.”

Chastain spoke about the synergy between her and the CSO Board of Directors.

“I was introduced to one of our board members at a sister city event last February,” Chastain said. “We talked about symphony orchestras, and I think the board was looking for new ideas and directions on how to make CSO even more relevant to the community. We already have a fantastic product and a wonderful orchestra playing in a world-class hall. The Carmel community is so sophisticated and supportive of the arts. It’s a fun and exciting challenge to take this jewel and promote it, [to] get the story out to people who haven’t experienced it yet.”

Chastain continued, “There [are] a lot of opportunities and space for members of the community to get involved in a number of ways. We have our volunteer league and advisory groups. We are building out our education programming and even leadership programming as it relates to the arts. The arts are a great feeder for developing leaders, CEOs and such. CSO wants to become even more visible and relevant to the Carmel and Hamilton County communities and provide opportunities for people to be engaged in the arts, not just through the audience but through these volunteer and leadership opportunities as well.”

Over the last handful of years, CSO has welcomed people from outside of the 46032 zip code and has made a concerted effort to diversify its programming.

“One of my goals as executive director is to help make the symphonic experience more accessible to audiences,” Chastain pledged. “There is a love of the live musical experience, and I would like for people to have the experience of coming to the Palladium, hearing beautiful music, and being part of an ‘event.’ We are building out our programming before a concert starts and having more [pre-concert] events in the atrium and lobbies at the Palladium. People can come early, grab a drink, settle in and enjoy some chamber music or other artist events.”

Another major pre-concert initiative that Chastain has been pushing is promoting the guest artists and repertoire on Spotify through CSO’s social media so that patrons can become more familiar with them.

“I want the [CSO] experience to be more fun and engaging,” Chastain expressed. “If you would like to come dressed up along with a date or your family and make a special night out of it, or if you’d like to come and enjoy the symphony orchestra and be more casual, I want people to know that you don’t have to be formal or do anything special to come and enjoy CSO. I want to encourage audiences to feel comfortable coming, as they are not to be intimidated.”

Chastain also encouraged people to come early or stay later and take in some of the immediate amenities within walking distance of the Palladium to make a day or evening out of the experience.

“The Palladium is a gorgeous space, and there are a variety of places to go for dinner or a drink,” Chastain said. “There are often many different events happening at Carter Green [in front of the Palladium], and many of our guest artists head over to Divvy or Adagio at Hotel Carmichael after concerts and rehearsals. Carmel’s just a wonderful place for making memories, and I want the Carmel Symphony Orchestra to be even more [of] a part of that community experience.”

To build out and revise new and existing programming, Chastain will collaborate more with local arts organizations such as the Indiana Ballet Conservatory and the Center for the Performing Arts’ other resident companies.

Chastain elaborated, “We are talking with IBC and other resident companies and arts organizations in Carmel to continue building on an already robust arts community. CSO can help be a leader in continuing the story of the arts for our community and Hamilton County. We’re also connecting with the county’s public and private schools. We want to be even more connected with supporting the schools’ arts programs, and we want to bring more of their students and families to the Palladium.

“We are reworking our youth concerto competition and side-by-side programs this season,” Chastain continued. “This year, we will have our top four finalists play, and the audience will have a chance to vote along with a panelist of judges. Additionally, instead of working with just one school, we will be inviting all of the area high schools throughout Hamilton County to submit some of their top players to play with us. That’s going to be super fun and bring more students and families to the Palladium to be part of the education experience.”

When asked what makes CSO unique from other symphony orchestras, Chastain replied, “What makes CSO so special is the community it resides in and its love of the arts. It’s the home that we have in the Palladium and in the city of Carmel, which is so supportive of artistic excellence and live music experiences. I feel the most recent administration of CSO did a fantastic job elevating the artistic level, and I feel like my legacy could be elevating the education outreach and helping CSO to be even more relevant to the schools and in supporting music education and their families. We want to elevate CSO to an even higher level by bringing in even more world-class soloists and performers. If you’ve heard Maestro David Commanday and CSO perform recently, they sound wonderful and have really gelled. So, I feel that we are taking something already beautiful, and we’re going to make it shine even more so that more people can see the beauty and experience the brilliance of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.”

For more information on upcoming schedules, events and how to support the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, visit carmelsymphony.org.

As the daughter of an etiquette expert, Alexandra O. Hudson has long believed in the importance of minding her manners.

But during a stint working in national politics several years ago, she realized that being polite didn’t often ease the deepening tensions she saw between those who disagreed. Sometimes, in fact, it was a detriment, such as when she witnessed people who were poised and polished use their good manners to achieve ruthless or cruel results.

“This experience galvanized for me the essential difference between civility and politeness. Politeness is etiquette, manners and external technique, where civility is something deeper, a way of seeing others as our moral equals who are worthy of a bare minimum of respect just by virtue of being human,” she said. “Sometimes, respecting others requires being impolite, telling hard truths and engaging in robust debate.”

