DALLAS, Sep 9, 2026 — Children’s Health, Parkland Health and UT Southwestern today announced Isaac J. Middleton has joined the Southwestern Medical District (SWMD) as its first-ever chief executive officer. SWMD is a nonprofit founded by the three institutions to support their respective missions and coordinate growth, entity development and shared priorities within the district.
In his new role, Middleton will lead SWMD’s strategy and operations, including implementation of its recently approved Master Plan, a long-term framework for development, infrastructure, mobility and connectivity within the medical district. He will work closely with the SWMD Board of Directors and leaders of the three founding institutions, as well as city and county officials, community stakeholders and public- and private-sector partners.
“The Southwestern Medical District has an extraordinary opportunity to build on the strengths of three nationally recognized institutions and create an even more connected, innovative and vibrant medical community,” Middleton said. “I’m honored to join this work and look forward to partnering with Children’s Health, Parkland Health, UT Southwestern and the broader Dallas community to turn our shared vision into meaningful progress for the people and communities we serve.”
Located northwest of downtown Dallas, the Southwestern Medical District encompasses more than 1,000 acres and is the largest medical district in North Texas and the second-largest employment center in the city of Dallas. Together, Children’s Health, Parkland Health and UT Southwestern provide health care, conduct research and educate the next generation of health care professionals.
Middleton brings extensive experience in health care strategy, operations and development. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Hamilton Health Box, a health care company focused on expanding access to primary care in rural communities. Previously, he spent five years as chief operating officer of Texas Medical Center in Houston, where he led strategy and operations for the 1,400-acre medical and life sciences campus. His work at Texas Medical Center included campus planning, real estate development and cross-institutional initiatives, including the development of Helix Park, a 37-acre life sciences campus.
Earlier in his career, Middleton was a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company and served as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned his J.D., with honors, from Stanford Law School and bachelor’s degrees in economics and international affairs from Marquette University.
About Southwestern Medical District
Located 5.1 miles northwest of downtown Dallas, the 1,000-acre area interconnects medical providers, researchers, and scholars from three world-class health care institutions – Children’s Health, Parkland and UT Southwestern Medical, to deliver nationally ranked health care, innovative research, and biomedical education. Visit swmeddistrict.org.