Stephen Macias

Q: What most notably stands out about your organization as an innovation, opportunity or service that improves or better delivers healthcare to Arizonans?

Optum empowers us to determine locally the care we provide and where care is most needed.

I’m an Arizona native. I fondly remember cruising Metro Parkway as a teen. Over time, Metro Center became an area underserved by healthcare. I led the charge for Optum to become one of the first anchors of the new Metropolitan development on the former Metro Center site.

Last year, we realized an extraordinary achievement by opening our 32,000-square-foot flagship Optum – Metro Center Clinic on North Metro Parkway. It contains 42 primary and specialty care rooms, offers behavioral health services, has an on-site lab and X-ray and mammography services. We have plans to add more services soon. The clinic is next to the new Metro Parkway light rail stop. To ensure the clinic meets community needs, it accepts payment from private insurance providers and Medicaid and has a self-pay plan for uninsured patients.

Q: Tell us about your known style of leadership or philosophy on being a strong leader for your organization. Tell us about a specific program, leadership policy or practice that has directly benefited healthcare outcomes in Arizona.

At Optum – Arizona, I lead with a hands-on, people-first approach. Believing strong leadership starts with listening, learning and engaging at every level, I make it a priority to visit our medical clinics, speak with frontline staff, and understand their challenges firsthand.

My leadership philosophy — and Optum’s — fosters a culture of collaboration, empowering team members at each level to innovate and problem-solve. As one colleague put it, “Stephen doesn’t dictate solutions — he collaborates, inspires, and brings out the best in us.” That’s the leadership style I strive for — one that drives results by valuing and investing in people.

Q: What do you feel a healthy Arizona workforce and families can mean for Arizona’s growth?

At Optum, we believe a healthy workforce is the foundation of Arizona’s growth. By prioritizing preventive care, we help Arizonans stay healthy, productive and engaged in fueling Arizona’s economic vitality.

With our robust network of primary care physicians in neighborhoods where our members live and work, we provide access to care close to home. From traditional medical care to cardiac screenings, diabetes management and mental health services, our comprehensive approach reduces reliance on high-cost acute care, lowering healthcare expenses while improving long-term health outcomes.

Further, our six community centers support individuals age 55+ with free fitness, socialization and wellness programs, ensuring their longer and more fulfilling lives.

When workers are healthy, businesses thrive, communities prosper and Arizona continues to attract innovation and investment. At Optum – Arizona, we are committed to delivering value-based care that strengthens our workforce, sustains our economy, and ensures a healthier future for all.

A key Optum initiative that directly improved healthcare outcomes for Arizonans is our value-based care model. We focus on keeping people healthy — not just treating them when they are sick. By focusing on prevention over intervention and leveraging technology and care coordination, we’ve enhanced access, reduced hospital stays and improved patient outcomes.

Q: What is on the horizon for your organization?

At Optum – Arizona, we are committed to advancing the value-based care that defines us. Our future plans include continued innovation, collaboration and expansion — always to deliver the best outcomes for our patients. We will deepen our partnerships statewide to bring collaborative care to Arizona communities.

Our focus is growing beyond primary care and mental health services to include specialty care, with plans to integrate specialized physicians directly into our clinics. As we expand, we are prioritizing underserved areas across the state, ensuring more Arizonans have access to the care they deserve.

We are working to broaden our strong network of contracted providers, offering, for example, clinician access to our industry-leading electronic medical records system, a strong focus on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings, and our rigorous provider mentoring program. Looking ahead, we will expand into employer groups and Medicaid, reinforcing our leadership in the industry.