Ms. 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. She designed and leads the “Well Together Human Capital Strategy,” differentiating Memorial Hermann through culture and employee experience, structured talent pathways, educational partnerships and skills-based career tracks, while also serving as executive liaison to the board’s compensation committee. Her recent results include reducing contract labor reliance by 95% from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2026 and decreasing total turnover by 37% over fiscal year 2021 to fiscal year 2026, including a 43% reduction in first-year turnover. Ms. Knowles increased internal mobility to 37%, with approximately 30% of moves being promotions and 64% of executive hires filled internally, while strengthening pipeline readiness to offset leadership continuity risk as 26% of leaders are over the age of 55. She oversees benefits supporting more than 49,000 covered lives and $400 million-plus in health plan spend, including health plan optimization that reduced unnecessary utilization and delivered approximately $9 million in annual GLP-1-related savings. She also launched a system maternity experience program in October 2025, with 65% of enrolled employees engaging a nurse navigator and 92% using the associated app. Her leadership has been recognized with HRO Today’s 2025 “CHRO of the Year” award for the North American nonprofit category.
