McLEOD HEALTH 24 JULY 2026

Becker’s Hospital Review Names Isgett Among the Nation’s Top Women Hospital and Health System CEOs

For Donna Isgett, healthcare has always been personal.

Long before she became President and CEO of McLeod Health, she served as an emergency flight nurse, caring for patients during some of the most critical moments of their lives. That commitment to compassionate, high-quality care has remained the foundation of her leadership throughout her career — and today, it has earned national recognition.

Becker’s Hospital Review has named Isgett to its prestigious list of “Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know,” recognizing leaders across the country who are expanding access to care, driving innovation, improving quality, and shaping the future of healthcare. Isgett is one of only two hospital CEOs in South Carolina to receive the honor this year.

“Donna has always led with both her head and her heart,” said Dr. Tarek Bishara, Chairman of the McLeod Health Board of Trustees. “She never loses sight of why we’re here — to care for people. Her vision, integrity and unwavering commitment to our patients, physicians and employees have strengthened McLeod Health in countless ways. This recognition is incredibly well deserved, and we’re proud to see her leadership celebrated on the national stage.”

Since joining McLeod Health in 1997, Isgett has helped shape the organization into one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems. She has served in several executive leadership roles — including Chief Quality Officer, Senior Vice President of McLeod Physician Associates, and Chief Operating Officer — before becoming the first woman to serve as President and CEO in 2021.

Throughout that journey, she has championed a culture centered on quality, safety, continuous improvement, and compassion.

As Chief Quality Officer, she helped lead McLeod Health to become one of only seven health systems nationwide selected for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s prestigious Pursuing Perfection Grant in 2002. The organization’s commitment to excellence later earned the American Hospital Association’s Quest for Quality Award in 2010 — two milestones that reflect Isgett’s long-standing belief that exceptional care begins with an unwavering commitment to patients.

Her own educational journey reflects that same dedication. Isgett earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Georgia Highlands College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia State University, and a Master’s degree in Critical Care Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina before completing her MBA at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. In 2024, Francis Marion University recognized her lifetime of service with an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

Over the years, her leadership has also been recognized with numerous state and national honors, including the South Carolina Quality Forum’s Milliken Medal of Quality Award, the South Carolina Hospital Association’s Lewis Blackman Patient Safety Award, the Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction Award, the Tribute to Women of Influence Award, and She Magazine’s Extraordinary Women’s Healthcare Award. Most recently, she received the 2026 Marion Medallion from Francis Marion University and The Morning News.

Beyond McLeod Health, Isgett has shared her expertise on numerous healthcare boards and national committees, including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Executive Quality Leader Network, serving as Co-Chair of IHI’s 2005 National Forum, and completing two terms as Chair of the South Carolina Hospital Association Board of Trustees.

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, the leaders recognized this year are “driving growth, expanding access to care, and cultivating workplace cultures where providers and patients both thrive.” The publication selected 236 hospital and health system Presidents and CEOs nationwide through a nomination and editorial review process.

While the recognition bears her name, Isgett is quick to credit the people she works alongside every day.

She views the honor as a reflection of the physicians, nurses, employees and volunteers across McLeod Health whose dedication and compassion make exceptional care possible. Together, they continue to fulfill McLeod Health’s mission of improving the health and lives of the patients and communities they are privileged to serve.