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The Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors will consider the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget at the June 24, 2026 General Session meeting.

The Next Step in Valleywise Health's Leadership

The Valleywise Health Board of Directors has selected Michael D. White, MD, MBA, as the next President and Chief Executive Officer.

View the Official Announcement

Introducing Michael D. White, MD, MBA

Michael D. White, MD, MBA, is an accomplished physician executive with extensive experience leading clinical operations, academic medicine and healthcare strategy within large, complex health systems. As Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for Valleywise Health, Arizona’s public teaching hospital and safety-net health system, he has worked closely with executive leadership, physician partners, and clinical teams to guide the organization’s strategic direction and advance its mission of providing exceptional care without exception.

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A Message From Current CEO, Steve Purves

“Over the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Dr. White as Valleywise Health has evolved into one of the nation’s leading public teaching hospitals and safety-net health systems. He is a steady, thoughtful leader whose clinical expertise provides unique insight into how operational decisions impact patients, caregivers, and the community. Dr. White approaches every challenge with integrity, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to doing what’s right for those we serve. I can think of no one better prepared to build on our momentum.”

“Selecting the next CEO of Valleywise Health was among the most important responsibilities entrusted to our Board. We approached this decision with great care, and Dr. White emerged as the clear choice because he brings the rare combination of executive leadership, operational expertise, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of our mission and the communities we serve. Having helped lead Valleywise Health through a period of remarkable growth and transformation, he is uniquely positioned to build upon the strong foundation established by Steve Purves and guide our organization into the future.”

Virginia Korte

Chair, Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors
District 2

“Throughout my career, I have believed that every person deserves access to high-quality healthcare, regardless of their circumstances. Dr. White shares that belief. He understands that Valleywise Health is more than a hospital system; it is a lifeline for our community. His leadership is rooted in service, compassion and a deep commitment to ensuring our public teaching hospital and safety-net health system remains strong for generations to come.”

Earl V. Wilcox

Vice Chair, Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors
District 5

“During my 20 years at Valleywise Health, I had the privilege to work alongside exceptional leaders and witness this organization evolve through both challenges and remarkable achievements. Dr. White has been an integral part of that journey. He understands our mission, our people and the complexities of leading a public teaching hospital and safety-net health system. I have complete confidence that Valleywise Health’s future is in capable hands.”

Martin C. Demos

Director, Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors
District 1

“Great organizations succeed by remaining grounded in their mission while continually adapting to meet their future needs. Dr. White brings that balance of strategic vision, operational leadership, and unwavering commitment to service. He understands both the complexity of leading a large public health system and the importance of building strong partnerships, investing in innovation, and preparing Valleywise Health to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our community. I am confident he will continue building on the strong foundation already in place while positioning Valleywise Health for long-term success.”

Kelly J. Barr

Director, Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors
District 3

“Valleywise Health exists to serve the people of Maricopa County. Dr. White understands that responsibility. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated that every decision should begin and end with what’s best for our patients and our community. That commitment, combined with his collaborative leadership style and deep understanding of our health system, makes him the right person to lead Valleywise Health into the future.”

Woody Thomas

Director, Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors
District 4

Dr. White’s Journey at Valleywise Health

2025

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2013

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since 1966, when designers at Letraset and James Mosley, the librarian at St Bride Printing Library in London, took a 1914 Cicero translation and scrambled it to make dummy text for Letraset’s Body Type sheets. It has survived not only many decades, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised thanks to these sheets and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker and Microsoft Word including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

2013

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since 1966, when designers at Letraset and James Mosley, the librarian at St Bride Printing Library in London, took a 1914 Cicero translation and scrambled it to make dummy text for Letraset’s Body Type sheets. It has survived not only many decades, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised thanks to these sheets and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker and Microsoft Word including versions of Lorem Ipsum.