When employers think about stress, they often think about burnout, absenteeism, turnover and productivity. As a cardiologist, I think about the heart. In recent years, I have treated a growing number of patients in their 40s with early signs of cardiovascular disease. Many do not fit the traditional risk profile. They exercise regularly. They do not smoke. Their cholesterol … [More]
The New Economics of Mental Health Care
Arizona’s behavioral health sector is entering a new phase of growth, shaped by a convergence of policy, payer behavior and clinical innovation. The FDA’s recent clearance of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for adolescents with major depressive disorder is not just a medical milestone; it is opening a newly reimbursable market and, in effect, creating a new segment … [More]
First Look at Scottsdale Shea’s Major Campus Expansion
HonorHealth, a leading Valley-based nonprofit healthcare system serving more than five million people across the greater Phoenix area, is marking a series of significant enhancements at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center aimed at improving access, expanding specialty services and elevating the patient and visitor experience. Recent additions include the opening of a … [More]
$80.5M Research Effort Positions Arizona as Medical Innovation Hub
Banner Health's $80.5 million research enterprise delivered breakthrough treatments to Arizona patients in 2025 while advancing wide-ranging therapies toward FDA approval, according to the organization's annual Milestones in Research report. Operating 1,300 clinical and translational studies across neuroscience, cardiology, oncology and orthopedics, Banner is positioning … [More]
24/7 Emergency Vet Hospital Opens in the West Valley
VEG ER for Pets, the world’s veterinary emergency company that helps people and their pets when they need it most, announced the opening of VEG ER for Pets in Arrowhead at 7720 West Bell Rd, Suite B, Glendale, AZ 85308. VEG ER for Pets provides families in Arrowhead and neighboring cities in Maricopa County including Peoria, Arrowhead Ranch, Sun City, North Glendale, … [More]
New Flagship, Chandler Site Mark Major Expansion of Valley Pain Practice
OrthoArizona, Arizona's largest physician-led orthopedic group, announced a significant expansion of Pinnacle Pain, its dedicated interventional pain management practice serving patients across the Phoenix metro area. The expansion includes a new facility in Chandler built exclusively for Pinnacle Pain, a flagship location in Scottsdale and the addition of Oluwatosin Ayotunde, … [More]
Dignity Health to Open 300K-SF Campus at Cardinals’ North Phoenix HQ
Dignity Health announced a first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art medical campus at the corner of Scottsdale Road and Loop 101 in North Phoenix—the future site of the Arizona Cardinals' new performance and business headquarters. Last September, the Cardinals announced the purchase of a 217-acre property at that location, where the team's 30-acre performance center and … [More]
AI Healthcare Operations Co. Raises $21M to Scale
Basata, the AI company rebuilding the operational layer of US healthcare, announced a $21 million Series A led by Basis Set Ventures, with participation from Cowboy Ventures, PHX Ventures, Zenda Capital, and Victoria Treyger. The round brings total funding to $24.5 million. Basata's AI agents handle the administrative work still running on fax machines and phone calls, like … [More]
Life Time Launches in Gilbert Days after PV Unveiling
Life Time, the nation's premier healthy way of life company, announced the opening of Life Time Ocotillo, a new 102,000-square-foot athletic country club in Gilbert. Situated on 15 acres in the Southeast Valley, the destination marks the company's continued expansion across Arizona, following the recent debut of Life Time Paradise Valley. Life Time Ocotillo sits at the … [More]
How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming the Hearing Aid Industry
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping healthcare, and the hearing aid industry is no exception. A new generation of hearing technology is emerging that leverages AI to improve how individuals with hearing loss experience the world around them. One notable example is the Oticon Zeal, a hearing aid platform that incorporates advanced AI-driven sound processing. At the … [More]
The Business Case Behind the Oral Microbiome Market Boom
The oral microbiome is moving rapidly from a research interest to a commercial market force, reshaping how dental practices approach diagnostics, prevention and long-term growth. Advances in molecular testing, growing evidence linking oral bacteria to systemic health, and rising consumer demand for personalized insight are accelerating adoption across the dental … [More]
$170M Hospital Expansion Nears Completion in North Phoenix
HonorHealth, a Valley-based nonprofit healthcare system, is nearing completion of a transformative renovation and expansion at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center – marking a major milestone in expanding access to high-quality care for the rapidly growing north Phoenix community. The $170 million investment, launched in 2023, reimagines the campus with more capacity, … [More]
Valley Health System Leads World in Artificial Heart Procedures
Banner Health announced it has reached a major milestone completing more than 50 total artificial heart implantation procedures, more than any center worldwide since 2022. This achievement solidifies the nonprofit health system’s position as the global leader in total artificial heart technology, with expertise that extends beyond patient care to consulting with medical centers … [More]
HonorHealth to Debut Medical Fitness Center in North Scottsdale
HonorHealth, a leading Valley-based nonprofit healthcare system serving more than five million people in the greater Phoenix area, ay announced the upcoming opening of HonorHealth Medical Fitness, part of the new HonorHealth Pima Center, located on the west side of the Loop 101 at Pima Road in Scottsdale. This new 100,000-square-foot campus represents a next-generation … [More]
The Business Cost of Mental Health in Arizona
Mental health is no longer viewed solely as a clinical concern in Arizona. It has become a growing economic issue that directly affects workforce stability, productivity and the state’s long-term competitiveness. Employers across Arizona are seeing the impact of rising depression rates show up in daily operations, says Dr. Houshang Aminian, M.D., medical director at American … [More]
Feedback: April 2026
Teresa Cutright Vice President of Employee Services Arizona Financial Credit Union Sector: Financial The most important aspect of our healthcare benefits is our commitment to making high-quality coverage both accessible and immediate. We offer comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, including free employee-only medical coverage, with benefits beginning on the … [More]
Guest Editor: Steve Purves, Valleywise Health
Healthcare in the Crosshairs
Affordability is today’s trending topic, and where it intersects with healthcare, it becomes a concern employers are addressing for their employees. Affordability and access are not new challenges in healthcare, but they are becoming more visible and more urgent for employers and employees alike. For many organizations, healthcare costs are now one of the fastest-growing line … [More]
Healthcare: Reimagining Affordability and Access for Arizona’s Business Community
“Healthcare has moved beyond being a perk and is now a foundational part of an employee’s financial security,” observes Casey Strunk, president of Strunk Insurance Group. While employers may frame it as a recruiting and retention tool, he finds employees experience it as protection against catastrophic financial risk when a serious medical event occurs. In fact, … [More]
