Growing the Greater Good: Reflections on a Healthcare Career

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Carol Burrell served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) from 2011 to 2025, leading the health system through an era of unparalleled success and growth.

She has been named Georgia’s Most Respected Business Leader by Georgia Trend magazine and has appeared on the list of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for twelve years in a row. She is also included in Atlanta Magazine’s 2025 Atlanta 500.

Under Carol’s leadership, NGHS grew from a one-hospital system with a few employed physician practices and satellite outpatient locations to one of the largest and well-respected healthcare organizations in the state – with an economic impact of nearly $7.5 billion each year. Until her retirement in March 2025, Carol led more than 12,000 employees across:

• Northeast Georgia Medical Center – five acute care hospitals, including a Level I Trauma Center, with more than 1,000 combined beds and a medical staff of more than 1,300 providers representing more than 50 specialties
   
• Northeast Georgia Physicians Group – the sixth largest multispecialty physician group in the state
   
• Georgia Heart Institute – the state’s most forward-thinking heart and vascular program
   
• Graduate Medical Education – one of the state’s largest programs, empowering the physician leaders of tomorrow through residencies in seven specialties and multiple fellowships
   
• Plus dozens of medical office buildings, urgent care centers, imaging centers, long term care facilities, rehabilitation clinics and more

Carol was born and raised in Carl, Ga. She received her bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from Georgia Southern University and Emory University, and she earned her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University.  She has more than 30 years of experience in a variety of clinical operations, in both for-profit and non-profit settings, and was a member of NGHS’ senior management staff for more than 25 years.

Carol is a past board chair for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce and is active in Gainesville Rotary, United Way and the Georgia Hospital Association.  She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Vizient MidSouth. She was named 2024 CEO of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia’s 2025 Gainesville Woman of Distinction. She received the 2025 Leadership Legacy Award from the Georgia Commission on Women, the 2024 W. Daniel Barker Leadership Award from the Georgia Hospital Association and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle. She was inducted into Junior Achievement’s Northeast Georgia Business Hall of Fame as a 2024 Laureate.