While working as a critical care nurse, Lee McDonald began noticing some unmet needs in the healthcare industry. She decided to do something about it. In 1983, McDonald founded Southmedic Inc, a Barrie, Ont.-based medical device manufacturer and distributor of specialty surgical products. McDonald’s leadership at Southmedic has led to annual revenues of $18 million along with a transformative reputation in the healthcare sphere that continues to evolve to this day. In the summer of 2020, McDonald received a $1.8 million provincial grant to expand Southmedic’s production and ensure people stay safe during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. McDonald has appeared on PROFIT’s list of Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs seven times since 2000.
