Meet the Chair
Alison Flynn Gaffney
Chair of the Board
Intro:
Leading The Chamber of Southern Arizona with dedication and a commitment to the region’s economic advancement is Alison Flynn Gaffney. With a wealth of experience in guiding complex organizations and fostering collaborative environments, Alison brings strategic vision to our mission.
Bio:
Alison Flynn Gaffney is the CEO for Banner – University Medicine’s Southern Arizona operations. Alison oversees more than 8,000 employees at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center South, as well as Diamond Children’s Medical Center and 28 clinics in Tucson and surrounding communities. The hospitals and services under her purview have received numerous accolades, including US News & World Report naming Banner – University Medical Center Tucson the #4 hospital in Arizona and #1 hospital in Tucson for the second consecutive year.
In 2024 Flynn Gaffney joined Banner Health from JLL, a Chicago-based global real estate and investment management company, where she served since 2022 as president of the health care division. Prior to that, Flynn Gaffney was the chief operating officer, hospitals and clinics, at the University of Utah Health System, which includes six hospitals, nine urgent care locations, 11 community clinics and employs more than 14,000 people. Prior to her COO role, she served as the system’s executive director for University Hospital, service lines and system planning.
Flynn Gaffney earned her bachelor’s degree in health care administration and master’s in health services administration from Iona University in New York, and became a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives in 2013. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including being named a 2024 Patient Safety Expert to Know by Becker’s Healthcare, and one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Medicine (2024) and Top 100 Women Leaders in Medicine (2021) by Women We Admire.
