NASBA Center For Public Trust 
Richard G. Cowart, shareholder and board member with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC (Baker Donelson), received the NASBA Center for Public Trust (CPT) Being A Difference Award for his ethical leadership in the corporate, educational and civic involvements. This award honors recipients who abide by high standards of social responsibility and leadership while exemplifying good corporate citizenship.
Mr. Cowart leads the Firm’s Health/Public Policy Department, which is regarded as one of the most prominent health law practices in the country. It is ranked in the top three practices by Modern Healthcare and was recently recognized as one of the nation’s leading health care practices in Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
The attorney has earned numerous awards for his involvement in the community including “Volunteer of the Year” award by Goodwill Industries, “National Community Leadership” award and “David R. Greenburg Award” in 2007 from the American Health Lawyers Association for his Lifetime Service to Health Law.
“As a lawyer with national renown, Dick is known as much for his integrity as for his formidable professional influence,” says Larry Bridgesmith, colleague and Lipscomb University executive director. “The legal profession and the health care industry have been extremely well served by Dick’s dedication to value based representation and his committed attention to the ethical fabric of well run businesses.”
Cowart also served as president of the Association in 2004-2005 and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Overby Center, David Lipscomb University’s President’s Advisory Cabinet and Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Business Advisory Board. Cowart has also chaired the Board of Directors for both the American Heart Association and The Hermitage (Home of President Andrew Jackson).
Currently, he is a national columnist for Medical News, Inc., a health business columnist for The Tennessean and an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Health & Life Sciences Law. Cowart has been listed in more than 10 industry publications including The Best Lawyers in America ®, Who’s Who of American Law, Corporate Counsel’s “Best Lawyers: Healthcare” and Nashville Business Journal’s “Health Care 100.”