Arizona Healthcare Leaders: Who's Who?

Dan Ausman was appointed to President of Abrazo Health Care (owned and operated by parent company Vanguard Health) in 2006. He is a highly accomplished healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience in strategic leadership and multi-facility management. Currently, Ausman oversees 4,000 employees and five acute care hospitals with more than 960 beds including: Arrowhead Hospital; Maryvale Hospital; Paradise Valley Hospital; Phoenix Baptist Hospital and West Valley Hospital; five advanced imaging centers; 11 primary care locations; and two health plans, Phoenix Health Plan and Abrazo Advantage Health Plan.

Ausman most recently was vice president of operations and president of California operations for Vanguard Health and was responsible for three acute care hospitals in Irvine, CA. Previous to that, Ausman was president and chief executive officer for Tenet Healthcare, Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center. He has also served as chief executive officer for Monterey Park Hospital in Monterey Park, CA.

American Heart Association – Board of Directors, 2009. Arizona Hospital & Healthcare Association – Board of Directors, 2008. The Wellness Community – Honorary Board Member, 2008.

Novick is responsible for the strategic direction and operations of Phoenix Health Plan and Abrazo Advantage Health Plan, a Medicaid and Medicare Managed Care organization.

1993 to 1995, President, The Natural Light Company, Inc. March 1993 to November 1993, Chief Executive Officer St. Luke's Advantage Health Plan.

Tritle guides AzHeC's efforts to lead Arizona's establishment of health information exchange and adoption of health information technology.

He most recently served as project manager for Arizona Health-e Connection, and administrator of the Rural Health Information Technology Adoption (RHITA) program, while in the position of Strategic Initiatives Manager at Arizona's Government Information Technology Agency (GITA).

He has been a leader in the electronic display (e.g., LCD) industry in Arizona, founding and chairing the Southwest Chapter of The Society for Information Display (SID.org), consulting on technology development projects, and working for both U.S. and Japanese firms on marketing and manufacturing projects.

Alexander directs AzHHA's advocacy efforts on workforce and quality issues. She also as oversees the AzHHA Service Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of AzHHA.

Alexander previously was chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Services at Maricopa Integrated Health System. Before that, she served as vice president of Patient Services at Phoenix Baptist Hospital.

Member, Arizona Nurses Association, American Nurses Association. Former board member of Arizona Organization of Nurse Executives.

Rivers serves as a member of the AzHHA Board of Directors, a member of the AzHHA Executive Committee and as president of the AzHHA Education Foundation and Service Corporation.

Prior to joining the Association in March of 1986, Mr. Rivers served eight years as regional director of the American Hospital Association in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a lobbyist for AHA in Washington, D.C., for four years and served as legislative assistant to a United States Congressman for three years. Mr. Rivers is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. He served as an officer in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971, with an 18-month tour of duty with the infantry in Vietnam. He served as chairman of the American Hospital Association Committee on Allied Hospital Associations, one of six specialty committees of the AHA Board of Trustees, from 1992 to 1995. He served as Arizona's Regent to the College from 1992-1997, and also served as a member of the National Steering Committee for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's SmokeLess States Project.

He is a member of the Phoenix 100 Rotary Club, a member of the Gift of Life Board of Directors, an adjunct professor in the School of Health Administration and Policy at Arizona State University, a member of the campaign cabinet for the Valley of the Sun United Way, a member of the Arizona Town Hall Board of Directors, and an active participant in numerous other civic and community activities.

Older leads ArMA's advocacy efforts on behalf of Arizona's 5,000 medical doctors. ArMA is dedicated to providing
the best possible environment for physicians to deliver the highest quality of care.

Prior to becoming ArMA's top executive in 1989, he served as ArMA's Director of Government Affairs for five years. From 1974 to 1984, he worked for the Arizona Hospital Association, now known as the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.

He is involved in community and professional organizations such as the Foundation for Senior Living, the American Association of Medical Society Executives and the American Society for Association Executives.

Board-certified genera/vascular surgeon.

Dr. Carter has had a private practice in Yuma since 1988. He is an active staff surgeon, and currently the vice-chairman of the department of surgery at Yuma Regional Medical Center. He will hold the office of president until June 2009.

He is a member of the Yuma County Medical Society, the American Society of General Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.

