– At Banner Health, one of the nation’s few fully integrated nonprofit health systems, care is guided by making the communities we serve healthier. Banner is proud of its inclusive environment and leadership that reflects the composition of its team. More than 70% of Banner’s team members are female, and this distribution is also represented on its leadership team. We are pleased to announce that six Banner women executives were highlighted by Becker’s Hospital Review as “Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know.”
As a fully integrated nonprofit health system serving six states, Banner cultivates leadership that prioritizes community impact, clinical excellence, and sustainable health care delivery through local reinvestment. These leaders demonstrate that exceptional outcomes and accessible care can coexist when guided by mission-driven values.
“Our leaders serve as stewards of their communities,” said Banner Health President and CEO Amy Perry, who was among those recognized. “From rural hospitals that serve as community lifelines to major academic medical centers advancing breakthrough treatments, every decision is based on building trust and developing a sustainable model of health and care.”
Perry was recognized for guiding transformation through health plan expansion, technology investments, groundbreaking research and innovation across the six-state system. The list includes dynamic leaders including:
- Sandy Dugger – CEO, Platte County Hospital in Wheatland, Wyoming, who was cited for being able to swiftly navigate the many challenges that rural hospitals face and her approach emphasizes collaboration and innovation to meet the evolving needs of the community.
- Alison Flynn Gaffney – CEO, Banner – University Medicine Tucson, whose focus on excellence and organizational culture has resulted in the hospitals and services receiving numerous accolades and increasingly positive team feedback.
- Courtney Ophaug – CEO, Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix, who oversees a robust women’s health program, including high risk obstetric and neonatal service and expansion to better serve the growing southwest metro Phoenix area.
- Laura Robertson – CEO, Banner Desert Medical Center, Banner Children’s at Desert in Mesa, and Banner Ocotillo Medical Center in Chandler. Robertson leads high-performing teams delivering performance excellence. Her strategic focus propels the hospitals’ success, implementing continuous improvement initiatives and nurturing program growth.
- Linda Thorpe – CEO, East Morgan County Hospital in Brush, Colorado, places emphasis on relationship development amongst patients, providers and community stakeholders working together to support and care for each other.
As a nonprofit health system, every dollar Banner earns stays in the communities it serves. In 2025 alone, Banner reinvested $1.1 billion in charity care, financial assistance, rural hospitals, Medicaid services, medical education, research, and community health programs.
“I’m grateful our leaders understand that their responsibility extends beyond hospital walls,” Perry added. “They’re building healthier communities for generations to come.”
In releasing the list, Chicago-based Becker’s Hospital Review noted that the presidents and CEOs on this list are driving growth, expanding access to care, and cultivating workplace cultures where providers and patients both thrive.
“They bring fresh perspectives to the industry’s most pressing challenges, a strong commitment to health equity, and a leadership style that consistently centers people,” Becker’s said in its announcement. “Becker’s is proud to celebrate these exceptional women leaders.”
About Banner Health
As one of the nation’s largest fully integrated nonprofit health systems, we are pioneering a sustainable care model that prioritizes prevention, manages chronic disease, and reduces health spending – succeeding when patients stay healthy, not when they get sick. We operate 33 hospitals and more than 400 sites across six states, delivering seamless care from primary to quaternary medicine, including health insurance, physician networks, world-renowned specialty services, and behavioral health. Accountable to the communities we serve, we reinvest every dollar into advancing care, research, and facilities, providing more than $1 billion each year in community benefit. Through our partnership with the University of Arizona, we drive clinical discoveries across more than 800 trials and train more than 1,300 residents and fellows annually. Headquartered in Arizona, we serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. Our hospitals are consistently ranked among Arizona’s top-performing by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/about.