Hudson’s experience inspired her to write a book, “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves,” released in October 2023 and published by St. Martin’s Press. She will visit the Carmel Clay Public Library at 6 p.m. Jan. 10 to speak at a free event called “Civility: We Can Do Better” to share concepts in the book and encourage a spirit of civility on the local level.

Carmel City Councilor Jeff Worrell organized the event, which he will moderate, after being enlightened and inspired by Hudson’s book during the 2023 campaign season. He said he’s observed an increasing lack of civility in recent years and wanted to do his part to reverse the trend, at least in his hometown.

“I’m not saying Carmel has a lack of civility, but I do think there is plenty of room for growth,” he said. “I would like to start being able to share the concept that we can disagree, we can be vehemently opposed, but I still respect you, with no desire to hurt you or punish you or embarrass you. But I disagree and ask you to respect my position just as I respect your position.”

Worrell said he hopes the library event will launch a continued focus on civility in Carmel, and he encourages anyone interested in continuing the effort to contact him to help determine what comes next. Possibilities include a citywide book club, small group discussions or a civility app.

“I’m looking for an army of Carmel citizens who are motivated by this concept and want to do something within their community to foster this as a cultural shift,” he said.

Hudson, an Indianapolis resident and adjunct professor at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy, said she wrote the book to empower everyday citizens and that a cultural shift toward civility must begin at the local level.

“I hope that this event is the start of something really exciting in Carmel and in our country,” Hudson said. “We severely under-appreciate the power we each have to be part of the solution.”

Register to attend the library event at carmelclaylibrary.org/event/9772501. Learn more about Hudson and “The Soul of Civility” at alexandraohudson.com. Contact Worrell at jworrell@carmel.in.gov or 317-471-9836.

The Cal men will have a slightly different look to their roster this upcoming spring as freshman Aaron Shackell will take an Olympic Redshirt.

Cal Head Coach Dave Durden confirmed to SwimSwam on Tuesday that Shackell will be returning to his home club team, Carmel Swim Club to take an Olympic Redshirt. Durden also said that Shackell would return to campus in the fall.

Durden’s full statement to SwimSwam was:

“We have had several conversations over the past year with Aaron and his parents about what this Olympic year would look like as Aaron transitioned into his freshman year in college. Training with Chris (Plumb) and Carmel was one of those options. As we are seven months away from Olympic trials and to lessen some of collegiate challenges as a freshman, we decided being at home and at Carmel would be the most familiar environment for him and his family. We continue to support him and look forward to having him back on campus in the fall.”

Shackell was the #6 ranked recruit of this fall’s incoming freshman class and was expected to be a big boost to Cal’s butterfly and mid-distance freestyle group. At the Minnesota Invitational (Cal’s mid-season meet), Shackell swam a personal best time in the 200 butterfly with a 1:43.40, which currently places him #24 in the NCAA so far this season. That was a personal best by 0.84 seconds. He also swam a 4:22.77 in the 500 free and a 1:36.76 in the 200 free.

Shackell’s best SCY times are:

Shackell’s best LCM times are:

In addition to being the #6 ranked recruit of his class, Shackell also held the fastest 200 freestyle time in his class. His best 200 freestyle time already would have earned him an NCAA invite this past season and would have been 0.24 seconds off of making the ‘B’ final. His 500 free personal best is also less than a second off of what it took for an invite this past spring.

In June, Shackell competed at US Nationals. There he was highlighted by a 6th place finish in the 400 freestyle and a 9th place finish in the 200 butterfly. He also finished 13th in the 200 free and 25th in prelims of the 100 butterfly. He notably swam best times in the 400 free, 200 free, and 100 fly.

Just over a month later, Shackell competed at Summer Juniors Nationals where he went on to earn the boys’ high point award. There he won the 200 free, 400 free, and 200 fly. He also was second in the 100 free and 14th in the 50 free. His 400 free winning time of 3:47.00 would have been 4th at US Nationals, less than a second off of second place and what it took to qualify for Worlds.

About a week after competing at Summer Juniors Nationals, Shackell represented the U.S. at the LEN U23 Championships in Ireland. There Shackell was highlighted by a third-place finish in the 200 freestyle, where he notably swam a personal best time in prelims. He also finished 5th in the 200 fly and swam in prelims of the 100 fly (15th) and 100 free (22nd).

The Cal men are the defending NCAA Team Champions as they scored 482 points this past March, about 50 points ahead of second-place Arizona State. Notably, Arizona State defeated Cal for the Pac-12 Conference Title this past season. The battle between the two teams is expected to be close this upcoming championship season.

Shackell is currently the only swimmer on the Cal roster to be taking an Olympic Redshirt for this season. Shackell also becomes the 21st swimmer in the NCAA to be taking a redshirt for at least part of this season.

His younger sister Alex Shackell, a member of the US World Championship team and the #1 ranked recruit in the high school class of 2025, is also verbally committed to Cal.