The Executive Director serves as the staff executive responsible for the effective conduct of the affairs of the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) for the benefit of the membership and the attainment of Association goals. Participates in the formulation of the Association’s mission (i.e. goals, objectives, policies and the strategic plan) Serves as the staff executive responsible for the effective conduct of the Arizona Nurses Foundation (AzNF) and Arizona Nurses Association Political Action Committee (AzNAPAC). Within that framework, organizes and directs the staff. Monitors plans and procedures established by the AzNA Board, membership, AzNF and AzNA PAC. Monitors the financial and legal integrity of the Association and related entities. Identifies nursing trends and forecasts needs.

In 1995, Benjamin was responsible for developing and integrating a seamless service line for women and children at Scottsdale Healthcare, resulting in a state-of-the-art 96,365 square foot women’s facility. She joined the strategic planning and architectural firm of NTDSTICHLER from November 2004 to December 2006 as a healthcare consultant. In this capacity, she provided consultation on strategic planning, program development, and specialty services for women’s and children’s facilities, medical/surgical, critical care, and emergency department/trauma services. In January 2007, she created her own consulting company, JLB & Associates.

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Don Evans has served as CEO at Banner Baywood Medical Center since 2001. He is responsible for the operations of this 360 plus bed, general acute care hospital in east Mesa.

Before becoming CEO at Banner Baywood, he was chief operating officer and senior group vice president of Banner Health Arizona. He was also CEO of Lutheran Healthcare Network in Mesa, Ariz., before it merged to become Banner Health. Previous to that, he was chief operating officer, assistant administrator at LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah and director of hospital and clinical services, associate administrator, assistant administrator at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colo.

He is a Board member of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.

Pat Little-Upah became CEO of Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in 2002.

Prior to that, she was Director of Operations at the hospital and Administrative Director of the hospital's Casa Teresa Alzheimer/Dementia Program. She has had a long and varied health care career, working as a staff nurse and office manager. Since 1980, she has held various positions in the U.S. Army Reserve, including Detachment Commander and Chief Nurse. In 1990, she was in Active Duty Army during Desert Storm.

She is a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, a board member of Los Caballeros de la Margarita, a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Mental Health Guild and In-country Vietnam Veterans (a service organization that raises money for charities)

Banner Boswell Medical Center is a 501-bed, acute-care hospital, founded in 1970.

Dave Cheney's roots in the community go back more than 25 years where he began his career journey at Banner providing emergency care to the West Valley communities as a certified emergency paramedic. Over the years, he has served in a number of leadership positions  most recently as the senior administrator at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, a 650-bed tertiary care hospital in Phoenix where he provided leadership and oversight to both clinical and support departments with more than 850 staff members.

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Todd S. Werner was named CEO of Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center in 2008.

Werner joined Banner Health from the Adventist Health System where he served as CEO of Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in Hinsdale, Illinois, since 2003. Prior to that post, he served as CEO of the Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital in La Grange, Illinois, from 1999 to 2003.

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Rebecca Kuhn serves as chief executive officer of Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, Ariz.

Prior to being named CEO of Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, she was CEO of Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert. Prior to that, she had served as CEO of Banner Mesa Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. since November 2002. Kuhn comes to Banner Health from Paradise Valley Hospital, where she served as president and CEO since 1995. She is no stranger to Banner, however, having served as senior administrator at Banner Desert (formerly Desert Samaritan) prior to taking the Paradise Valley post.

She also serves in a leadership role in a number of health and community organizations. She is currently chair of the Board of Directors for Aid to Adoption of Special Kids.

Rob serves as CEO of Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz.

Gould has been in health care for 17 years and formerly served as chief financial officer and director of operations for Banner-operated Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Denali Center in Alaska before relocating to Phoenix in 2008 to be associate administrator at Banner Estrella. Gould has experience in all facets of health care administration including clinical, ancillary and financial.

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Banner Gateway Medical Center, which opened in Gilbert, Ariz. in September 2007, is Banner Health’s newest state-of-the-art hospital.The medical center employs around 1,000 employees and focuses on obstetrics, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency services and other services according to community need. Banner Gateway Medical Center offers 176 private rooms, eight operating suites and a 37-bed Emergency department.

Previously to being named CEO of Banner Gateway Medical Center, Pam Nenaber served as associate administrator of the Gilbert hospital that opened in 2007. Prior to the opening of Banner Gateway, she also served as COO of Banner Mesa Medical Center for two years. has held a variety of leadership positions in multiple healthcare settings.  Prior to the current hospital operations roles,  from 2000 – 2005 she was one of the founding members of Banner Health’s Care Management, a new division that has oversight for improvement of clinical care and patient safety for all facilities.  Previously, Pam served as Regional Vice President in IHS Home Care, a national home care company from 1995 – 1999.  

