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President & CEO, Commonspirit Health Southwest Division
Linda Hunt oversees Dignity Health’s Southwest Division, which is anchored by 11 outstanding hospitals in Arizona and Nevada: St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center, Arizona General Hospital – Laveen, Arizona General Hospital – Mesa, Yavapai Regional Medical Center – East, Yavapai Regional Medical Center – West, St. Rose Dominican Rose de Lima Hospital, St. Rose Dominican San Martin Hospital and St. Rose Dominican Siena Hospital. Under Hunt’s leadership, Dignity Health’s Southwest Division has grown into a respected and comprehensive health care system, which also includes imaging centers, specialty hospitals, physician groups, clinics, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent cares, insurance providers, an accountable care organization, a medical school campus and other clinical partnerships. During her previous role as President and CEO of Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, the 571-bed facility became one of Arizona’s busiest hospitals and attracted patients from around the world to its Barrow Neurological Institute, Norton Thoracic Institute and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.
Hunt has served on several state and national commissions that are working to shape the future of health care and medical education. She is a founding member of the Health System Alliance of Arizona and serves as a board member for Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance. She is the co-chair of Greater Phoenix Leadership’s Affordable Housing and Homelessness Committee, and served as the chair of the Phoenix Forward Healthcare Leadership Council as well as a member of the Governor’s business leadership council, called Arizona Zanjeros. Additionally, she has served on the Governor’s Arizona Commerce Authority Board, Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s Healthcare Leadership Council, Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems Administrative Board of the American Association of Medical Colleges, American Association of Medical Colleges Executive Council, Arizona Commission on Medical Education and Research, Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee and Greater Phoenix Leadership Bioscience Task Force. Hunt has also represented Dignity Health in several community organizations, including Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from William Carey College in Mississippi and her Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She graduated from the Johnson & Johnson Fellows Program in Management at the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and was on the faculty at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Regis University in Denver. She recently received an Honorary Doctorate of Nursing degree from Creighton University.
Hunt has received local and national recognition for her leadership in the healthcare field, including being named one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine, a Top 25 Most Admired CEOs by the Phoenix Business Journal, and she was given the Transformational Leader award by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Other awards she has received include Outstanding Business Leader of the Year from the YWCA, Golden Heart of Business Award by Arizona Woman Magazine, the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice, and the inaugural Humanitarian Award from the Sage Foundation for Health. Hunt also received the Lee T. Hanley Community Leadership Award and the AZ Business Magazine’s Healthcare Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been named Bioscience Leader of the Year and was a finalist for the prestigious Athena Award.
Chief Physician Executive, Commonspirit Health Southwest Division
Keith A. Frey is the Chief Physician Executive for CommonSpirit Health (Dignity Health Southwest Division Arizona and Nevada), a position he has held since 2013. He is an academic leader and proven transformational leader of professional teams within complex healthcare systems.
His responsibilities include driving clinical excellence, superior patient experiences, academic integration and physician leadership development. Additionally, he leads the teams focused on professional fulfillment and burnout prevention for the 25,000 physicians at CommonSpirit Health. He was a keynote speaker at the 2021 Arizona Nurses Association Annual Convention recognizing the contributions and diligent work of nurses and healthcare professionals.
He currently serves in board leadership roles for the Arizona Care Network and Mercy Care. A former Phoenix Top Doctor and 2017 AZ Business Leader in Healthcare, he is also now a Professor of Practice, Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, WP Carey School of Business, Arizona State University.
Dr. Frey holds a BS in Biology from the Virginia Military Institute, an MD degree from the Medical College of Virginia, and an MBA from Duke University. He is board certified in both Family Medicine and Clinical Informatics.
Chief Nursing Executive Officer, Commonspirit Health Southwest Division
Robin Shepard is the Chief Nursing Executive Officer of Dignity Health Arizona and Nevada, which comprises the Southwest Division of CommonSpirit Health. Robin drives safety, care excellence and experience excellence through servant leadership, clinical innovation, human-centered design, and accountable interdisciplinary collaboration.
