Two Northside Hospital Leaders Named 2026 Atlanta Business Chronicle Health Care Champions

Lynn Jackson, the president and CEO who helped transform Northside Hospital Forsyth in Cumming from a small community hospital into a major regional medical center, was named Health Care Executive of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as part of its 2026 Health Care Champion Awards.

Jackson shared the recognition with Christine Bree Becker, lead nurse practitioner for the Maternal Heart Health Clinic at the Northside Hospital Heart Institute, who received the Innovator of the Year in Women's Health award. The announcements placed Forsyth County's largest hospital at the center of a regional conversation about clinical leadership and specialized care.

Jackson described the hospital's growth in terms that extended beyond patient volume. "It's been the privilege of my career to witness that kind of growth and to play a small part in how community health has truly taken hold and become an economic force," she told the Chronicle. Deidre Dixon, CEO of Northside Hospital Atlanta, praised Jackson's leadership and her involvement in community roles across the region.

Becker's award recognized her role building the Maternal Heart Health Clinic from a small program into a multicampus service focused on cardiovascular care tied to pregnancy and postpartum recovery. She has emphasized prevention and continuity of care for women at elevated risk of heart complications during and after pregnancy, a concern that has drawn increasing attention in women's health nationally.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle's Health Care Champion Awards recognize leaders across the region for measurable impact in operations, clinical innovation, and community outcomes. Both honorees reflect Northside's strategy to grow specialized services that can be delivered locally, reducing the need for Forsyth County patients to travel to Atlanta for care now available in Cumming.

Northside's Forsyth campus has been expanding its physical footprint, with ongoing construction projects and planned medical office space additions already in the pipeline. Recognition at this level can accelerate recruitment of clinical specialists and strengthen the case for continued capital investment at a time when Forsyth County's population growth continues to drive demand for hospital services.