(ATLANTA) – A woman who has led one of the largest healthcare organizations in the state to numerous state and national awards is now being recognized with her own award. Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), is named Georgia’s Most Respected Business Leader in the latest issue of Georgia Trend magazine.
“Carol has the immense responsibility of overseeing the entirety of our growing health system, which now includes more than 8,000 employees working in three hospitals and dozens of outpatient locations across a region made up of more than one million people, and she does it with an amazing mix of intelligence, trust and grace,” says RK Whitehead, chairman of NGHS’ Board of Trustees. “We are thrilled to see her get the recognition she so richly deserves, and it gives the rest of the state a chance to see the innovative approach we’re taking to health care through her leadership.”
Past honorees include Ted Turner of Turner Broadcasting; Truett Cathy of Chick-fil-A; and Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United.
Achievements the Health System has experienced through Burrell’s leadership include dozens of top national and state ratings for quality clinical care from several independent sources; the opening of the state’s first net-new hospital in 20 years (Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton); and NGHS being named one of Metro Atlanta’s Top Workplaces for seven consecutive years by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and one of Atlanta’s Top 25 Employers by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. A study released last month by the Georgia Hospital Association estimates NGHS’ economic impact on the state and local economy at more than $1.5 billion.
“Carol is the first to say that this recognition is not about her, rather the collective effort of the team around her – physicians, staff, volunteers and board members – as well as the vision of those who laid the foundation for this great organization more than 65 years ago,” adds Whitehead. “But we are all so pleased to see her impact recognized in this way. I am personally thankful to work alongside her and believe this community and region is blessed to have such a compassionate healthcare leader who pushes us all to be better tomorrow than we are today.
The May edition of Georgia Trend is on newsstands now, and you can read more online at www.georgiatrend.com.
