Meet Lisa Nee

Dr. Lisa Nee is a physician, advocate, mother, and proven leader who built her career on a simple mission: put patients first. Now she’s running for Mayor to bring that same accountability and results-driven leadership to Chicago.

After beginning her career as a nurse, Lisa became an interventional cardiologist, treating complex, high-risk heart conditions. She worked in one of the most demanding fields in healthcare, where precision, accountability, and trust are critical.

That commitment to accountability was tested at the Hines VA Hospital in Chicago, where Lisa uncovered serious failures in patient care, including a backlog of life-saving heart tests that had gone unread—putting veterans at risk. When told to stay quiet, she refused. Lisa spoke out, pushed for answers, and continued to escalate the issue despite retaliation. She helped expose systemic failures and drive federal bipartisan efforts to strengthen protections for veterans and whistleblowers.

In the middle of that fight, Lisa faced a personal battle of her own—she was diagnosed with breast cancer. At a time when many would have stepped back, Lisa leaned in, continuing her work while confronting her diagnosis head-on. She made difficult medical decisions, guided by her training and instincts and ultimately became a breast cancer survivor.

That experience changed how she sees leadership. It reinforced her belief that systems don’t always work the way they should and that real leadership means listening, questioning, and standing up for people when they need it most.

After leaving clinical practice, Lisa earned an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and continued her work at the intersection of healthcare, innovation, and patient advocacy. She has advised healthcare organizations, worked to improve access to care, and remained focused on delivering better outcomes for patients and communities.

A lifelong Chicagoan, Lisa remains deeply connected to the city she calls home. She grew up in Humboldt Park, graduated from Loyola University Chicago where she ran Division I track, and now lives on the North Side with her husband, children and 2 dogs. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time cooking, reading, and exploring the city, where she draws inspiration from the people she hopes to serve.