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Posted: 03-Mar-26
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Type: Full Time
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Internal Number: 36015
President and Chief Executive Officer
Valleywise Health
Phoenix, AZ
The Opportunity:
Valleywise Health seeks a seasoned, purpose-driven executive with the breadth of experience, judgment, and leadership presence to lead a complex public health system in a highly visible governance environment. Leading Valleywise Health represents a rare opportunity to steward one of the nation’s most essential public health systems at a defining moment in its evolution. As Maricopa County’s public safety-net health system and largest public teaching institution, Valleywise Health operates at the intersection of public accountability, academic medicine, and complex clinical care. The next President and Chief Executive Officer will inherit a system with a strong financial foundation, a deeply mission-driven workforce, and a clear public mandate for transformation—alongside the realities of a rapidly evolving Medicaid environment and heightened expectations for transparency, equity, and performance.
The Position:
The President and Chief Executive Officer serves as the chief executive of the Maricopa County Special Health Care District, doing business as Valleywise Health, and is accountable to a publicly elected Board of Directors for the organization’s overall performance, strategic direction, and long-term sustainability. Working in close partnership with the Board, the President and CEO defines and advances system-wide strategy and serves as Valleywise Health’s principal representative with community leaders, governmental officials, academic partners, and other key stakeholders. This role requires confident leadership within a transparent public governance environment while aligning diverse interests around a shared mission and a clear set of priorities. The President and CEO holds ultimate responsibility for operational, financial, and clinical performance across the system, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, equitable, and compassionate care in full compliance with regulatory and accrediting standards. A critical dimension of the role is the partnership with District Medical Group (DMG), the affiliated nonprofit physician organization that employs and manages the physicians and advanced practice providers serving Valleywise Health. Through this closed medical staff model, the President and CEO ensures alignment across clinical care, academic programming, physician engagement, and financial sustainability. The President and CEO will also educate and align the Board on complex issues including the professional services agreement and Medicaid funding dynamics and the strategic deployment of Proposition 409 bond proceeds.
The Ideal Candidate:
- A master’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, or a related field is required. Fellowship in the American College of Healthcare Executives or comparable professional credentials are desirable.
- The successful candidate will bring significant senior executive leadership experience within a complex healthcare organization, academic medical center, public hospital system, or similarly sophisticated system. Experience operating in environments characterized by public accountability, multi-stakeholder governance, and evolving reimbursement dynamics is highly valued.
- Demonstrated experience working directly with a governing board, particularly within a public or publicly accountable setting is strongly preferred. The President and CEO must be adept at building trust with board members, communicating complex issues with clarity, and leading with transparency in a public forum.
- A track record of effective partnership with physicians and clinical leaders is critical, particularly within integrated or closed medical staff models. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to align clinical excellence, academic advancement, physician engagement, and financial sustainability.
The Organization:
Valleywise Health, formerly known as Maricopa Integrated Health System, is a comprehensive public health care system deeply rooted in the Phoenix community, serving Maricopa County for more than 140 years. As the region’s public safety-net hospital system and largest public teaching institution, Valleywise Health includes the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center, behavioral health hospitals, community and comprehensive health centers, and a strong academic and physician training system. Valleywise Health is committed to providing exceptional care without exception, every patient, every time, and plays a vital role in advancing access, equity, and community health across Maricopa County.
The Location:
Greater Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing major metropolitan regions in the United States, with a population approaching five million and a diversified, innovation-driven economy. Strong academic institutions, expanding healthcare, biosciences, and technology sectors, and sustained corporate investment make the region professionally compelling for senior leaders. The area also offers a high quality of life. Cultural institutions, family-friendly amenities, and a deep connection to the Sonoran Desert contribute to an environment where executives and their families can build long-term roots. Year-round sunshine, outdoor access, professional sports, and a growing arts community provide balance to the demands of leading a complex organization. Compared to many coastal markets, Greater Phoenix offers relatively accessible housing and a competitive overall tax environment, reinforcing its appeal as both a professional and personal destination.
Please direct all inquiries, applications, and referrals to:
Richard Heishman
richard.heishman@amnhealthcare.com
About B.E. Smith Leadership Solutions, Executive and Physician Leadership Search
B.E. Smith Leadership Solutions, Executive and Physician Leadership Search, is a retained executive search firm serving the healthcare and life sciences industries. Ranked as one of the top healthcare recruiting firms in the country, B.E. Smith Leadership Solutions, is known for leading healthcare into the future by its growing base of clients across the country, drawing on a national pool of candidates.