Joanne Mizell Recognized as an Award-Winning Arizona Health Care Executive

Arizona health care executive Joanne Mizell has been a force for change in health care for over 30 years. Her impressive industry expertise and her keen ability to implement creative, forward-thinking solutions have earned her recognition as a trailblazer in the Arizona business community and beyond.

Mizell serves as chief operating officer of BannerlAetna, a joint venture health insurance company formed between Banner Health, Arizona’s largest care delivery system, and Aetna, one of the nation's largest insurers. The unique structure of the organization splits accountability for profits and losses equally between parent companies, which gives each incentive to connect people with the right level of care at the right time. These aligned goals are the cornerstone of Mizell’s fundamental focus on implementing programs that improve and simplify the health care experience for Banner|Aetna members.

She has worked with her teams to deliver industry-first solutions like a frictionless billing initiative that makes complicated medical bills consumer friendly. The program combines insurance and billing data into a single source of truth to remove complexity by making payment status updates and a concierge customer service line available to members for a seamless experience. By eliminating surprise bills, it’s helping set a new industry standard for transparent, user-friendly billing practices.

Other programs introduced under her leadership include a virtual Type 2 diabetes reversal solution which helps Banner|Aetna members achieve normal blood sugar levels while reducing or eliminating medication. In line with the latest American Diabetes Association guidance, the program emphasizes the importance of providing member-centered services based on life circumstances, desires and needs, and social determinants of health.

Thanks to Mizell, members with Type 2 diabetes can also learn skills for healthy living via Banner|Aetna Kitchen. The nutrition program features a chef and a dietician who provide hands-on cooking and lifestyle education during small group dinner parties. The initiative has improved health outcomes for participants and continues to expand to serve more members. Building on a similar model, Mizell’s team launched the Banner|Aetna Active Project to promote physical activity opportunities like walking, hiking, gardening and more.

These outstanding achievements have earned Mizell numerous awards and recognitions as a top Arizona health care executive. She has been selected as one of Fierce Healthcare's 2023 Women of Influence, one of the Most Influential Women in Arizona by AZ Big Media, named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Arizona and Top Women Leaders for 2023 by Women We Admire, and honored with a Women Achievers of Arizona award by Arizona Capitol Times.

Mizell’s passion for making a difference extends beyond her work as an Arizona health care executive at Banner|Aetna. She is actively involved in the local philanthropic community and serves on the board of Family Promise of Greater Phoenix. She also devotes her time to humanitarian and animal advocacy nonprofits.

2917120-03-01 (12/23)