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                                                               Exhibit 10.1


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This Employment Agreement is entered into this 20th day of November,
2001, by and between American Healthways, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Company") and Henry D. Herr ("Colleague").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

         I. Employment. In consideration of the mutual promises and agreements
contained herein, the Company employs Colleague and Colleague hereby accepts
employment under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         II. Duties. Colleague is employed as a consultant to the Company and
in that capacity shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

         III. Term. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
Colleague shall be employed hereunder for a term beginning on November 1, 2001
and ending on October 31, 2003 (the "Expiration Date") unless sooner terminated
or further extended as hereinafter set forth. The Expiration Date shall be
automatically extended for one additional year at the end of the first term of
this Agreement and at the end of each year thereafter (so that the term of this
Agreement shall be extended automatically for one year), unless the Company
notifies Colleague in writing on or before one hundred eighty (180) days prior
to the end of the contract year that this automatic extension provision is
canceled and is of no further force and effect. Notwithstanding the automatic
extension of the Expiration Date or any other provisions herein, this Agreement
shall expire on the date that Colleague becomes 65 years of age.

         IV. Compensation. For all duties rendered by Colleague, the Company
shall pay Colleague a salary of $150,000 per year for the first year of this
contract and $100,000 per year for the second year of this Agreement and all
subsequent extensions of this Agreement, payable in equal monthly installments
at the end of each month. All compensation payable hereunder shall be subject to
withholding for federal income taxes, FICA and all other applicable federal,
state and local withholding requirements.

         V. Extent of Service. Colleague shall make himself available to respond
to inquiries and analysis, as needed, on historic or ongoing business issues and
special projects for the Company as requested by the Chief Executive Officer or
the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. In no event shall the amount of time
under this Agreement exceed 500 hours in the first year and 250 hours in the
second and any subsequent year of this Agreement. Colleague shall receive no
additional compensation for his service on the Board of Directors of the Company
while employed under the terms of this Agreement.



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         VI. Disability. During any period in which Colleague fails to perform
his duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental
illness, Colleague shall continue to receive his Base Salary until his
employment is terminated hereunder.

         VII. Termination for Just Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the
Company shall have the right to terminate Colleague for "just cause" if, in the
good faith opinion of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Colleague is
guilty of (i) intoxication while on duty, (ii) theft or dishonesty, (iii)
conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or (iv) upon written notice to
Colleague, there is failure to cure within 30 days any willful and continued
neglect or gross negligence by Colleague in the performance of his duties as an
Colleague or (v) upon written notice to Colleague, there is failure to cure
within 30 days any violation of Company Policy or Code of Conduct. For purposes
of this Section VII, determination of a violation shall be made by the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. In making such determination, the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company shall not act unreasonably or arbitrarily.

         VIII. Termination Without Just Cause. Colleague's employment under this
Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time "without just cause" by
providing Colleague with written notice. Colleague's termination date shall be
deemed the date Colleague receives his written notice of termination from the
Company. In the event of such termination:

            a.    Subject to compliance by Colleague with the provisions of
                  Section XI herein, the Company shall pay Colleague from the
                  termination date for the remaining term of this Agreement,
                  monthly, an amount equal to his then current rate of
                  compensation as set forth in Section IV above.

            b.    No payments of compensation shall be made to Colleague after
                  Colleague becomes sixty five (65) years of age.

            c.    All payments hereunder will cease upon the death of Colleague.

         IX. Termination by Colleague. Colleague may terminate his employment
  hereunder at any time upon sixty (60) days written notice. Upon such
  termination by Colleague, the Company shall pay the Colleague his then current
  rate of compensation as set forth in Section IV above due through the date on
  which his employment is terminated. The Company shall then have no further
  obligation to Colleague under this Agreement.

         X. Termination Upon Death. If Colleague dies during the term of this
  Agreement, the Company shall pay his then current rate of compensation as set
  forth in Section IV above due through the date of his death. The Company shall
  then have no further obligations to Colleague or any representative of his
  estate or his heirs except that Colleague's estate or beneficiaries as the
  case may be shall be paid such amounts as may be payable under any of the
  Company's employee benefit plans as they relate to benefits following death
  then in effect for the benefit of Colleague.



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         XI. Restrictive Covenants.

             (a)  Confidential Information. Colleague agrees not to disclose,
                  either during the time he is employed by the Company or
                  following termination of his employment hereunder, to any
                  person other than a person to whom disclosure is necessary in
                  connection with the performance of his duties or to any person
                  specifically authorized by the Chief Executive Officer of the
                  Company any material confidential information concerning the
                  Company, including, but not limited to identities of customers
                  and prospective customers identities of individual contacts at
                  customers, information about Company colleagues, models and
                  strategies, contract formats, business plans and related
                  operation methodologies, financial information or measures,
                  data bases, computer programs, treatment protocols, operating
                  procedures and organization structures.

             (b)  Non-Competition. During the term of employment provided
                  hereunder and continuing for a period of one (1) year
                  thereafter, Colleague will not directly or indirectly own,
                  manage, operate, control or participate in the ownership,
                  management, operation or control of, or be connected as an
                  officer, employee, partner, director or otherwise with, or any
                  have financial interest in, or aid or assist anyone else in
                  the conduct of, any business which is in competition with any
                  business conducted by the Company or which Colleague knew or
                  had reason to know the Company was actively evaluating for
                  possible entry, provided that ownership of five (5) percent or
                  less of the voting stock of any public corporation shall not
                  constitute a violation hereof.

             (c)  Non-Solicitation. During the term of employment provided for
                  hereunder and continuing for a period of one (1) year
                  thereafter, Colleague will not (a) directly or indirectly
                  solicit business which could reasonably be expected to
                  conflict with the Company's interest from any entity,
                  organization or person which has contracted with the Company,
                  which has been doing business with the Company, from which the
                  Company was soliciting business at the time of the termination
                  of employment or from which Colleague knew or had reason to
                  know that Company was going to solicit business at the time of
                  termination of employment, or (b) employ, solicit for
                  employment, or advise or recommend to any other persons that
                  they employ or solicit for employment, any employee of the
                  Company.




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             (d)  Enforcement. Colleague and the Company acknowledge and agree
                  that any of the covenants contained in this Section XI may be
                  specifically enforced through injunctive relief but such right
                  to injunctive relief shall not preclude the Company from other
                  remedies, which may be available to it.

             (e)  Continuing Obligation. Notwithstanding any provision to the
                  contrary or otherwise contained in this Agreement, the
                  Agreement and covenants contained in this Section XI shall not
                  terminate upon Colleague's termination of his employment with
                  the Company or upon the termination of this Agreement under
                  any other provision of this Agreement.

         XII. Benefits. As a part-time employee, Colleague shall not be eligible
to participate in any Company benefit plans. However, Colleague shall be
eligible to participate in the Company's health insurance under Cobra effective
as of November 1, 2001 for as long as such coverage is available under
applicable laws or regulations. Colleague's contribution for this health care
coverage under Cobra will equal the contribution made by other officers of the
Company for family health insurance coverage. In addition, while not eligible to
receive additional annual Company performance contributions under the Company's
Capital Accumulation Plan ("Plan"), Colleague will continue to vest in prior
year awards and accrue interest on his Plan balance until paid out in accordance
with his elections under the Plan or consistent with payout provisions if
Colleague ceases to be an employee of the Company.

             Colleague's outstanding stock options as of the effective date of
this agreement shall continue to vest during the period of his employment with
the Company pursuant to the terms of the individual outstanding stock option
grant agreements.

         XIII. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this
Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified
mail to his residence in the case of Colleague, or to its principal office in
the case of the Company and the date of mailing shall be deemed the date which
such notice has been provided.

         XIV. Waiver of Breach. The waiver by either party of any provision of
this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
breach by the other party.

         XV. Assignment. The rights and obligations of the Company under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors
and assigns of the Company. The Colleague acknowledges that the services to be
rendered by him are unique and personal, and Colleague may not assign any of his
rights or delegate any of his duties or obligations under this Agreement.

          XVI. Entire Agreement. This instrument contains the entire agreement
of the parties and supersedes all other prior agreement, employment contracts
and





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understandings, both written and oral, express or implied with respect to the
subject matter of this Agreement and may not be changed orally but only by an
agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver,
change, modification, extension or discharge is sought. The laws of the State of
Tennessee shall govern this Agreement.

         XVII. Headings. The sections, subjects and headings of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day
and year first written.


                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Henry D. Herr


                                              AMERICAN HEALTHWAYS, INC.


                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                              Title: Chief Executive Officer






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