Yasmene McDaniel

Yasmene McDaniel serves as the Chief Executive Officer of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast, a comprehensive healthcare network throughout the southeastern region of Harris County. As a leader, McDaniel places a focus on execution, care, and compassion, ensuring that staff and patients are treated with the same level of consideration and dignity to promote performance.

Under McDaniel’s leadership, HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast has achieved significant recognition. The facility was named one of Healthgrades’ 250 Top Hospitals in both 2025 and 2024 and received the Patient Safety Excellence Award for four consecutive years (2022–2025). It has also been honored as one of Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work for four consecutive years and earned the Top Honor for Highest Employee Engagement within the Gulf Coast Division of HCA Houston Healthcare.

Prior to joining HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast, McDaniel held executive roles at Corpus Christi Medical Center, another HCA affiliate, as well as Sparks Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida.

Growing up in a rural community with limited access to healthcare inspired McDaniel’s lifelong commitment to increasing healthcare accessibility. Guided by the principle of “thinking of others before self,” she has dedicated her career to advancing quality care for underserved populations.

As CEO, McDaniel has spearheaded considerable expansion across the Southeast Houston network, including the development of two new specialty units and the opening of a freestanding rehabilitation hospital — the first of its kind within the HCA Healthcare system. Her dedication to delivering exceptional care has helped the hospital earn national recognition for patient safety and clinical excellence.

McDaniel brings a broad range of healthcare leadership experience across hospital, clinic, and physician group operations. She has a strong track record in strategic planning, business development, workforce engagement, and leading large-scale construction and expansion initiatives.

A native Texan, McDaniel holds dual master’s degrees in business administration and healthcare administration from Texas Woman’s University in Denton and a Bachelor of Science from Baylor University in Waco.

McDaniel attributes her success to her ability to connect individuals with the resources they need, always prioritizing empathy and service. Reflecting on her journey, she shares: “Whenever someone asks about my path or what comes next, I tell them my journey has never been linear. Stay open to opportunities and always put others first. When you do, everything else falls into place.”

She is the proud mother to her son, Camryn, and enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family.