Addressing critical issues impacting healthcare

Education
.

Infrastructure
.

Healthcare
.

Innovation Economy 
.

Governance
.

Strategic Initiatives
.

Healthcare

The Healthcare Focus Area works to address critical issues impacting our region’s healthcare.  We also look for opportunities to use the strength of our healthcare community as an asset for building our economy and quality of life.

We supported efforts to design and implement a functional Health Information Exchange for the state and worked with University of Arizona leadership to bring Banner Healthcare into our community.

Co-Chairs

  • Nancy Johnson
      Nancy Johnson

      Nancy Johnson

      CEOEl Rio Community Health Center

      Nancy Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer for El Rio Community Health Center, one of the largest federally qualified health centers in the country. She is a registered nurse as well as holding masters degrees in both nursing from the University of Illinois and marketing and business from the University of Arizona Eller College. Her doctoral research was on provider perspectives in caring for the uninsured population, leading to her completion of her PhD in Health Services.

      Nancy has held positions as a clinician, a faculty member in both nursing and business, as well as an administrator. She spent over 15 years with Tucson Medical Center, building community health and wellness programs, acquiring and managing medical practices for the TMC system, and expanding community networks. Today, in addition to her role as El Rio’s CEO, she continues to serve as an adjunct clinical professor for the University of Arizona College of Medicine. She has authored a textbook with her husband, entitled “The Care of the Uninsured in America” available through Springer Publishing and most recently, an article in Nursing Administration Quarterly on Healthcare for the Homeless. Dr. Johnson is a recipient of the University of Arizona’s Cecil B. Hart Humanitarian Award.

    • Matt Wandoloski
        Matt Wandoloski

        Matt Wandoloski

        Vice President Strategy and InformaticsBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

        As the Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Analytics for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), SALC member Matthew Wandoloski is responsible for guiding the company’s strategy and leading the internal informatics team to utilize data as a strategic asset.

        Matthew brings to his current role a wealth of experience from 35 years in health care. His experience bridges all aspects of health care, including the Healthplan side, the broker and consultant side, and the provider side. In addition to a stint owning his own health care consulting company, he has served as VP of Business Development and Contracting for the Carondelet Health Network; Consulting Practice Leader and Client Executive for large accounts at Mercer Consulting; Executive in charge of Actuarial and Underwriting for Intergroup (now Health Net); and CEO for Southern Arizona at United Healthcare. Each role has added depth to Matthew’s understanding of the intricate business of health care, and the importance of each aspect of the health system that forms such a large component of the economy.

        Matthew is a true Sun Corridor executive, with one foot in Southern Arizona and one foot in Phoenix. He and his wife Olivia raised their three children in Tucson, where all three graduated from The University of Arizona. His current Board memberships also reflect this bridging, and include Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO), membership in SALC, and Valley of the Sun United Way.

        Matthew holds an MBA in finance from C.W. Post College, along with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Southampton College. When he is not hard at work, you may find him on the golf course, at the movies, or enjoying a great bottle of wine with dinner with his wife at one of Arizona’s many great restaurants.

      • Stephen Ziehmer
          Stephen Ziehmer

          Stephen Ziehmer

          CEORincon Research Corporation

          Steve Ziehmer serves as CEO of Rincon Research Corporation, a 100% employee-owned company that provides advanced digital signal processing technologies to the military and intelligence communities.  Before becoming its CEO in 2014, Steve served as Rincon’s Chief Financial Officer for 15 years.  Prior to joining Rincon, he served for ten years as CFO at Cella Barr Associates in Tucson.  A Tucson resident since 1963, Steve attended the University of Arizona where he obtained his BSBA majoring in accounting.  He is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor.

          In addition to his membership in SALC, Steve is Past President of the Tucson Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors, a member of the Board of Directors of Rincon Research Corporation and past Board member of Cella Barr Associates, Inc. Steve holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Arizona.

        Healthcare News

        GET INVOLVED

        Help shape our community by sharing your ideas with us. Please submit your email address if you would like to participate in surveys and share your thoughts.