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Dignity Health East Valley Welcomes New President, Dr. Mario Garner
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Dignity Health East Valley is proud to welcome Mario J. Garner, EdD, FACHE, as its new president, overseeing Chandler Regional, Mercy Gilbert, and Arizona General Hospital - Mesa. He brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership, most recently as president of St. Luke's Health - The Vintage Hospital in Houston.
Dr. Garner has built a reputation for improving patient care, strengthening relationships with employees and physicians, and raising hospital quality. At St. Luke's in Houston, his leadership helped the hospital earn top safety and quality ratings and go more than a year without a single hospital-acquired condition.
He also guided the launch of Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital in Houston and restored acute care services to New Orleans East Hospital, bringing essential healthcare back to a community devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Dr. Garner has been honored nationally for his contributions to healthcare, including the American College of Healthcare Executives' Robert S. Hudgens Award as Young Healthcare Executive of the Year and recognition by the National Association of Health Service Executives. In 2024, he was named an Outstanding Diversity Champion by the Houston Business Journal.
We thank Jeff McBee for stepping in as interim president and providing steady leadership for our patients, staff, and community. He will return to his role as Chief Operating Officer when Dr. Garner begins his tenure.
"It is an honor to lead Dignity Health East Valley during such a pivotal time in healthcare," said Dr. Garner. "I am eager to collaborate with the leadership team, caregivers, medical staff, and communities to continue the path toward innovation, patient-centered care, and operational excellence."
Dr. Garner holds degrees from Louisiana State University, Tulane University, and the University of Houston and serves on national boards dedicated to advancing healthcare leadership.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Garner to the East Valley as we continue to grow our mission of providing world-class, humankindness-centered care to the communities we serve.
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Arizona General Hospital Mesa Joins Dignity Health East Valley
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Dignity Health East Valley welcomes Arizona General Hospital (AGH) Mesa, joining Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers to expand compassionate, high-quality care for patients and families across the East Valley.
AGH Mesa's integration as of July 1, strengthens our capacity and marks a step toward a more unified East Valley system under CommonSpirit Health. With 50 inpatient beds, 14 emergency department beds, and two operating rooms, AGH Mesa helps us share resources more effectively across all three hospitals - balancing demand, expanding access to timely surgeries and emergency care, and ensuring patients receive the right care closer to home.
The change also expands opportunities for Dignity Health Foundation East Valley to support caregivers. Each year, the Foundation invests about $200,000 in advanced education and specialty training for staff. With AGH Mesa joining, requests will grow - so we've launched a new Nursing Education and Support Fund, starting with a $25,000 challenge gift. Together, we're building stronger hospitals, empowered caregivers, and healthier communities for all.
Learn More »
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Smart Giving Made Simple
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Through our partnership with FreeWill, we are excited to introduce a new way to make giving easier and more impactful. Through our partnership with FreeWill, a secure online platform, donors can now support our mission by contributing gifts of stock, cryptocurrency, Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), or Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) directly through our website - quickly, easily, securely, and often in under 10 minutes.
These "smart gifts" can provide significant tax advantages while fueling compassionate care, advanced equipment, critical staff training, and vital community health programs at Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers. For those planning ahead, FreeWill also offers free estate planning tools, allowing you to create a will and include a legacy gift that carries our healing mission into the future.
Together, we can make giving simpler and impact greater - today and for generations to come. FreeWill has already inspired six individuals to join the Marian Joseph Legacy Giving Society, creating a powerful legacy of care for the East Valley by entrusting our hospitals with their planned gifts.
Learn More »
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Training Tomorrow's Physicians Today
Arizona's physician shortage is no longer a prediction - it's a reality, especially women's health. Dignity Health East Valley is tackling this challenge through its Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, launched in 2023. In just two years, the program has grown to five accredited residencies - Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, and now OBGYN.
The new OBGYN residency strengthens access to prenatal, childbirth, and women's wellness care. By training physicians locally, we're investing in healthier communities. With donor support, we're building a future where every family has access to care close to home.
Learn More »
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Safe Haven, Stronger Futures
When survivors of human trafficking break free, they need more than escape - they need a place to heal. That's the promise of the new Medical Safe Haven, opening this fall near Mercy Gilbert Medical Center within Dignity Health's Family Medicine Clinic.
Funded by a private family foundation, the Safe Haven trains new physicians in trauma-informed care while providing survivors with longer appointments, a dedicated patient advocate, and strong referral partnerships with law enforcement and local nonprofits. Based in Gilbert and serving the Greater Phoenix area - an identified hub for trafficking - the clinic provides ongoing medical support that builds trust, restores dignity, and transforms lives.
With community support, the Safe Haven can remain a place of safety and lasting care for those who need it most.
Make a Gift to Support Survivors Today »
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Holiday Style Meets Purpose: It's in the Bag Soiree
Join us on Sunday, November 23, for the 12th Annual It's in the Bag Soiree at Dillard's Chandler Fashion Center. This festive event, presented by Zion Medical Group, blends holiday fashion, community spirit, and meaningful giving in support of our OBGYN Residency Program.
Registration begins at 1:30 p.m., with the fashion show at 3:00 p.m.
Guests will enjoy holiday-inspired fashions, light bites, and welcome gifts, plus the chance to win designer handbags. New this year - men's items are included in the drawing, and a fragrance pull featuring both men's and women's scents. All handbags and prizes are generously donated by our Women's Health Council, board members, employees, and grateful supporters.
Proceeds fund point-of-care ultrasound equipment for our OBGYN residents, helping prepare the next generation of physicians to meet Arizona's growing need for women's health specialists.
Tickets are Available Now »
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| Upcoming Events |
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It's in the Bag Soiree | Hosted by the Women's Health Council
Join us at Dillard's at Chandler Fashion Center for an unforgettable afternoon of holiday fashion, fine food, and a designer handbag drawing to support women's and children's programs at Dignity Health East Valley.
This signature fundraising soiree is the perfect way to kick off the giving season with style and purpose.
Register Now!
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24th Annual George Rozsa Golf Classic presented by Sante
Join us at Whirlwind Golf Club for the 24th Annual George Rozsa Golf Classic! This tournament supports the greatest needs of our nonprofit medical centers and the patients we serve.
Become a Sponsor!
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Family Remembrance Run
Join us for the annual Family Remembrance Run, a meaningful 5K/1-mile walk/run honoring the precious babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal complications, lovingly remembered as our Heaven's Hummingbirds.
Come together with families, friends, and the community as we walk in remembrance and celebrate the enduring love that connects us all.
Register Now!
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