Jennifer Mendrzycki

President & CEO

TMC Health

By Rodney Campbell

After spending 10 years as a medical malpractice defense attorney, Jennifer Mendrzycki was moved by a family tragedy to get directly involved in healthcare.

When her sister-in-law died after battling advanced colon cancer, Mendrzycki’s life goals changed.

“I wanted to be on the side of the people who help improve quality of life,” said Mendrzycki, TMC Health’s president and CEO since May 2024.

Her entry came as a compliance officer for RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey. While not directly involved in patient care, the job allowed her to gain experience in the field.

“The wonderful thing was that I got invited to help departments do things,” she said. “I learned a lot about healthcare from that experience. I wanted to learn more and do more. That’s how I got into leadership.”

With help from her colleagues, Mendrzycki learned about the clinical side and moved up the healthcare ladder. Her most recent job before coming to Tucson was as senior VP and COO of St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson, N.J.

Family ties encouraged her to pursue the TMC Health position. Her niece and nephew live in the Phoenix area. For many reasons, she’s happy things worked out.

“I appreciate the opportunity to work with a health system that has a long history of supporting the community,” she said. “I could tell it was beloved. We’re always thinking about how we can help our neighbors.”

A TMC Health employee for 29 years, Julia Strange has worked with numerous leaders in the system. As VP of external affairs and brand, Strange appreciates Mendrzycki’s approach to the challenging job.

“Jennifer’s leadership style is open and accessible,” Strange said. “She listens. She wants to get input from all stakeholders. When the time comes, she makes a decision and leads through that.”

Before she started her job, Mendrzycki went on a road trip with Strange to visit TMC Health’s rural hospitals. It was part of her effort to learn more about the community the system serves.

“These are our neighbors,” Mendrzycki said. “It’s important that I get to know who they are.”

She’s also made a point of learning more about her employees and what they do. Mendrzycki accomplishes that goal by signing up to work shifts alongside people in various departments and locations, a program she calls “Walk in My Shoes.”

“My dad always said the best thing to do is ask people for help,” Mendrzycki said. “It shows that you value them as a person and you learn more about them. Asking people for help is a gift for them and a gift for you.”