Verde Valley Medical Center has a new vice president of Ancillary Services: Barbara Dember, M.H.A., F.A.C.H.E. joined the VVMC team January 11. Barbara’s responsibilities include Surgery, Special Procedures, Emergency, Health Information, Laboratory Services, Medical Imaging, Radiation/Oncology and Outpatient Services. She brings more than 20 years of senior management experience in hospital and healthcare operations, but her interest in healthcare stems from her earliest childhood memories. “My mother suffered from extreme arthritis,” said Barbara. “I remember being in the hospital with her when I was only seven years old and thinking to myself, I want to work here. I wasn’t oriented towards hands-on patient care, but I wanted to make a difference. I’m passionate about healthcare excellence.”

A Tucson native, Barbara received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona Eller College of Business. Her first opportunity in healthcare was in the financial sector. She continued her education by earning her Master’s of Healthcare Administration from California College for Health Services, and took on increasing responsibility in healthcare administration roles in the southwest and northwest.

Prior to joining VVMC, Barbara worked at Flagstaff Medical Center as the vice president of Professional Services. Prior to that appointment, she served as the regional vice president of Clinical Institutes at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Ore. She also was the regional vice president of Business Development and Cardiovascular Operations at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, Wash. As an executive of St. Joseph’s Hospital, she established an open heart program which received a Solucient Top 100 and HealthGradesTM 5-star award.  

“I’m very happy to be in the Verde Valley,” said Barbara. “The weather is very similar to Tucson, where I grew up. My husband is a third-generation Arizonan, and we both have many relatives and friends in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson.” Barbara and her husband have two grown sons.