Leslie Cunningham-Campbell

Editor’s Note: The McKnight’s Long-Term Care NewsDaily Update and McKnight’s Senior Living Daily Briefing e-newsletters are profiling each of the McKnight’s 2019 Women of Distinction in July. For more coverage, visit the McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Senior Living websites and read the July print edition of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and August print edition of McKnight’s Senior Living.

Leslie Cunningham Campbell considers herself a physical therapist first and foremost, despite now being the chief operating officer and executive vice president at Diversicare Healthcare Services. To this day, she maintains her license as a reminder that her No. 1 priority is to care for patients and residents.

She has dedicated more than 25 years to the post-acute / skilled nursing and rehabilitation sector. Along the way, she has held roles ranging from physical therapist to nursing home administrator, director of operations and now her current positions at Diversicare. 

During her six-year tenure with the company, she has helped Diversicare’s NRC health customer experience rating improve to an average of 4.6 stars. She also has completed 48 acquisitions. Campbell frequently is recognized as an expert in the industry and most recently was a featured speaker at National Datacare’s LTC 100 Conference.  

Leslie Cunningham-Campbell receiving Hall of Honor award
Leslie Cunningham Campbell with McKnight’s Deputy Editor Elizabeth Newman. Photo: Social Snacks

She also has a passion for giving back and has played a role in the creation of the DiversICARE Foundation. This program provides financial assistance to employees during times of crisis or loss. Since its inception, the foundation has helped almost 500 employees. She also headed the company’s “All in for the Long Star” fundraiser, which raised $110,000 to aid Texas team members affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Outside of Diversicare, Campbell continues to give back. She recently established scholarships at the Salado Education Foundation in memory of her father and father-in-law to help support local students’ education and career goals.

During her free time, she enjoys staying active by climbing and running. Campbell and her husband, Steve, climbed to the summit of Mt. Democrat to join the “14ers climbing group.” The couple has two daughters and two grandsons.

McKnight’s Women of Distinction is a joint program of McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program’s exclusive Platinum sponsor is PointClickCare.