SBELA

Sandy Beaver Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

After an 18-month hiatus from social gatherings during the global pandemic, the local community turned out in droves to honor Carol H. Burrell at the re-scheduled 7th Annual Sandy Beaver Entrepreneurial Leadership Award Dinner in February.

Burrell, who grew up just outside of Winder, Georgia, moved back to northeast Georgia from Jacksonville, Florida, 23 years ago to assist Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) with its primary care network. She was quickly promoted to vice president and chief operating officer in 2004, and then president and CEO in 2011. She has been driven by NGHS’ mission to improve the health of the community in northeast Georgia and by her own mantra to be better tomorrow than today. Under her leadership, NGHS has enjoyed unparalleled success with both state and national recognition as well as growth from an organization with one hospital to now four; 3,000 employees to more than 9,000; and $340 million in gross revenues to $3.4 billion.

“The impact of her entrepreneurial leadership and vision for northeast Georgia cannot be overstated. Leading an organization during a pandemic is hard enough for any CEO. Leading a hospital system during an unprecedented world-wide and seemingly unending pandemic is exponentially more difficult – some say even impossible. Carol has made the impossible possible.”

Under Burrell’s leadership at NGHS, the flagship hospital Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville, has been recognized as Jeremiah Riley, ‘26Georgia’s #1 Heart Hospital for 12 consecutive years, Georgia’s #1 Hospital, and a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation, according to CareChex. Accomplishments include NGMC’s trauma care designation in 2014, the construction and opening of NGMC Braselton in 2015, the acquisition of NGMC Barrow in 2017, the opening of NGMC Lumpkin in 2019, and now, a $544 million patient tower expansion on the NGMC Gainesville campus.

Proceeds and donations from the annual event help provide tuition assistance to families with demonstrated financial need. Last year, these generous funds made it possible for 53 deserving young men to attend RMA.

“As much as I appreciate and value this honor, it’s not about me; it’s about this entire medical community. So, I accept this on behalf of those that are making such a difference and have demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and strength, especially over the past two years.”

Carol Burrell.

The event also included a memorial tribute to previous honorees Frank Norton, Sr., James A. Walters, Jack E. Frost, and special committee advisor Jackie Allred Cooley, all who made substantial contributions to the local community and sadly passed away in 2021.

Opposite top: Carol Burrell pictured with her family (L to R: Alie Chesrown and Lee Burrell, Steve Burrell, Bradee and Drew Aderholt) Opposite center: Carol Burrell congratulated by RMA President Staś Preczewski and Battalion Commander Tomis Hamilton