James Puffenberger, president and chief executive officer of Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH), has announced his retirement from the helm of the healthcare system that includes Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) and Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC).

Puffenberger has served NAH for 10 years, joining the system in 1999 as its executive vice president/chief financial officer. In mid 2004 he assumed the position of the system’s president and CEO. Northern Arizona Healthcare includes FMC, VVMC, the VVMC Sedona Campus, Guardian Medical Transport, Guardian Air, and Northern Arizona Homecare and Hospice.  

“It has been a rewarding experience leading an organization that is so focused on improving the healthcare of the communities it serves,” Puffenberger said. “This organization is staffed by talented individuals who are committed to quality and compassionate care. Being part of that has been a wonderful experience.”

Puffenberger names several accomplishments as career milestones, including implementation of an electronic medical records system; maintaining an A+ bond rating during challenging economic times for hospitals; leaving NAH as one of the strongest financial organizations in Arizona; and negotiating a management contract with Little Colorado Medical Center in Winslow that saved the hospital from closing and ultimately allowed it to thrive. Puffenberger also launched a systemwide heart and vascular program - The Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona.  

“We thank Jim for his years of dedicated service to our system, our hospitals and the communities they serve,” said Bob Montoya, chairman of the NAH Board of Directors. “He has helped position our organization for the future.”

FMC President Bill Bradel will assume leadership of both NAH hospitals and Jack Dempsey, who is currently serving as interim president of VVMC, will serve as interim NAH president while the NAH Board works to establish a leadership model to best match the changing healthcare environment.
  
Bradel assumed the leadership of FMC in 2006, and has experience spanning more than 20 years as a senior executive in hospitals and health systems. Dempsey joined NAH in July 1999 and has served as the organization’s executive vice president, law and ethics and executive information officer. Most recently, he has served as interim president of Verde Valley Medical Center.