Pam is involved in the professional organizations of American College of Healthcare Executives, Health Administrators Forum, and Women in Healthcare.  Active in the community, she previously served as president of the Seton Catholic High School advisory board and as a board member for the Child Crisis Center.

Larry E. Volkmar was named chief executive officer for Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in July 2007.

Volkmar comes to Banner Health from Sinai Health System in Chicago. There he served as president of Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and Sinai Children’s Hospital. He has also previously worked in a consulting role with Arthur Andersen LLP, and held a variety of leadership positions for other nonprofit and for-profit hospital systems over his 30-year career including eight years at the University of Chicago Hospitals as chief nursing officer and vice president of operations.

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Peter Fine was appointed president and CEO of Banner Health in November 2000.

Prior to his current position, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Milwaukee, Wis.-based Aurora Health Care

Fine is a member of the board of governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served on its council of regents. He is also is a member of the American Hospital Association and recently served as a member of their Governing Council for the Section for Health Care Systems. Fine is a member of the Health Insights Foundation, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Business Coalition Leadership Council and serves on the boards of directors of the Translational Genomics Research Institute and Premier, Inc. He is a member of the board of directors of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed to the Arizona Commission on Medical Education and Research, the Economic Council for Arizona State University, the Governor’s Arizona Health e-Connection Steering Committee, and served on the Citizen’s Task Force on the Maricopa County Health Care System and the Citizen’s Finance Review Commission for the state of Arizona.

John Harrington, CEO for Banner Heart Hospital, has paved the way as a health care leader in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area for almost 30 years.

He has leadership experience in both for profit and nonprofit health care systems, including roots in Banner Health. Shortly after his career began at the former Phoenix General Hospital in 1979, he held associate administrator positions within the former Samaritan Health System – now Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center and Banner Thunderbird Medical Center. His knowledge of cardiac programs is extensive, having worked as president and CEO of the Arizona Heart Hospital. Harrington also held leadership positions with Vencor Hospital, a for-profit, long-term acute care facility and CIGNA Health Plan of Arizona. Before being named CEO of Banner Heart Hospital in August 2006, Harrington served as CEO of Abrazo Health Care’s Paradise Valley Hospital.

Harrington’s accomplishments include leadership roles with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the American Heart Association’s Arizona Chapter and Valley Leadership.

Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital, is a 374-bed acute-care hospital offering an array of services, including heart care, surgery services, cancer care, orthopedics, pediatrics, critical care nursery, neurosurgery and a comprehensive women and infants services program.

Tom Dickson, a seasoned health care leader with extensive experience working for another locally-based nonprofit hospital system in the Valley, became CEO for Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in September 2006. Dickson came to Banner Health from Sun Health, where he served as executive vice president and CEO for Walter O. Boswell Memorial Hospital in Sun City. Prior to his position at Boswell, he served in leadership roles at Sun Health's Del E. Webb Memorial Hospital in Sun City West, first as chief operating officer from 1990 to 1995, then as the hospital's CEO from 1995 to 2002. Prior to 1990, Dickson held various leadership positions at hospitals in Arizona and Nevada.

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Roberts has undertaken several initiatives since joining the University. She worked collaboratively with the healthcare industry to identify ways to enhance the University’s nursing program, and within less than a year introduced a revamped nursing and health sciences curriculum. Among her achievements are cohort programs throughout the state that are putting more nursing students in the field, a highly regarded “fast track” RN to BSN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) program and an innovative program that brings students from St. Kitts to Arizona to complete their clinical training and work for Arizona healthcare employers. She is currently overseeing an overha ul of GCU’s health sciencescurriculum, focusing on meeting the healthcare industry’s increasing demand for allied health professionals.

Roberts served as the Vice President, Professional Services, with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association for nine years prior to joining GCU. Before that, she led the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

She also served as a special consultant to the Arizona Board of Regents on increasing nursing student capacity.

Oversees the company's managed health care and health insurance plans, including HMO, PPO, POS, HSA, indemnity, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

Sowers' career includes 20 years of executive experience, predominantly in managed care in Arizona. He joined Health Net of Arizona in 2002, most recently holding the title of regional finance officer. In that capacity, Sowers was instrumental in achieving the company's financial turnaround.

