Healing doesn’t only happen on operating tables or in exam rooms. From EMTs and social workers to acupuncturists and therapy dogs, these unsung health heroes quietly make a lasting impact beyond the walls of Valley clinics and hospitals.
How We Picked This List
To honor our third annual class of heroes, we asked PHOENIX magazine readers and editors to nominate caregivers and other behind-the-scenes professionals during a one-month submission period, then selected the 30 we felt were most deserving, spanning a wide spectrum of care.
Nadine P. Baldwin, DAc, L.Ac.
Founder and Integrative Medical Acupuncturist, Arizona Valley Acupuncture
Fueled by her family’s complex chronic health conditions, Baldwin founded Arizona Valley Acupuncture to provide a holistic, patient-centered approach to wellness. She offers a range of modalities and therapies guided by each patient’s individual health conditions, concerns and goals. “This work has taught me the importance of truly listening, meeting each person where they are with patience and compassion, and recognizing that healing is a process where even small acts of care and kindness can make a meaningful difference,” she says.
Jillian Castro, RN
Advanced Clinical Nurse, Emergency Department at Valleywise Health Medical Center
HBO’s The Pitt gives viewers a realistic and unflinching portrayal of health-care workers enduring long, high-stress shifts in the emergency department of a busy inner-city hospital. Valleywise Health Medical Center, a public teaching hospital in the heart of Downtown, is Phoenix’s answer to The Pitt, where Castro serves as a source of calm amid chaos. “My focus is on providing rapid critical care in high-pressure settings, conducting triage to prioritize patients, and stabilizing individuals with life-threatening injuries or illnesses,” he says.
Louis D’Angelo
Battalion Chief, Surprise Fire-Medical Department
In 2025, D’Angelo was named Arizona’s EMCT (Emergency Medical Care Technician) of the Year by Arizona Emergency Medical Systems after responding to a shooting involving a 7-month-old infant. D’Angelo arrived first on scene, where he rescued and stabilized the critically injured child before transport. The baby survived – and D’Angelo and his battalion were later honored by Phoenix Children’s and the Arizona Department of Health Services for their heroic rescue.
Lindsay DeWolfe, NP
Nurse Practitioner, Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates
DeWolfe is an unsung health-care hero, according to her nominator, Dr. Andrew Sharobeem of Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates in Avondale. “She spends countless hours outside of clinical work to do admin work that further enhances our ability to reach more lives and in a manner that allows us to be the best we can be as providers,” he says. “She is a hidden figure in this regard and integral in our everyday processes.”
Gabrielle Ficchi, Ph.D., PC, LPCS, CRC
Chief Operating Officer, Care 4 the Caregivers
“Caregivers are often asked to hold everything together while receiving little support themselves,” licensed therapist Ficchi says. That belief drives Care 4 the Caregivers, her nonprofit dedicated to supporting families raising children with disabilities. A disabled woman herself, Ficchi leads initiatives that expand access to disability-informed mental-health care, caregiver support, education and advocacy. “The most meaningful part of my work is helping disabled people and their families feel seen, respected and genuinely cared for while also reframing disability through a lens of dignity, resilience and pride,” she says.
Amy Hall
Chair, Board of Visitors
Hall, a breast cancer survivor, has courageously shared her journey battling an aggressive form of the disease to inspire and advocate for others, championing philanthropic efforts in Phoenix for more than two decades. In her current role as chair of the Board of Visitors, she leads fundraising efforts, oversees grantmaking and acts as a community ambassador for Arizona’s oldest women’s charitable organization, which raises money and awareness for the health-care needs of women, children and the elderly around the state.
Rose Hanne
Chief Operating Officer, Alliance Urgent Care
“Whether in health care or the community… when people feel seen, supported and valued, they show up in extraordinary ways for those they serve,” says Hanne, who is committed to building compassionate clinical teams and delivering accessible, patient-centered care at Alliance Urgent Care clinics across the Valley. She is also active in her community, serving as the Rotary Club of Mesa president, Visit Mesa treasurer and Mesa Arts Center Foundation chair.
