Lisa Carter

After six years serving as the Chief Executive Officer for Niswonger Children's Hospital, Lisa Carter stepped into her role as president of Ballad Health's Southern Region in December 2021, where she oversees operations at Johnson City Medical Center, Niswonger Children's Hospital, Woodridge Hospital, Franklin Woods Hospital, Unicoi County Community Hospital, Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Johnson County Community Hospital, and Greeneville Community Hospital.

After earning a bachelor's degree in nursing from Tennessee Tech University, Carter began her healthcare career in North Carolina but returned home to the Appalachian Highlands in 1998. She joined the children's hospital team in 2001, following a high-risk pregnancy and birth of a premature baby boy who needed around-the-clock care in a neonatal intensive care unit and follow-up appointments with pediatric subspecialists.

Carter earned her master's degree in nursing from East Tennessee State University in 2008 and became the vice president and chief nursing officer at Niswonger Children's Hospital and Johnson City Medical Center. Under Carter's leadership, the hospital's Family Birth Center achieved the 99th percentile in patient satisfaction, and the Level 1 trauma center earned successful state redesignation with commendations.