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Under Dan’s leadership, the John C. Lincoln Health Network has grown to include two hospitals, physician practices and specialty centers as well as extensive social services for those in need of health care, food and education.

He chaired the American Hospital Association’s Region Eight Policy Board and was a member of the association’s Board of Trustees. He is past chair of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association and serves as a member of the board.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, the Board of Trustees of St. Luke’s Health Initiatives, as a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership and as a member of the Board of Directors of AHA Solutions.

Rhonda will become president and chief executive officer when Dan C. Coleman retires in spring 2009. Until spring 2008, she held direct responsibility for the strategic direction and daily operations of John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital.

Rhonda has more than 20 years of experience in health care administration. Under her leadership, North Mountain Hospital achieved a number of accomplishments, including being named the first area hospital to achieve Magnet status by the American Nurses Association, an honor accorded only the top 3 percent of the nation’s hospitals for excellence in nursing care. The hospital also was selected a Solucient Top 100 Hospital. She has led the team at the North Mountain hospital through a time of growth and expansion, including construction of a new Emergency and Level I Trauma Center and the expansion and addition of new operating rooms are recent projects at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital.

She has served a variety of business, arts and community organizations including the Better Business Bureau, the Phoenix Boys Choir and
the American Cancer Society.

Richard is responsible for the smooth operation of Magellan of Arizona. He oversees and ensures operational compliance with business, financial, quality and employee objectives. He also oversees the senior management team and works to develop and maintain cost effective and responsive operations throughout the company.

He has extensive executive leadership experience and a background in human services and system change, having previously worked as president and CEO of the Lincoln Child Center and vice president of growth and development for EMQ Children and Family Services in California.

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Responsibilities include overseeing the largest medical malpractice insurance carrier in the state of Arizona.

Prior to joining MICA in 1997, Dr. Carland was a practicing pediatrician in Arizona. During his years of practice he developed a multi-physician pediatric group and served as chairman of the founding boards of an Independent Practice Association (IPA), a statewide
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and the holding company of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). He was also a member of the advisory committee for the Arizona Department of Health, a member of the board of the Arizona Foundation for Medical Care, and member of the liaison committee between the Maricopa County Bar Association and Arizona Medical Association.

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Oversees NMC's efforts to grow the hospital and its services to meet the needs of patients and their families.

Paul joined Northwest Medical Center in 1998 as Assistant Administrator. In January of 2003, Mr. Kappelman transitioned into the role of Chief Executive Officer for Northwest Medical Center Oro Valley (NMC Oro Valley) to begin planning and development of the new hospital. The hospital opened January 12, 2005.

President of the Board of the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce.

Served as chief operating officer and ethics and compliance officer for Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska. While there, he helped open a new replacement hospital in 2006, transitioning the physicians, staff, and patients from an antiquated 40-bed facility to a modern 74-bed hospital. He also oversaw outpatient ancillary services and facility development, including the construction of new medical office buildings in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center’s primary and secondary markets, increasing access to physicians and growing both patient volume and satisfaction. Prior to that, Shawn was the chief operating officer and chief staffing officer at Redmond Regional Medical Center in Rome, Georgia and the chief operating officer and chief staffing officer at Palmyra Medical Center in Albany, Georgia.

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Prior to arriving at Paradise Valley Hospital, Sisto was the chief operating officer of Lakewood Regional Hospital a 171-bed acute care facility in Lakewood, CA. In this role, Sisto was responsible for daily operations for nursing, ancillary, and support services. Sisto has over 20 years of healthcare administration and management experience.

Vice President- Dallas Texas Operations - Hospital Partners of America; Regional Vice President, Medcath Incorporated; President/Chief Executive Officer, Arizona Heart Hospital; President/Chief Executive Officer, Dayton Heart Hospital; Regional Director of Operations, West Virginia Region - Healthsouth Corporation; Chief Executive Officer, Healthsouth Southern Hills Hospital; Area Director of Outpatient Services, Southwestern PA Region; Director of Outpatient Services, Healthsouth Greater Pittsburgh; Marketing Director, Healthsouth Outpatient Division

Prior to joining Phoenix Children's Hospital, Meyer was Vice President and National Director for Health Strategy Practice for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, based in Irvine, Calif., the consulting firm hired by Phoenix Children's to assist the hospital regain financial viability. Meyer is credited for the rapid and significant turnaround of the hospital's finances and operations, and has been heralded for his strong operational and financial management skills, ability to unify diverse constituencies, and his strategic vision to realize the vision and mission of the hospital and advance pediatric health care in Arizona. Meyer joined Ernst & Young in 1985 and has extensive experience in health care administration.