Sarah Beth Herman, MBA
Founder and CEO, Dentistry Support
Herman serves as a “behind-the-scenes support team” to dental practices across the country through her Queen Creek-based administrative and operational services company Dentistry Support. Her mission is to help dental offices “increase profitability and elevate patient experience” through streamlining eligibility, billing and administrative systems. “I have always led with the intention of leaving dentistry better than I found it,” she says. “That means building stronger businesses, supporting teams in a real way and making sure patients feel cared for every step of the way.”
Koren Hudson, LPC, NCC
Executive Clinical Director, Horizon Recovery
With a master’s degree in trauma and mental-health counseling, Hudson brings deep expertise and commitment to compassionate, evidence-based treatment. At Horizon Recovery, she leads inpatient and outpatient programs for teens and adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, PTSD, self-harm and other mental-health disorders. “I’ve learned that when people feel safe, supported and truly seen and understood, they begin to see themselves differently, and this is where the healing really starts,” she says.
Christopher Johnson, PA-C
Physician Assistant, Fiel Family & Sports Medicine
Tempe’s Fiel Family & Sports Medicine prioritizes continuity of care and movement-based healing, helping patients recover properly and prevent future injuries. Johnson’s clinical skill and bedside manner are praised by patients like his nominator, Kathy Monk, who came to Fiel for severe knee pain initially diagnosed as a strained muscle at the ER. Johnson ultimately determined that Monk had a torn meniscus and broken tibia. “Because of his devotion, true concern and uncanny vision, I avoided surgery,” she says.
Debbie Johnston
Director, Arizona Department of Health Services
Appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs in 2025, Johnston oversees everything from disease prevention and emergency preparedness programs to the licensing of hospitals, assisted living facilities and childcare centers throughout the state. She previously focused on advocacy and policy development at the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. “I consider myself a problem-solver at heart,” Johnston says. “I’m excited to come to work every day and apply an analytical lens to our state’s public health infrastructure to build a system that works for every Arizonan, from our rural borders to our urban core.”
Benjamin Lalani
Founder and CEO, Pump Avenue Foundation
At just 17, Lalani turned a personal passion into a purpose-driven pursuit by founding Pump Avenue Foundation, a Scottsdale-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to life-changing diabetes technology. Recognizing the financial barriers that often prevent patients from obtaining insulin pump therapy, he began collecting and repurposing donated devices and placing them with people in need. Today, the foundation partners with clinics across the U.S., Somalia, Haiti, Tanzania and India, redirecting more than $1 million in critical medical equipment that would otherwise go unused.
Erika Lindsay, CCC-SLP
Speech Therapist and AAC Specialist, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) specialist Lindsay helps children with complex speech and motor disorders find their voices. Through thoughtful evaluations and hands-on training, she breaks down barriers around communication devices, empowering caregivers to embrace these tools to unlock self-expression. “AAC does not replace speech, it replaces silence,” Lindsay says. “It allows kids of all abilities to hear, speak, be heard and be spoken to. It allows them to show the world who they are, no
matter what their ability level is.”
Emily Lorah, MA, BCBA
Executive Director, Roman Empire Agency
Lorah believes improving the lives of developmentally disabled individuals starts with early, equitable and consistent access to care. In her role at Roman Empire Agency in Scottsdale, she works on the frontlines to deliver critical services and support to children and adults with developmental disabilities, autism and ADHD. She directs multi-state clinical and operational teams, providing applied behavior analysis, adaptive skills training, supported living services and employment support to remove systemic barriers and improve outcomes for patients and their families.
Mwajuma Mkandama
Cultural Health Navigator, Valleywise Health
For the thousands of refugees relocated to the Valley by the federal government, receiving medical treatment far from home can be overwhelming. At Valleywise Health, Cultural Health Navigators make these patients feel safe and supported through interpretation services, health literacy and mediation. “I didn’t know how impactful and valuable I am in my community until I started working as a cultural health navigator,” says Mkandama, a CHN from Tanzania. “As much as they learn from us, we learn from them as well.”
Dylan Moore, RN
Registered Nurse, Arizona Liver Health and Viral ElimiNATION (VEN) Centers
Moore runs Arizona’s leading hepatitis C outreach and treatment elimination program, serving patients who have traditionally lacked access to the health-care system or have been turned away from care. Moore and his team meet patients where they are – in the streets, homeless encampments, prison reentry programs and addiction recovery centers – to provide on-site testing and treatment. “When you… rebuild trust in populations that have historically been stigmatized, you can change outcomes at a scale most people don’t think is achievable,” he says.
