World-renowned sports doctor joins Banner Health

One of Dr. Tom Carter’s favorite photos shows the longtime Valley surgeon in his medical scrubs, smiling beside a sports jersey-wearing “gorilla” on an exam table. The Phoenix Suns mascot looks pretty happy too.

Dr. Carter, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, recently marked another milestone in an exciting career that includes serving as the head physician of the Phoenix Suns for two decades.

He recently joined Banner – University Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute in Phoenix, where he’ll treat adolescent and adult patients with the same expertise he’s been providing to nationally recognized athletes.

Dr. Carter has served as the head orthopedic surgeon for the Harlem Globetrotters and the head orthopedic team physician at Arizona State University for 14 years. He continues serving as the head orthopedic team physician for Grand Canyon University.

“No matter what level of athlete, from weekend warrior to professional sports figure, I try to treat all my patients the same,” Dr. Carter said. “That’s a good principle to follow.”

Dr. Carter is also excited about plans to help Banner colleagues build a national sports medicine institute in metro Phoenix.

He was named the NBA head team physician of the year in 2016, and is considered a world authority in performing meniscus replacement and treating articular cartilage.

He has significant academic experience, including publishing more than 50 scientific papers, and served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Arthroscopy Association of North America. Dr. Carter also has three patents for arthroscopic equipment and is actively involved in several research projects, including a knee implant designed to fill the gap between being symptomatic after a meniscectomy but before needing a knee replacement.

He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed Sports Medicine Fellowships at Jackson Hole Orthopaedics in Wyoming and the University of Western Ontario in Canada.

For more information, visit www.bannerhealth.com/UniversityPhoenix.

Vitalyst announces 6 new board members

Vitalyst Health Foundation announced the addition of six new members to the organization’s board of directors.  The new board members bring extensive experience in public health, health policy, and law. The new board members are Ylenia Aguilar, Ann‐Marie Alameddin, Dede Yazzie Devine, Will Humble, Jesus Rivera, Colleen Lomax.

“I’m pleased to welcome our new board members to the team,” said Suzanne Pfister, President and CEO of Vitalyst Health Foundation. “The knowledge, passion, and experience they bring will be a big step forward to helping Vitalyst achieve health equity in our Arizona communities.” 

Ylenia Aguilar currently serves as Vice President at Strategies 360 Cultura. Strategies 360 is a political consulting firm, with offices in ten western states and Washington, DC. They offer services in public policy, marketing, communications, research and polling, federal and state lobbying. She is a registered lobbyist in Arizona and is involved with the Save Our Schools campaign. Aguilar also serves as a Governing Board Member of the Osborn School District, #8, and is an alum of Valley Leadership. She has directed and managed state campaigns and successfully managed extensive development projects. Aguilar attended the University of Arizona.

Ann‐Marie Alameddin is the President and CEO of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA). AzHHA is the statewide association for Arizona hospitals and other healthcare organizations. She also served as AzHHA’s Vice President of Strategy and General Counsel for four years before being named its President and CEO. Prior to working at AzHHA, Ann‐Marie served as in‐house counsel and government relations officer at John C. Lincoln Health Network, where she led the $1.4 billion affiliation with Scottsdale Healthcare, now HonorHealth. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Creighton University, Ann‐Marie went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco with a focus on bioethics, and a Juris Doctorate and health law certificate from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

Dede Yazzie Devine serves as CEO of Native American Connections. Devine has been working within Native American urban and tribal entities since 1972 and has been employed as the CEO of Native American Connections (NAC) since 1979. Ms. Devine has an MBA from Arizona State University and holds International and State license in behavioral health counseling. Ms. Devine’s leadership and dedication have been recognized within the community with the following honors: Valley Leadership’s Woman of the Year (2003), ONE (Organization for Nonprofit Executives) Executive Director of the Year (2006), YWCA’s Business Leader Award (2008); Arizona’s Centennial Legacy Project – Arizona’s 48 Most Intriguing Women (2012); and ASU WP Carey School of Business Hall of Fame (2012).

Will Humble is the Executive Director for the Arizona Public Health Association. His 30 years in public health included more than 2 decades at the Arizona Department of Health Services, where he served in various capacities including as the Agency Director from 2009 to 2015. Most recently, he served as a health policy director at the University of Arizona from 2015 to 2017. He received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Northern Arizona University, a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Arizona State University, and a Masters in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley.

Jesus Rivera, Battalion Chief (Paramedic), has served as a member of the Surprise Fire‐Medical Department (SFMD) for over 21 years. Rivera is the Division Chief over Surprise’s Medical Services. Rivera received the Fire Chief’s award in 2016, AEMS Aces of Hearts award in 2018 and the Image Trend Hooley Award for Innovation in 2019. He has an associate degree in Paramedicine, and a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Leadership. He has been involved in Surprise’s behavioral health program since 2015, is a partner in the West Valley Community Paramedicine Program and manages Surprise Ambulance and Treat and Refer programs.

Colleen Lomax (Board of Visitor Representative) is an attorney and is Of Counsel to Meagher & Geer, PLLP. In this role she has defended financial institutions such as banks, third party loan administrators, brokers, and insurers against claims by other financial institutions, mortgagors, trustors, and insureds. She also was a Litigation Associate and Partner for Quarles & Brady, LLP. She has a B.A. from Smith College, and J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.