Memorial Hermann Health System proudly announces that Lori Knowles, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, has been named one of Modern Healthcare's ‘Leading Women’ for 2026.
This annual program honors women executives across all sectors of the health care industry for their contributions to care delivery improvement, health access and strategic innovation around patient and workforce experience. Knowles’ recognition by the editors of Modern Healthcare acknowledges her dedication to developing personalized, employee-centric recruitment and retention strategies that promote internal advancement and focus on the overall well-being of Memorial Hermann employees.
“I am proud to represent the dedicated teams who make our vision of creating healthier communities, now and for generations to come, a reality,” said Knowles. “At Memorial Hermann, our people are our greatest strength. By investing in their personal well-being and professional advancement, we are strengthening our ability to deliver high-quality care to the communities we serve.”
In her role, Knowles serves as Memorial Hermann’s top human resources executive and a strategic thought partner to the executive leadership team as the system advances a value-focused care delivery model. Knowles designed and continues to drive Memorial Hermann’s Well Together Human Capital Strategy, overseeing workforce planning, talent development, employee benefits and systemwide engagement initiatives focused on strengthening retention, enhancing the employee experience and supporting the organization’s commitment to delivering high-value care.
Knowles was also recently named to Becker's Hospital Review’s ‘CHROs and Chief People Officers to Know | 2026’ list for the third consecutive year, recognized as a leader who aligns human capital strategies with organizational values and long-term goals.
For more information on the Leading Women award for 2026, please visit Modern Healthcare’s website.