Taylor Myers
Pediatric Genetic Counselor, Phoenix Children’s
Myers meets families at some of their most vulnerable moments, helping them navigate complex genetic diagnoses and making deeply personal decisions about their child’s future. As a genetic counselor, she doesn’t just deliver information, she deftly balances science with empathy, turning what could be a cold clinical experience into a meaningful partnership. “I can’t control the existence of devastating genetic diseases,” she says. “But I can help ensure families receive their diagnoses in an informed and compassionate way.”
Kendra Riley
Patient Rights Advocate
Ahwatukee mom and PR pro Riley has spent more than two decades leading national campaigns for businesses and nonprofits. After her two daughters were diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) in 2020, she added “global rare disease advocate” to her résumé. She has since testified at conferences and congressional briefings, helping accelerate FDA approval and driving legislation to expand treatment access and advance newborn screening for families like hers. “I tell stories for a living, but sharing my own is what turned our family’s tragedy into triumph,” she says.
Tony Rodarte
Co-Founder, Compassion Alliance
After 20 years in law enforcement, former Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office homicide detective Rodarte hit a mental breaking point. He sought therapy, where he was able to overcome the overwhelming stress and isolation first responders often shoulder in silence. He then co-founded Compassion Alliance with his physician wife, Melody, to connect other police, fire and EMS professionals, retirees and their spouses with free, confidential trauma therapists. “I’ve learned you can’t carry this job alone, and you shouldn’t have to,” Rodarte says. “That’s why this work matters.”
Cheryl Simmons, FNP
Owner/Provider, Naturally Balanced
Wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Naturally Balanced in Gilbert, Simmons takes a personalized, functional approach to health, offering adrenal support, thyroid regulation, hair restoration, nutrition guidance and hormone optimization that addresses root causes instead of simply treating symptoms. “I am passionate about caring for the whole person, helping each individual learn how to uniquely support their body in a way that restores balance mentally, emotionally and physically,” Simmons says.
Martin & Danielle Solomon
Authors, The Nursing Home Survival Guide
This Phoenix father-daughter attorney team represents families in lawsuits against nursing homes and assisted living facilities, ultimately working to prevent harm before it happens – keeping clients in safe care settings and out of the courtroom. Leading voices in elder abuse and advocacy, the Solomons co-wrote The Nursing Home Survival Guide, a free resource that helps readers identify risk factors, recognize red flags and make informed decisions when choosing a facility for an aging loved one.
Diana Thomas
Founder and CEO, The World Egg and Sperm Bank
Thomas endured a 15-year infertility journey before using an egg donor to conceive her eldest child in 1996 – one of the first 100 babies worldwide born through egg donation. She went on to establish the nation’s first independent, woman-led egg bank, The World Egg and Sperm Bank, in Scottsdale in 2004. Since its founding, the organization has helped more than 7,000 individuals and families realize their dreams of parenthood, in Arizona and beyond. “What started as my own struggle became my life’s purpose,” Thomas says.
ToniMarie Mendez Tijerina
Manager of Programs, The Joy Bus
The Joy Bus prepares and delivers more than 1,000 meals to homebound cancer patients per week – and Tijerina is responsible for making sure kitchen workflows, meal delivery routes and volunteer teams are running smoothly, consistently and compassionately. “She has been instrumental in ensuring our clients receive the best care and resources available,” says the Phoenix nonprofit’s founder, Jennifer Caraway. “She has also completely revamped our volunteer program, which has increased dramatically in not only numbers but retention.”
CarolAnn Tutera
CEO, SottoPelle Therapy
Tutera is redefining what it means to age well. As CEO of SottoPelle, her Scottsdale-based education company focused on bioidentical hormone therapy, she leads with a personalized, integrative philosophy that blends hormone balance with nutrition, fitness and authentic aging. “My goal has always been to help people age gracefully – not just grow older, but live vibrantly,” she says. “My influence shapes the future of hormone health, inspires other professionals and creates a ripple of wellness across Arizona and beyond.”
