You and your family can feel confident knowing that your health care is being managed by people whose number one priority is making sure you're getting the help and treatment you need.


Our Valleywise Health executive leadership team is made up of caring people who are dedicated to making sure you and your family are always getting great health care in the best possible clinics and hospitals. You deserve the greatest care the medical field has to offer, and our leadership team is committed to keeping us engaged with the latest technologies, techniques and tools so that we can give you everything you need and more.

Steve Purves

Steve Purves

President and Chief Executive Officer

Steve Purves became President & Chief Executive Officer of Valleywise Health in Phoenix, Arizona in September 2013. Valleywise Health is Arizona’s largest and longest serving public teaching hospital and health care system and includes the Roosevelt Campus- Hospital, the Arizona Burn Center, the Arizona Children’s Center, a Level I Trauma Center, two behavioral health centers and a network of 13 Federally Qualified Health Centers that serve Phoenix and Maricopa County.   Valleywise Health has 10 ACGME accredited residency programs with over 350 residents, hundreds of medical student rotations and significant nursing and allied health training programs.

Sherry Stotler

Sherry Stotler, RN

Chief Nursing Officer/ Vice President, Patient Care Services

Ms. Stotler joined Valleywise Health in 2005 from Barix Clinic of Arizona in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she served as Vice President of Clinical Services.  Ms. Stotler earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. Sherry has over 25 years of experience in nursing leadership.

Dr. Michael White

Dr. Michael White

Chief Clinical Officer

Michael White, MD, joined Valleywise Health as Executive Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer (EVP, CCO) in August 2019. In his role, Dr. White works to advance the Mission, Vision and Values of Valleywise Health to improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient experience, and grow key programs. He also serves as a liaison with our partners at District Medical Group and the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance.

claire agnew

Claire Agnew

Chief Financial Officer

Claire Agnew has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Valleywise Health since December 2020. She is responsible for the development and implementation of financial strategies, operating and capital budgets, revenue cycle, and system of financial reporting and controls that support the mission and goals of Valleywise Health. She has over 25 years of healthcare finance experience in the Valley, having previously held financial leadership roles at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Banner Health, and began her professional career with Arthur Andersen. She joined Valleywise Health in January 2019 as Senior Vice President of Financial Services and was named CFO and Executive Vice President of Financial Services in 2020. Claire is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, a group that has invited her to speak at their national conference multiple times. Claire earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Northern California. She received her MBA from the University of California, Berkeley while also earning a Certificate in Health Management through a joint program with the School of Public Health at Berkeley, and is a Certified Public Accountant in Arizona. Claire graduated from the FBI Citizens Academy in May 2022.

Lia Christensen

Lia Christiansen

Chief Administrative Officer

Lia Christiansen joined Valleywise Health as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in February 2021. As CAO, she will lead Human Resources, IT, Marketing, Business Development, Ancillary and Support departments and key Care Reimagined projects such as construction of the new medical center. Lia most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for Acute Care for M Health Fairview, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prior to her role with M Health Fairview, she worked in the HealthEast Care system in St. Paul, Minnesota serving as Vice President for Hospital Operations and as Vice President of Shared Operations. She was named by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as one of the 25 Women to Watch and recognized by Minnesota Physician Magazine as an Exceptional Administrator. Lia holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN and a master’s degree in business, communication from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. She was a COO fellow in the Health Management Academy in 2019-2020, is Lean Bronze certified and has training in FEMA incident command.

Michelle Barker Headshot

Michelle Barker

Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of FQHC Clinics

Michelle Barker, a highly experienced and passionate health care leader, became Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Valleywise Health’s 12 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) in 2023.