Profile of a Mason
Michael Ray Burcham, 32°
At the conclusion of every Scottish Rite Reunion in the Valley of Nashville, since 2016, every member of the class has been given a purple loose leaf binder that explains the degrees conferred upon each member, from the 4th° through the 32nd°. Each explanation discusses important aspects, including the duties, lessons, and some reflections to ponder. Included is a picture of the apron and jewel of each degree that provides further elaboration. The effort to compile this book was made by Michael Ray Burcham. It is a scholarly product and a measure of the commitment Michael has to Masonry and the Scottish Rite. It is recognized as an excellent addition to the degrees conferred and has been adopted for use by some other Scottish Rite Valleys.
Michael became a Master Mason in 2015 in Observance Lodge #686. He transferred his Blue Lodge membership to Federal Lodge #1 in Washington, D.C. He became a Scottish Rite Mason in November, 2015, in the Nashville Valley of Tennessee.
Michael Burcham is a resounding success in all that he participates. His list of accomplishments and honors are reflected in his daily life. He has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Doctorate in Health Administration. Putting his education to use he has amassed an impressive array of accomplishments so varied and extensive that the scope of this writing will not permit full disclosure and credit or do justice to the list. To mention just a few, he is an entrepreneur, an investor, and a healthcare strategist with over 30 years’ experience leading healthcare organizations.
Today, Dr. Burcham is an executive partner with Shore Capital, a private equity firm that invests in a variety of industries. He was founder and CEO of Narus Health, a healthcare organization that became part of Lucent Health in 2019. He served as President of ParadigmHealth, a specialized management of clinically complex patients, before it became a part of Optimum Health. He is professor for the Practice of Management at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management and he serves as Faculty Director of Vanderbilt‘s Center for Entrepreneurship. Michael came to Nashville in 1983 to work with Hospital Corporation of America and has remained here the past 40 years.
Michael was named Nashvillian of the Year (2014) and Tennessean of the Year (2015). He served as Chairman of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship for President Obama (2013–2016). He also chaired the Center for Entrepreneurship at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia from 2014 – 2018, helping create a entrepreneurial ecosystem around one of the country’s leading universities. He has a list of presentations and publications to his credit that are exhaustive for there is great demand for his expertise in the healthcare and investment world.
What is it about masonry that attracts a man of such talent and energy? There are many answers, perhaps different with each of us, or is it the same for everyone? Whatever the answer, we as Masons find comfort in knowing that someone who has achieved great success and recognition in positions of importance and authority has Masonic principles to guide him daily.
I had the opportunity to engage with Michael on this very question. He shared that throughout his life, he’s dealt with his own share of adversity (growing up in poverty, loss of child, being the subject of discrimination in his own life, and a near-death medical condition in 2023). Michael had just lost his 25 year old son at the time he was becoming a Scottish Rite Mason in 2015. He credits his experiences with the Scottish Rite in helping him find purpose in his grief and choosing to invest in others. Michael shared that the relationships he has formed with Masons across the country has made a significant impact on his success this past decade.
The Scottish Rite is fortunate and proud to claim Michael Ray Burcham as a member of the fraternity.