Mario Garner Named President of Dignity Health East Valley

Mario Garner, EdD, FACHE, has been named president of Dignity Health East Valley, which includes Dignity Health Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, and Arizona General Hospital — Mesa. Garner will be joining Dignity Health East Valley from St. Luke’s Health - The Vintage Hospital, an affiliate of  CommonSpirit Health  in Houston, Texas. Garner will officially begin in his new role on Monday, Oct. 22. Dignity Health East Valley is a member of CommonSpirit Health. 

A transformational healthcare executive with more than 20 years of healthcare administration experience, Garner served as president of St. Luke’s Health - The Vintage Hospital for seven years, leading several significant improvements to enhance patient care and employee engagement. Prior to joining St. Luke’s Health, Garner worked at Memorial Hermann Health System, where he served as chief operations officer for its Southeast Market and as chief executive officer for  the Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital.  He also previously  served as CEO of New Orleans East Hospital which returned acute healthcare services to areas of New Orleans most significantly devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

“It is an honor to lead the Dignity Health East Valley during such a pivotal time in healthcare and exciting time within CommonSpirit Health’s ministry,” says Garner.  “ Building on the strong foundation of exceptional quality and care, I am eager to collaborate with the leadership team, caregivers, medical staff, and communities to continue the path toward innovation, patient centered care, and operational excellence.”

Garner  holds a Doctorate of Education from University of Houston, a Masters of Healthcare Administration from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Louisiana State University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Association of Health Service Executives and Board Member Association for University Programs in Healthcare Administration. Garner is also a member of the Louisiana State University National Alumni Association, for which he served as the national chair for its global board of directors in 2024. 

“Mario is a true visionary and will be a great complement to the outstanding team at Dignity Health East Valley, and  he will help build on the strong reputation of excellence and growth for which our East Valley hospitals and healthcare centers are known,” says Anthony Houston, EdD, FACHE, president of Dignity Health’s Arizona Market.

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