Joe Sowell has over 40 years of experience in corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, and legal advisory services.
From 2009 until his retirement in March 2025, Joe served as Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer for HCA Healthcare. Joe led the execution of over $16 billion in transactions, including the acquisition of 27 acute care hospitals, 216 urgent care centers, and 19 freestanding emergency rooms. Joe also oversaw the expansion of the company’s real estate portfolio, adding 7.8 million square feet of medical office building space.
A champion of innovation and efficiency, Joe built a best-in-class development organization at HCA, focusing on people, process, and technology. He implemented key technology platforms to streamline transaction workflows and approval processes, and established the Integration Management Office (IMO) to ensure seamless integration of acquired entities. Joe launched and oversaw HCA’s Special Assets Group and Health Insight Capital, which completed over 40 minority investments and 4 LP fund investments in healthcare innovation. He was also a key driver in developing HCA’s urgent care, data asset, and physician affiliation strategies.
Before joining HCA, Joe was a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis (now Holland & Knight) for over 20 years. As co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Transactions Group, he specialized in M&A and corporate law, providing expert legal counsel to major healthcare clients, including HCA. He played a central role in structuring and negotiating complex transactions and was a leader in mentoring junior attorneys.
Joe is an active supporter of numerous Nashville charitable and nonprofit organizations including The Nashville Ballet and Room In The Inn – Campus for Human Development.
Joe earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama in 1978 and his law degree from the University of Alabama in 1981. He also has a master of laws degree, which he earned from the University of Florida in 1982.