Shepard is responsible for the practice of nursing across 11 acute care hospitals, four neighborhood hospitals and numerous free-standing emergency departments, urgent cares, and clinics in Arizona and Nevada. Serving as the operations leader for Dignity Health Arizona’s “Acute Care at Home” efforts, she has supported development of legislation, health policy and practice to advance virtually integrated care within Dignity Health including provision of inpatient level hospital services provided safely, effectively, and efficiently within the comfort of a patient’s home.
Shepard holds an Associate Degree in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing with Nursing Leadership specialty. She is currently completing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice.
For Shepard, Hello Humankindness is not just a slogan, but a way of serving the world.
Interim Chief Financial Officer, Commonspirit Health, Arizona
Eric Sorensen is the Chief Financial Officer for Dignity Health East Valley, which includes Chandler Regional Medical Center (CRMC), Mercy Gilbert Medical Center (MGMC) and the Dignity Health East Valley Foundation.
Sorensen oversees the Finance and Decision Support functions with a matrixed relationship with the corporate office for General Accounting, Payroll and A/P. He is also responsible for maintaining the relationship with Optum360 over all of the revenue cycle functions of the East Valley.
Sorensen received his BS in Health Care Administration as well as his Master of Business Administration from the University of Arizona. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Chief Strategy Officer, Commonspirit Health Southwest Division
Kathleen “Kat” Rondeau is Chief Strategy Officer for Common Spirit Health South West Division. She is responsible for strategic planning and management to enhance division growth and access to care throughout the states.
Rondeau leads efforts to create and sustain an integrated delivery system across the continuum of care while evaluating and facilitating growth opportunities including mergers, acquisitions and joint venture opportunities. She ensures positive stakeholder relations and develops and plans service lines.
Across the Southwest division, Rondeau oversees the strategy, business development, marketing, communications and sales efforts.
Rondeau has a master’s of business administration from Capella University and a bachelor’s of science in dietetics from the University of Wisconsin where she completed her dietetic internship at the Cleveland Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. She is also a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Chief Information Officer, Commonspirit Health Southwest Division
Bradley Pristelski is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer for the Southwest Division which includes Dignity Health hospitals and clinical affiliates across Nevada and Arizona. He has been with CommonSpirit Health for 15 years. Prior to joining CommonSpirit Health, Pristelski dedicated 12 years in the United States Air Force as a contingency combat operations officer throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa serving in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Pristelski is dedicated to advancing digital and information technology prowess to ensure market competitiveness and advanced capability as well as shape and grow divisional technical talent. His passion focuses on a foundation of leadership designed around a collection of themed critical behaviors that increase or enhance a leader’s impact across everyday situations and contexts, influence team success and organizational development, produce loyal followership and achieve exceptional results.
Pristelski also has the privilege to serve on the Arizona General Hospital Board of Directors and is an adjunct professor at Arizona State University focused on leadership, mindfulness, and community excellence in partnership with ASU’s Chief of Wellbeing.
Vice President of External Affairs, Commonspirit Health, Arizona
Shirley Gunther serves as the Vice President of External Affairs for Dignity Health Arizona, Southwest Division.
She has more than 20 years of experience in public policy development, intergovernmental affairs, advocacy, and community relations both in the public and private sectors.
Today, Shirley leads Dignity Health in Arizona’s federal, state and local government External Affairs division, advocating in support of Dignity Health’s mission and strategic plan. As a trusted senior adviser within the organization, she assists in advising and navigating the constantly changing legal and regulatory requirements.
Shirley is a graduate of Arizona State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Master of Public Administration, and holds a Certification in Public Management.
Chief Human Resources Officer, Commonspirit Health, Arizona
Maureen Sterbach is the Chief Human Resources Officer for Dignity Health, Arizona. She is responsible for talent acquisition, workforce development, employee health and welfare, and workforce engagement. She brings broad skills in human resources operations, organization development and employee relations.
Sterbach received her lifetime certification for Senior Professional in Human Resources and is a certified Master Trainer in Development Dimensions International. She is a faculty member of Dignity Health's Business Academy, teaching Human Resources and Labor Relations curriculum. Maureen received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Gannon University in Pennsylvania.