He serves on the Governor's Committee on Arizona Medical Education, the Ronald McDonald Capital Campaign Cabinet, the Arizona Biomedical Collaboration Board, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Council on Government Relations, the NACHRI Council of Child Advocacy, and is the treasurer on the board of the Arizona Medical Education Consortium.

Lanny has been active in healthcare governance for more than 30 years and served on the boards of two rural hospitals and one urban hospital in Arizona. Served as the Board Chairman of PMH Health Resources, Phoenix Memorial Hospital, Payson Regional Medical Center Foundation and The Arizona Hospital Federation, a ten member Arizona hospital group. Lanny also served as a member of the Board of the Arizona Emergency Medical Systems as well as a member of Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association’s Government Relations Committee. Also served as a member of AHA’s Regional Policy Board 8 and was instrumental in chairing and establishing the Western Regional Trustee Symposium, which is now in its 13th year.

AARP Arizona Executive Committee; Past Chair Coronado Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America; Past Chairman, Arizona State Lottery Commission. Currently a member of the Center for Healthcare Governance Blue Ribbon Panel on Trustee Core Competencies.

At UA's Phoenix campus, he is director of the longitudinal clinical experience and the MD/MPH program, head of the public health/prevention scholarly concentration, chair of the Ad Hoc Curriculum Committee and head of the public health/prevention thread of the curriculum.

A UA faculty member since 1988, he was director of the family medicine clerkship and taught medical and public health students, family medicine residents and preventive medicine residents. In Phoenix, he has served as the regional clerkship director for eight years, as a family medicine residency director and as co-teacher of the core Masters in Public Health administration course. He also served on the working group that developed the curricular road map for the Phoenix campus, and he chairs the Student Assessment Committee.

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Vanguard owns and operates 15 acute care hospitals and complementary facilities and services in Chicago, Illinois; Phoenix, Arizona; San Antonio, Texas; and Massachusetts. Vanguard also owns three managed care health plans: Phoenix Health Plan, a Medicaid managed health plan in Arizona; Abrazo Advantage Health Plan, a managed Medicare and dual-eligible health plan in Arizona; and MacNeal Health Providers, a preferred provider network in Chicago.  

Prior to joining Vanguard in May of 2001, Reg served for 28 years as President and Chief Executive Officer of PMH Health Resources, Inc. and its affiliated companies - which included a multi-unit healthcare system based in Phoenix. Reg was elected Chairman of the American Hospital Association (AHA) and 1998 Speaker of the AHA House of Delegates. He also served as a member of the national Board of Commissioners for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and Chairman of the AHA Committee of Commissioners.

Vice Chair of Finance, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Reg has served on a multitude of national company boards including Superior Consultant Holdings Corporation, Bayer Diagnostics Economic Advisory Board and the Health Care Advisory Council of The St. Paul Companies, Inc., and most recently Affilion.

Adkins joined West Valley Hospital in December, 2008. She most recently served as CEO of Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital, a 332-bed medical center in Sun City West. Adkins possesses more than 25 years of clinical and top-level executive healthcare experience. In her current role, Adkins provides leadership and direction to all aspects of hospital activities to ensure compliance with established objectives by positioning the hospital as a community leader in providing service and quality, cost-effective health care. In addition, Adkins maintains effective employee and physician relationships, ensuring an environment conducive to quality patient care, and ensures that the hospital meets all regulatory and compliance requirements. Finally, Adkins develops the strategic plan outlining the future direction of the hospital consistent with division and corporate goals and establishes effective operations.

As CEO of Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital, Adkins was responsible for drastically increasing patient discharges by 147 percent, and oversaw an $86 million facility expansion. During her tenure, Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital was recognized as a “Distinguished Hospital of Clinical Excellence” by HealthGrades® for five consecutive years, placing the hospital in the top five percent of hospitals nationally. Adkins also served as senior vice president and chief operating officer for Memorial Medical Center, a 500-bed teaching hospital in Springfield, Ill., and at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospitals and Health Services, a 462-bed bed multi-hospital system in Clinton Township, Mich.

Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA), HCI Healthcare Institute Board, and the American College of Healthcare Executives. Adkins is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).