Noah White, RN
Nursing Services Manager, Phoenix Children’s Arrowhead Campus
White grew up accompanying his pediatrician father on mission trips, where he worked with ailing children. He ultimately followed his dad into pediatrics, where he helped lead efforts that doubled inpatient capacity from 24 to 48 beds, expanding access to specialized care at Phoenix Children’s in the West Valley. “No kid deserves to be sick,” he says. “But I am happy that I get to be part of a team of health-care providers that gets to make them better.”
James Herbert Williams, PhD
Director, Center for Child Well-Being at the School of Social Work at Arizona State University
The National Association of Social Workers named Williams a Social Work Pioneer in 2025 for his efforts in shaping child-welfare policy and improving outcomes for foster youth across Arizona. At ASU, he helms programs that partner with communities and agencies to tackle overlooked issues, provide training and technical assistance, and transform research into real-world action. “I have the privilege of working with an amazing group of colleagues whose one mission is improving the lives of Arizona’s children and families,” he says.
Lisa Williams, RNP-C
Medical Aesthetics Director, Ultra Smooth Skin
At Ultra Smooth Skin in Scottsdale, nurse practitioner Williams blends artistry with advanced medical aesthetics, offering injectables to restore youthful volume and glow. Her practice also features a full suite of non-invasive, non-ablative treatments, including laser hair reduction, spider vein therapy, and targeted solutions for sun damage, age spots, hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. “After many years in this field, I believe great aesthetic medicine comes down to safety, precision and balance,” Williams says.
Sara Wilson
President and CEO, Home Assist Health
With more than two decades in home and community-based care, Wilson has built her career around transforming outcomes for seniors and individuals with disabilities, especially those navigating complex medical and social needs. Under her leadership, Home Assist Health has redefined what home-based care can look like through strategic partnerships with organizations such as Valleywise Health and the CVS Health Foundation, advancing programs that reduce hospitalizations, address social determinants of health and empower patients to safely and successfully age in place.
Lee Yaiva
CEO, Scottsdale Recovery Center
Yaiva’s work in behavioral health and addiction treatment is deeply personal – he has lost family members to addiction and has walked his own path through substance use and recovery. A proud Hopi from the Village of Soongopavi and member of the Water Clan (Patkiwungwa), Yaiva is a sought-after national speaker recognized for his advocacy on behalf of minority and underserved communities, combining clinical and cultural insight to offer hope and healing to people from all walks of life.
Comfort Animal Quartet
Elsa
Therapy Dog, The Rubin Center
When child psychiatrist and autism specialist Arielle Rubin adopted Elsa from Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, the 4-year-old German Shepherd-Husky mix was anxious and timid. “Now she helps kiddos with some of the issues that she had,” Rubin says. “They really connect with her.” Rubin brings Elsa into the office to help her young patients with emotional regulation, social skills, sensory processing and self-esteem. “She can read kids and families… in a way that others – including humans – can’t.”
Stella
Trained Service Dog, S & C Dental Scottsdale Ranch
Valley dentist Bri Stoterau initially rescued Stella from Mexico, hand-feeding the malnourished newborn puppy formula to nurse her back to health. Stella is now a trained service dog at Dr. Stoterau’s Scottsdale practice, where she helps patients with dental anxiety feel calmer and more comfortable during their visits. Stella is part of S & C Dental Scottsdale Ranch’s spa-like, comfort-centered experience, designed to reduce the stress often associated with medical offices and dental care.
Gumby
Facility Dog, Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Gumby, a 2-year-old Standard Poodle, recently became Banner Thunderbird Medical Center’s first Facility Dog – an important member of the medical staff who provides comfort, motivation and distraction to patients before, during and after clinical procedures. Specially trained by Paws with a Cause through grants to the Banner Health Foundation, Gumby provides support to patients of all ages. “Dogs have a magical healing power that can truly make a difference in a patient’s journey to recovery,” says Wendy Pauker, associate director of Child Life at Banner Children’s at Thunderbird.
Teddie Bug
Compassionate Canine, Honor Health Hospital & Terra Pointe Memory Care Center
Known for her signature “paw hugs” and sassy outfits, lovable Beagle Teddie Bug takes her job as a therapy dog very seriously. “She has a unique gift sensing patients’ needs,” says Teddie’s owner Kimberly Smith, who regularly takes her to visit schools, hospitals, VA centers and memory care facilities around the Valley. “She brightens the day of the residents at Terra Pointe Memory Care… the staff is amazed how they remember her name.”
