Banner Health President and CEO Peter Fine
Banner Health President and CEO Peter Fine

Keynote Speaker for Commencement Named

Marian Frank
Marian Frank
Banner Health President and CEO Peter Fine
Banner Health President and CEO Peter Fine
Sixty-Eight Students to Receive Medical Degrees on May 6

Banner Health President and CEO Peter Fine will deliver the commencement speech at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Class of 2019 commencement ceremony Monday, May 6.

This year’s commencement will begin at 3:30 p.m., at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix.

Graduation marks the completion of the students’ medical school journey, where they are formally awarded their doctor of medicine degrees, signaling the beginning of the next stage of their careers.

“Peter Fine has a unique perspective on medicine that will be valuable to our graduating students as they begin the next step of their training as resident physicians,” said UA College of Medicine – Phoenix Dean Guy Reed, MD, MS.

“This graduation will celebrate the hard work, dedication and achievements of the College of Medicine Class of 2019,” Dean Reed said. “Over the course of the next 40 years or so of their careers, we know that they will make a difference in hundreds of thousands of lives in our community through skilled, compassionate care, innovation and leadership.”

Fine has led Banner through a significant transformation since he was named to lead Arizona’s largest health-care system in 2000.

Banner Health is one of the largest secular, non-profit health-care systems in the country. It employs more than 50,000 people and operates 28 hospitals in six states. The organization has expanded by opening urgent care centers, entered into partnerships in medical imaging and rehabilitation and plans to open a 120-bed hospital in Chandler in 2020.

Under Fine’s direction, Banner negotiated a 30-year academic affiliation agreement with the University of Arizona. The agreement included a $1.2 billion investment in capital projects and support for clinical enterprises at the University of Arizona Health Sciences.

Fine received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and a master’s degree in health care administration from George Washington University. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and previously served as a member of their Board of Governors.

*Photo Courtesy of: Shavon Rose, AZ Big Media

About the College

Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.

As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.

The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.