About Dr. Donna Campbell

My Story

Dr. Campbell was born on a naval base in San Diego during her father's U.S. Navy service. Her father later served as a trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, instilling in her a lifelong respect for military service and law enforcement. Her mother worked in factories for most of her life before earning her GED and becoming a Registered Nurse at age 48—a story of resilience that Campbell frequently cites as proof that it's never too late to pursue your dreams through hard work and determination.

When she was six months old, the family relocated to Oklahoma. Donna began working at age 13 and put herself through college, graduate school, and medical school. That self-reliance and grit is the foundation of everything she has accomplished since—from the operating room to the Senate floor.

Dr. Campbell is a proud parent of four daughters: Audrey, Amanda, Ashley, and Annabeth. The family resides in New Braunfels, Texas, in the heart of Senate District 25.

Medical Career

With over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Campbell is a double-board-certified physician, holding a retired certification from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and an active certification from the American Board of Physician Specialties in Emergency Medicine—a rare dual certification that brings a unique perspective to the Texas Legislature.

After earning her Master of Nursing from Texas Woman's University specializing in cardiovascular clinical nursing, she spent over a decade as a critical care and intensive care nurse in Texas hospitals before pursuing her medical degree. She earned her M.D. from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha—the prestigious honor society reserved for the top of each medical school class. She completed a general surgery internship at Methodist Hospital of Dallas before her ophthalmology residency at the Hermann Eye Center at UT Health Science Center Houston, where she received the Morton Award as outstanding resident.

Following her residency in 1993, she practiced ophthalmology while launching international volunteer surgical missions. She eventually transitioned to full-time emergency medicine, serving as Emergency Department Medical Director at Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, TX and Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital in Jasper, TX. She also practiced at Gulf Coast Medical Center and several freestanding emergency rooms across Texas. Her decisions in the ER had to be rapid and definitive—a quality that translates directly into her legislative style, where she prioritizes decisive action and practical solutions over bureaucratic deliberation.

Faith & Service

A proud woman of faith, Dr. Campbell volunteered with Christian Eye Ministries from 1993 to 2000, performing hundreds of sight-restoring eye surgeries annually in Ghana, West Africa—treating patients who would otherwise have remained blind. She also volunteered in Nicaragua as a medical student. These missions are central to her identity as a compassionate healer, creating a bridge between her clinical expertise and her servant-leadership philosophy.

In her spare time, Dr. Campbell is an avid runner and hiker who enjoys spending time with her family in the Texas Hill Country.