As the highest-ranking physician executive at Banner Health, Dr. Bessel is responsible for driving clinical quality and safety initiatives, clinician wellbeing, patient experience, research and clinical technology advancement across the system’s 32 hospitals in six states, including three academic medical centers and three children’s hospital campuses. Self-reported clinician burnout is currently the lowest in Banner history, with Banner Health achieving a second consecutive American Medical Association “Joy in Medicine” bronze award. Dr. Bessel also drives the system’s high reliability efforts in engineering, processes and culture, which over the years has positively impacted lengths of stay. Mortality has improved in the years 2023, 2024 and in 2025 to its lowest level in Banner history, resulting in more than 881 lives saved in 2025 alone. Dr. Bessel serves on the boards of Banner | Aetna, Banner Health Network, Banner Surgery Centers and Banner Medicare Advantage. Her recent awards include AZ Business Magazine‘s “Champion of Change” and Phoenix Business Journal‘s “Healthcare Heroes.”
