Pacific Premier Bank appoints pair

• Pacific Premier Bank announced Mike Wall as the SVP, Director of Commercial Banking for the Tucson area. Mike has over 12 years of Commercial Banking Experience, partnering with operating companies in diverse industries to help achieve their goals. He leads a team of experienced Commercial Bankers who support clients with customized solutions for loans, treasury management, and depository services.  Mike grew up in Tucson, Arizona and received his MBA from Colorado State University. He enjoys teaching kids for Junior Achievement, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, is active in CCIM of Southern Arizona, and is an active member of the BDFC Loan Committee, which approves SBA loans for local small to mid-size businesses.

• Pacific Premier Bank announced Jason Muhme as the SVP, Director of Commercial Banking for the Phoenix area. Jason has over 19 years of Commercial Banking Experience, specializing in the Middle Market space, collaborating with operating companies in diverse industries to help achieve their goals. He leads a team of experienced Commercial Bankers who support clients with customized solutions for loans, partnering with operation, treasury management, and depository services. Jason and his family moved to Phoenix in June of 2018. They are proudly involved in the community, supporting various nonprofit organizations in the Valley. They are also avid hikers and enjoy all of the beauty Arizona has to offer.

Phoenix Children’s welcomes Rajeev Bhatia, MD

The Department of Pulmonology at Phoenix Children’s, a top 40 specialty program ranked by US News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals, announced Rajeev Bhatia, MD, MBBS as Pulmonology Division Chief at Phoenix Children’s.

“Dr. Bhatia brings nearly 20 years of experience to Phoenix Children’s including training at top programs around the U.S. and capabilities caring for international pediatric populations,” said Jared Muenzer, MD, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Phoenix Children’s Medical Group. “We are proud to have him lead one of our health system’s largest teams, with ability to provide exceptional direction and care to children with a variety of respiratory conditions.” 

Phoenix Children’s Department of Pulmonology treats more than 17,000 patients every year. Dr. Bhatia joins Phoenix Children’s from Akron Children’s Hospital of Ohio, where he had an eight-year tenure. His most recent position was Medical Director of the Clinical Exercise Physiology Lab in the Robert T. Stone Respiratory Center at Akron Children’s.

Dr. Bhatia is a member of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and has authored and reviewed numerous medical articles.

Kari Cornicelli joins Phoenix Children’s

Kari Cornicelli, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Phoenix Children’s, brings more than 30 years of experience to the organization, with expertise in healthcare finance and value growth.

As Chief Financial Officer, Cornicelli leads broad financial initiatives across the health system in both for-profit and nonprofit environments. She works to grow enterprise value and has significant experience in developing healthcare reform initiatives like population health strategies. Transparent and collaborative, Cornicelli enjoys mentoring younger professionals.

Cornicelli joined Phoenix Children’s from San Diego, where she had a successful 22-year tenure with Sharp Healthcare.  Her most recent position was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus where she worked to grow the enterprise into the 1,036-bed, $1.3 billion enterprise it is today.

Active in the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Cornicelli has served as National Chair of its Board of Directors and is also a past president of the San Diego Chapter. She has contributed to several national task forces, and she frequently speaks at healthcare finance conferences.

Autumn Jarrett joins HMA Public Relations

Autumn Jarrett has joined HMA Public Relations as an account coordinator. A graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication,  Jarrett will be assisting with digital communications, social media management, media relations and supporting HMA’s account executive team. 

Jarrett graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree and a certificate in marketing and sales from the W.P. Carey School of Business. 

Prior to joining HMA, Jarrett gained industry experience through an internship with Arizona Public Service (APS) in the corporate communications department. Jarrett also completed a professional program through the Cronkite PR Lab. 

Originally from Illinois, Jarrett moved to Arizona to attend ASU.

Sun Health names Jennifer Drago to chief strategy officer role

Jennifer Drago, formerly executive vice president of Population Health for Sun Health, has been named chief strategy officer for the organization. 

In Drago’s expanded role, she is responsible for Sun Health’s strategic and annual planning processes and identifying and researching new business opportunities and programs. Drago will continue to lead her current team, which includes Sun Health at Home and Sun Health Wellness, comprised of the Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing, Community Education as well as the Care Transitions and Memory Care Navigator programs.

“Jennifer is uniquely qualified for this role with an extensive background in health care planning and development that began at Sun Health in the 1990s, along with her more recent role developing our comprehensive and award-winning Sun Health Wellness division and our Sun Health at Home program, which is the state’s first continuing care at home program,” said Joe La Rue, chief executive officer of Sun Health.