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Michelle Bruhn, Executive Vice President and CFO, was named to Becker's Hospital Review's 2025 list of “CFOs to Know” A seasoned expert in payer negotiations, Michelle has navigated several high-stakes disputes to secure the financial stability of Arizona's only pediatric health system.
Dr. Funda Bachini, Psychiatry Division Chief, shared her behavioral health expertise at Becker's Hospital Review's 2025 conference, participating in the “Tackling Social Determinants of Health to Improve Behavioral Health Outcomes” and “Behavioral Health Workforce Challenges” panels.
After a national search, Phoenix Children's announced that John R. Nickens IV has been named President and CEO of Phoenix Children’s following the planned retirement of Robert L. Meyer. John will assume leadership of the organization in October, bringing with him a proven track record of transformational growth, expertise in academic medical partnerships and a drive for building culture-first organizations.
So many colleges are represented in Phoenix Children’s College Intensive Volunteering (CIV) Program!
Phoenix Children's welcomes the 2025 members of Phoenix Children’s accredited Child Neurology Residency Program. These clinicians are embarking on a 3-year journey to becoming world-class pediatric neurologists. During their first year with us, they’ll focus on evaluating and managing patients with various neurological disorders—with rotations in adult neurology, neuro-rehabilitation and outpatient neurology. Pictured left to right: Dr. Tara Mangum (program director), Dr. Michael Stephens, Dr. Winter Tate, Dr. Ariel Hierholzer, and Dr. Michael Dabrowski.
Congrats, again, to Jim Marker, a nurse on the 10th floor of Phoenix Children’s Hospital — Thomas Campus! Jim was selected from 63 nominations to receive his second #DAISYAward from The DAISY Foundation for his clinical excellence and compassionate patient care. One family shared: “Jim brings a calm, patient and knowledgeable presence each time he enters a room. I trusted that he truly cared and knew what my daughter needed. When she felt sad, he spoke to her directly. It was beautiful to see him ‘see’ her beyond her diagnosis.”
Katie Schmidt, a nurse on the 10th floor of Phoenix Children’s Hospital — Thomas Campus, was presented a DAISY award for delivering highly compassionate care. One patient family said, “Katie’s approach stands out for its focus on empathy and personalized care. Her actions reflect a deep commitment to her profession and a genuine desire to positively impact patients’ lives. She exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding nurse: Compassion, competence and a relentless dedication to patient well-being.”
Phoenix Children’s expanded physician services to provide expert neonatal care at three Honor Health hospitals throughout the Phoenix Valley (Mountain Vista Medical Center, Scottsdale Shea Medical Center and Sonoran Crossing Medical Center). This collaboration enables some of the tiniest and most vulnerable patients to benefit from our neonatology care and services closer to home.
We’re spotlighting another DAISY award winner at Phoenix Children’s! Bree Dennis-Gary is a nurse in our inpatient pediatric psychiatry unit, recently recognized for providing extraordinary and compassionate patient care. Bree’s calm, caring presence helps create a peaceful setting for her patients and teammates. She leads with compassion, stays cool in challenging moments and always puts patient care first.
Shoutout to another group of pediatric nurse residency graduates at Phoenix Children’s! Our Pediatric Nurse Residency Program is an 18-month, comprehensive transition-to-practice program designed to support new graduate nurses as they begin their careers in pediatric nursing. This program is tailored for nurses entering inpatient acute care, critical care, and the emergency department. Key components of the program include: Precepted Clinical Experience: New graduate nurses are paired 1:1 with an experienced preceptor for 12–16 weeks. Dedicated Support: Each nurse is assigned a Residency Instructor who provides mentorship, guidance, and advocacy throughout the program. Didactic Education & Skills Labs: Monthly classes and hands-on labs offer in-depth learning on pediatric body systems, clinical scenarios, and evidence-based practices. Department-Specific Education: Nurses receive targeted education tailored to the unique patient populations and clinical needs of their assigned units. Cohort-Based Community: Nurses begin the program in cohorts, fostering a sense of community and peer support.
