Alison Flynn Gaffney

BizTUCSONApril 20, 2026

1 minute read

Chief Executive Officer
Banner – University Medicine Tucson
Incoming Chair of the Board

What opportunities do you see for your business here in the next several years?

We see the opportunity to increase access to care through opening new locations, recruiting additional providers and, in partnership with the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, increasing the number of resident physicians. We also see an opportunity to strengthen community partnerships and collaborations. Working together, we are helping improve the health of our communities that we all serve.

What issues keep you up at night?

I am a “people first” advocate and am always thinking about those we serve, internally and externally. I, and the collective “we” at Banner – University Medicine, are here to create an incredibly inspired, safe, and clinically excellent experience for all. On the national front, changes in reimbursement, health guidelines, and research funding are top of mind for all healthcare providers. Locally, we are constantly seeking ways to do more with the limited resources we have as a mission-based, non-profit organization.

Are there any exciting updates in your industry or business you want to highlight?

I have the benefit of serving in a field where every day, lives are saved and impacted positively by the work our amazing teams of clinicians, educators, and researchers. Use of robotic technology is exciting because of the benefits it brings our patients, and AI applications in clinical and research settings are improving efficiency and speeding drug discovery, eventually resulting in more clinical trials of cutting-edge therapies being available for our patients.

How can The Chamber help you going forward?

The Chamber is an incredible partner that helps us all—community partners and business leaders—connect and find opportunities to collaborate so that we can understand the deeper issues and work together to transform challenges into opportunities. This is critical for Tucson and Southern Arizona, as is continuing to create the “commercial for Tucson” to elevate employers’ interest in our community and attract and retain top talent, including spouses/partners/families of professionals. Attracting and retaining top talent and high-wage employers is crucial for our communities’ vibrancy and regional economic growth.