ArMA Member Spotlight: Marjorie Bessel, MD!

October 14, 2024

We're proud to introduce Marjorie Bessel, MD as ArMA's October Member Spotlight!

Portrait of Leah Sanford in glasses, smiling against a gray background with a purple frame and award badge.

Dr. Bessel currently serves as the chief clinical officer at Banner Health. She attended Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, where she earned the James B. Herrick award for most outstanding performance in internal medicine and earned the honor of acting as a chief resident.

She began her journey at Banner 12 years ago, and since, has served as a progressive leader with the organization. Her clinical philosophy centers empowering patients through transparent clinical interactions and information. Learn more about Dr. Bessel below!

Which aspect of your role as Banner Health’s CCO are you most passionate about? What about it invigorates you?


"I have been passionate about taking care of our caregivers. Since 2017, we have implemented an evidence-based strategic plan to promote wellness and reduce burnout. The challenges of clinical care continue to mount and it is imperative for all of us in leadership roles to listen and support our caregivers who deliver care.


As the expectations and cognitive load on caregivers seems to ever-increase, I am however invigorated by the technology advances that are becoming within reach to reduce burden on our teams. I believe the next 5-10 years will have amazing changes to workflow that will ultimately allow the day in the life of our caregivers to improve which then will directly improve care received by our patients."


Which of of Banner Health’s recent achievements are you most proud of?


"We just celebrated our 25th anniversary. As a not for profit organization focused on caring for our communities, this is a milestone of pride for me as I reflect on the amazing care provide over a quarter century."


What initiatives is Banner Health undertaking in the near future?


"We are embarking on an HRO (high reliability) journey and I am excited by the energy and enthusiasm our organization has for this. The impact of being leading enterprise-wide learning to improve safety, quality, patient experience and team member engagement is exhilarating for me.”

What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?


"My journey is similar to others I believe. I never chartered a course to be in a role like the one I am currently so privileged to have. It’s a credit to my parents for encouraging me to always take on new challenges and to many mentors along my path that identified opportunities they saw for me that I usually did not at the time."


Where is your favorite place to grab a bite in Arizona?


"This is an unusual one, I am sure. I grew up in Buffalo and Teds hot dogs in Tempe is a chain from Buffalo. The Tempe location is the only one outside the Buffalo area."

What success in your career are you most proud of?


"Banner Health, like so many others, did almost unimaginable stretch during the pandemic to care for our communities. I am so proud of the leadership role I played, Banner played and our team members played."


If you weren't pursuing medicine, what would you be up to right now?


"My husband, who is also a physician, and I are dog lovers. We have rescued dogs together and would likely do full-time rescue if we weren’t both in medicine right now"

Portrait of Leah Sanford in glasses, smiling against a gray background with a purple frame and award badge.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?


"My dad was my running coach in my younger days and my mom was also a runner. She and I were featured in Sports Illustrated in Faces in the Crowd. I believe that the rigor, pacing and dedication that I learned from being in sports also has helped me throughout my entire career.”


What do you like best about living in Arizona?


"I love living in Arizona and appreciate the beauty of the desert, the ability to get to the mountains in just a few hours, sitting by the pool in winter telling my family and friends in Buffalo that I am doing so (!) and the ease of traveling anywhere from Sky Harbor Airport."

Why is ArMA important to you and the physicians you lead?


"As we all worked through the incredible challenges of the pandemic, it became very clear that collective voices of those doing work were critical. ArMA is a way for trained professionals to collaborate for the betterment of health of our communities.”

ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .