Each year, Az Business magazine, a publication of AZ Big Media, presents the Champions of Change Awards to recognize those dynamic innovators and trailblazers who are changing Arizona’s business landscape through leadership, visionary thinking and philanthropy. The Champions of Change Awards honor both individuals and organizations. The Champions of Change Awards will be held Thursday, May 16, 2024. Each day leading up to the event, we will preview one category of finalists. Today, meet the Champions of Change finalists for healthcare leader of the year.
Sponsors of the Champions of Change Awards include BOK Financial (impact sponsor), Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona (spotlight sponsor), Stearns Bank (step-and-repeat sponsor), Maricopa Corporate College at Maricopa Community Colleges (photo booth sponsor), Lerner & Rowe Gives Back (name tag sponsor), REDW Advisors and CPAs (floral sponsor) and Center for the Future of Arizona (dessert sponsor).
To learn more about the Champions of Change Awards, click here.
Healthcare leader of the year finalists
Joanne Mizell
COO // Banner | Aetna
Under Mizell’s leadership, Banner|Aetna became the first insurer to implement a life-changing Type 2 diabetes reversal program that helps members manage their condition without expensive medications through virtual, individualized treatment plans. Her operational leadership also guided the development of the Banner|Aetna Ecosystem.
Karen Hoffman Tepper
CEO // Terros Health
Tepper leads industry-changing programs, including establishing more than half of Terros Health clinics as Federally Qualified Health Centers that give everyone access to health care regardless of their ability to pay. She also prioritizes company culture — 89% of Terros employees express feeling appreciated.
Kim Despres
CEO // Circle the City
Despres oversees staff operations and the management of Circle the City’s two respite centers, two outpatient centers and a fleet of mobile medical units providing care throughout Maricopa County. Under her leadership, the organization champions the medical and social needs of Phoenix’s expanding vulnerable population facing homelessness.
Debbie James
CEO // Cranial Technologies
At the helm of Cranial Technologies, James and her team work tirelessly to raise awareness about plagiocephaly, debunk misconceptions and encourage early intervention. They have strategically opened plagiocephaly-specific clinics nationwide, including multiple clinic locations in Arizona.
Katrina Morgan
COO // NOAH – Neighborhood Outreach Access to Healthcare
Morgan has more than 15 years of experience as a healthcare executive. As NOAH’s COO, she leads the organization in serving comprehensive health services including medical, dental, behavioral health, nutrition, preventive health, eligibility assistance and health education programs to more than 40,000 people across the Valley.
Erik Osland
Founder and Co-CEO // evolvedMD
Osland launched evolvedMD after the passing of his father in 2018, when the Osland family had spent well over $1,000 per month on medications — even on Medicare. This provided Osland an opportunity to disrupt the broken healthcare system so other families could avoid similar experiences.
Dora Pesqueda
Founder, president and CEO // TheSmileZone
Recognizing the barriers parents and caregivers experience in obtaining routine dental care for children, Pesqueda established the TheSmileZone. “By staying attuned to the unique challenges faced by Arizona residents,” Pesqueda says, “we have implemented targeted strategies that address specific oral health concerns.”
Christopher J. Smith
Chief science officer // Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)
Smith oversees SARRC’s research program and a team of more than 30 staff members. Together, Smith and his team collaborate with leading experts to conduct groundbreaking studies aimed at advancing the understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developing effective interventions and treatments.
Steve Purves
President and CEO // Valleywise Health
Since becoming the president and CEO of Valleywise Health in 2013, he’s helped with a $170 million financial turnaround and secured $935 million in general obligation bonds passed by voter referendum in 2014. Purves also received the 2023 Champions of Change, Healthcare Leader of the Year Award.
Wendi Willock
Senior community engagement manager // JDRF
Since joining the JDRF AZ Chapter, Willock has raised money to help find a cure for Type 1 diabetes and provide support for affected families. She has also been instrumental in volunteerism for JDRF, serving as the Logistics Chair for the Walk, Silent Auction Chair and more.
