Executive Leadership

Mark F. Slyter, DSc, FACHE
President and CEO, Mercy Gilbert and Chandler Regional Medical Centers

Mark served as president and chief executive officer for General Health System, in Baton Rouge, La., a three-hospital system with 686 beds, two regional-referral and academic-medical-center campuses, a rehabilitation facility, and clinics. During his tenure, Baton Rouge General Mid-City Hospital transformed into a post-acute specialty campus, improved operating margins, reduced costs, and achieved high patient-satisfaction and employee-engagement scores.

Prior to joining General Health System, Mark was president and chief executive officer at Mississippi Baptist Health Systems, in Jackson, Miss., where he enhanced operating margins and efficiencies while dramatically increasing patient satisfaction. Mark has served in health-care administration since obtaining a master's degree in health services administration at the University of Kansas in 1996. Last year, he obtained a doctorate of science in health services administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Roger Bies, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.S.C.A.I.
Chief Medical Officer, Mercy Gilbert and Chandler Regional Medical Centers
As Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Gilbert and Chandler Regional, Dr. Bies acts as liaison between doctors and healthcare executives, to ensure patients receive the highest quality treatment. His role includes evaluating, and managing physicians on the medical staff and working to implement high quality, cost-effective, efficient medical therapies. Chief Medical Officers have the primary responsibility of managing their health organization’s doctors to provide safe, effective medical services to the public. In his role Dr Bies helps guide the entire healthcare team to implement valid action plans, and organize the financial, human resources, legal, and political aspects of healthcare with goal-oriented visioning for quality assurance. He currently serves as the Accountable Executive for all Research activities at both hospitals.

Prior to assuming this current position as CMO in 2016, Dr. Bies worked as an Interventional Cardiologist with Central Arizona Heart Specialist. He has 25 years of leadership experience as Executive Director of Heart Health Organization, Cardiovascular Dept. Chair, Cath Lab Director, and Faculty and Associate Director of Cardiology at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Dr Bies is an active teacher and writer, and has authored over 50 journal articles, books, abstracts, and monographs in medical sciences during his career.

Dr. Bies received his undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Colorado, and subsequently graduated with Honors from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Pittsburgh, Presbyterian University Hospital, and his Cardiology Fellowship & interventional training at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, Texas. 

Jane Hanson is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers.  She supports the hospitals’ operations to ensure excellence in the areas of quality and patient safety, financial performance, physician and employee satisfaction and engagement, and the patient experience.

Before joining Dignity Health, Hanson served as Chief Nursing Officer at Providence Medford Medical Center in Medford, Ore., and Chief Nursing Officer at Cascade Healthcare Community in Bend, Ore.  Prior to these roles, she served as Clinic Director in the Veterans Affairs Northern California System of Clinics. Altogether, Hanson has more than 41 years of experience in the health care industry.

Hanson obtained a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Lewis and Clark State College and went on to receive a master’s in Health Administration from the University of Southern California. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Peg Smith, RN, BSN, MBA/HCM is Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Chandler Regional Medical Center. She is responsible for planning and developing all nursing operations and functions with a collaborative, patient-centered-care focus.

Prior to joining Dignity Health, Peg spent 14 years at Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihui, Hawaii. She has held progressive leadership roles in her 36 years in the healthcare industry.

Peg earned her diploma in Nursing from St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Youngstown, Ohio. She received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing, a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, and her master’s degree in Healthcare Management from American Intercontinental University in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Peg is a member of the City of Chandler Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities and a member of the Board of Directors for Chandler Endoscopy Center. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, American Nurses Association, and the Arizona Nurses Association.