About Us
Our Mission
To empower health leaders, professionals, and key stakeholders to collaborate and transform healthcare workplaces and systems through a culture of wellbeing and equity.
Our Vision
The Wellbeing Collaborative is building a wellbeing-centered health ecosystem in Arizona.”
Our Values
- Sustainable
- Values-driven
- Excellence
- Mutual respect
- Authentic
- Supportive
- Collaborative
- Compassionate
The Collaborative History
Health leaders from across the state of Arizona recognized the critical impact the workforce shortage and practice demands had on the wellbeing of health providers across all organizations. This recognition resulted in a desire to craft a collaborative approach to support the wellbeing of all health professionals.
Currently, the Wellbeing Collaborative has 350+ members across 150+ organizations.
Body of Work Framework
We aim to create a sustainable health ecosystem by focusing on developing leaders, building inclusive & high-performing teams, and prioritizing wellbeing.
Strategic Initiatives
Transforming Workforce Development
We are building a sustainable and resilient health workforce through leadership development, telementoring, and university partnerships. Our “Leading with Kindness” program equips health professionals with the tools to lead with confidence and compassion.
Advancing Health Professional Wellbeing
Through engagement, collaboration, and awareness efforts, we work to advance health professional wellbeing by supporting mental health, reducing burnout, and promoting overall wellbeing and resilience. A signature event is the Health Workforce Wellbeing Day on March 18 of every year.
Make the Case for Wellbeing
We provide evidence-based resources to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) of workforce wellbeing and help leaders advocate for meaningful change. Our curated repository ensures access to key reports, studies, and data.
Brave Spaces
Brave Spaces aspires to create a safe environment where teams actively participate in honest and respectful dialogue. While in development, this initiative will include a robust framework, learning labs, workshops, and podcasts designed to help leaders foster trust, collaboration, and innovation.
Our Leadership
Steering Council
The steering council is a leadership group across major participating organizations who graciously share their time and expertise to develop and implement strategic initiatives and action items.
- Carisa Bamford
Clinician Experience & Development Sr. Dir., Banner Health - Charlton Wilson, MD
Consultant, Transformational Fellow, NARBHA Institute
- Cindy Martin
Transformation Fellow, NARBHA
- Cynthia M. Stonnington, MD
Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Medical Director of the Office of Joy and Well-Being, Mayo Clinic in Arizona
- Devon Forrest, MBA, MA
Chief Executive Officer, The Guidance Center
- Flo Spyrow, MSN/MPA, JD
Executive Director, The Wellbeing Collaborative of Arizona
- Heather Rabin, PhD
Sr Advisor Wellbeing and Professional Development, Central Region, Dignity Health and CommonSpirit Health
- Heidi Sanborn, DNP, RN
President, Arizona Nurses Association
- Jasleen Chhatwal, MBBS, MD, CPE, DFAPA
Co-Founder, Kallistos Wellness; Chief Medical Officer-Sierra Tucson, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, College of Medicine – University of Arizona
- Jen Hartmark-Hill
Past President, Arizona Medical Association (ArMA); Professor, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
- Keith Frey, MD, MBA
Principal Consultant and Coach, Frey Healthcare Consulting
- Mary Jo Gregory, RN, MS
President & CEO, NARBHA Institute
- Michelle Villegas-Gold, PhD, MPH, MPC
Assistant Vice President, ASU Health Strategic Initiatives, Arizona State University
- Scott Sharples, MD
Executive Director, Care Management, Banner Health
- Sheila Sjolander, MSW
Deputy Director, Arizona Department of Health Services
- Teresa Bertsch, MD
Chief Medical Officer/Chief Wellbeing Officer, The NARBHA Institute - Tiffany Pankow, MD
VP Chief of Caregiver Wellness and Patient Experience, Honor Health
Strategic Advisors
The strategic advisors are health leaders who graciously share their expertise in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and ideas.
- Alison Essary
Professor & Chair, Dept. of PA Studies, Northern Arizona University-Phoenix - Beth Kohler
Owner, Beth Kohler Consulting LLC - Heather Carter, Ed.D
CEO Health Choice and GM Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice, Medicaid Health Plans
- Holly Ward
Vice President of Communications, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA)
- Lorenzo Martinez
Senior Director of Health Sciences, Arizona Board of Regents
- Mark Carroll, MD
Transformational Fellow, The NARBHA Institute
- Nika Gueci, EdD, MA
Executive Director for University Engagement, Office of the Chief Wellness Officer, Arizona State University - Rebecca Sunenshine, MD
FIDSA - Theresa Cullen
Director, Pima County Public Health Department - Vincent Berkley, DO
Retired Assistant Surgeon General, NARBHA Institute
Experts
The experts graciously share their expertise in specific areas to develop innovative initiatives and programs.
- Stephen J. Swensen, MD
Transformational Fellow (NARBHA Institute), Senior Fellow (Institute for Healthcare Improvement) - Stuart Goodman
Principal, Goodman-Schwartz Public Affairs
“The Wellbeing Collaborative is composed of leaders from across the state of Arizona, representing many disciplines and a variety of health related organizations, including public health and universities. These leaders give of their time and talent to strengthen the wellbeing of health professionals and build a sustainable health ecosystem, enabling all health professionals to thrive in their profession. Please join as we ensure all Arizonians have access to high quality healthcare.”
— Flo Spyrow, MSN/MPA, JD, Executive Director of the Wellbeing Collaborative of Arizona —