Susan Gerard, Director at Large
Former state lawmaker Susan Gerard has been elected chairwoman of the county health district that oversees Maricopa Medical Center and related community health centers. Gerard will become chairwoman of the Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors as of Dec. 1. She assumes the position from fellow board member Terence McMahon, who remains on the five-member board. Board member Mary A. Harden was elected vice chair.
The health district’s five elected board members oversee Maricopa Integrated Health System, the taxpayer-supported health system that includes the region’s primary safety-net hospital, Maricopa Medical Center, and 13 community health centers. Voters last fall authorized $935 million in bond financing to replace the aging Maricopa Medical Center, build a new behavioral-health hospital and upgrade outpatient health facilities and clinics. The board has already approved drawing $106 million in bonds to pay for improvements such as new medical equipment and information technology.
Gerard, a former state lawmaker, has previously chaired of the Arizona House and Senate health committees and served as director of the Arizona Department of Health Services under former Gov. Janet Napolitano.