Each year, PTK magazine — a publication of AZ Big Media — showcases the top people and projects to know in Arizona’s commercial real estate sector. Pulling from a competitive pool of nominations and the editorial board’s knowledge of the industry, this annual edition highlights 50 meaningful projects across all product types and influential professionals in 23 different categories. The digital sponsor of PTK magazine is Quarles. Over the coming days, meet the individuals making an outsized impact on the built environment across Arizona. Here are the healthcare brokers to know in 2026:
DEEPER DIVE: Read the latest issue of PTK magazine
Julie Johnson
Executive vice president
Background: Recognized as an industry thought leader both locally and nationally, Johnson provides comprehensive healthcare and seniors housing real estate services throughout Greater Phoenix. She represents landlords, tenants, investors and owner/users, finding solutions to the most complex real estate needs.
Source of pride: “Over the past 20 years, I’ve mentored many young people in commercial real estate and watched them grow in life and their careers. Seeing their accomplishments and successes makes me proud.”
Key to success: “Being sincerely and 100% focused on creating success for my clients by learning what makes their healthcare business tick and how their location, design and construction influences that success. With that knowledge, I use all my resources, contacts and creative skills to achieve this final result. In doing so, I usually form a lasting relationship with these clients and they become personal friends.”
Surprising fact: “I love adrenaline and adventure! I’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, raced formula cars, helicopter skied and had a lot of fun in life!”
Kathleen Morgan
Managing director
Background: With more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, Morgan brings deep expertise in guiding physicians, medical building owners, practice groups, hospitals and healthcare providers on critical real estate decisions. Before joining Transwestern, she spent a decade at Newmark, advising healthcare investors across the U.S. on medical office building opportunities in Arizona. In her final three years there, she closed 138 sale and lease transactions totaling over 445,000 square feet and valued at more than $88 million.
Source of pride: “The long-term relationships I’ve built with my clients — many spanning more than two decades. These partnerships have allowed me to learn, grow and achieve success alongside them, creating lasting connections built on trust. I also take great pride in earning my Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation, being named NAIOP’s Healthcare Broker of the Year in 2022 and being recognized by AZRE magazine as one of the ‘Most Influential Women in Arizona.’”
Key to success: “Perseverance and resilience. I approach every challenge with determination, maintaining focus even when the path isn’t straightforward. I believe in the value of hard work, holding myself to the highest standards and continuously striving for excellence in everything I do.”
Surprising fact: “For the past eight years, I’ve run the Narrow Gauge 10-Mile Run in Durango, Colorado, each Memorial Day weekend. The course winds through town and into the Rockies, offering breathtaking views and a tough but rewarding challenge. Over the years, my husband, kids and friends have joined in — running or biking in events throughout the weekend— which has turned it into a beloved tradition. It’s a celebration of community, endurance and shared adventure that keeps us coming back year after year.”
Mari Lederman
Senior vice president
Background: With over 30 years in healthcare and a background in real estate, architecture and medical planning, Lederman has guided the design and development of more than 1 million square feet of medical projects.
Source of pride: “The strong relationships I’ve built with my clients. Watching their projects come to life through trust, collaboration and shared commitment is deeply rewarding —and it’s exactly why I love the work I do.”
Key to success: “My partnership with Katie McIntyre, who inspires me daily.”
Surprising fact: “A little-known fact about me is that I was adopted and reconnected with my birth family 12 years ago. It’s been a wonderful journey, and we’ve built a very close relationship that I truly treasure.”
Michael Dupuy
Executive vice president
Background: Dupuy and his team specialize in the sale, lease, acquisition and disposition of healthcare real estate. A five-time recipient of Kidder Mathews’ “Big Hitter” award, he is consistently recognized as one of the top producers in the region.
Source of pride: “Growing our team with young, talented and ambitious professionals who are also genuinely great people. I’ve often heard, ‘They’re hard to find.’ I haven’t found that to be the case — but am proud of it nonetheless!”
Key to success: “I’m somewhat insecure, so I’m always trying to learn more and get better at what I’m doing.”
Surprising fact: “I’ve never watched ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘The Lord of the Rings’ or ‘Star Wars.’”
Philip Wurth
Senior vice president
Background: Wurth focuses on acquiring, disposing, and leasing healthcare and life science properties, with 20 years of experience and over 1,000 transactions completed. Notable transactions include a $10.5 million hospital sale and $8 million build-to-suit in Gilbert, and a $5.5 million medical building purchase in North Phoenix.
Source of pride: “Working with United Vein Centers to expand their presence into multiple markets, including Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Florida, New York and New Jersey. The process and procedures required to open up over 25 locations in 18 months have been transformational.”
Favorite project: The Presidio in Chandler — an 85,000-square-foot medical office property built in 2007. The lead developer on the project was Richard Richmond, Wurth’s long-time mentor and friend. The two met shortly after Wurth got into real estate in 2001, and Richmond gave Wurth his first big break. That led to many more projects together and a significant relationship between them. Richmond passed away last year after a fight with a brain tumor, but his impact on Wurth’s life lives on.
