Paying Tribute to Linda Hunt
After 51 years of service to the health care industry, Linda Hunt, President and CEO of Dignity Health’s Southwest Division, is retiring in April 2022. Linda joined Dignity Health in 1998 and since 2009 has led Dignity Health’s Southwest Division, which includes St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and St. Joseph's Westgate Medical Center, as well as other Dignity Health hospitals, freestanding urgent care and emergency care centers. Under her leadership, the division has grown into a respected and comprehensive health care system, which is anchored by 11 outstanding hospitals in Arizona and Nevada.
Linda has a deep connection to St. Joseph’s, where she served as the hospital’s president and CEO for more than 10 years. Under her guidance, St. Joseph’s became a world-renowned academic medical institution, bringing prestige and recognition to the region by elevating Barrow Neurological Institute and establishing Norton Thoracic Institute.
Linda’s remarkable career started from humble beginnings. She worked as a clerk at Walgreens and later a secretary at a Louisiana construction company before enrolling in nursing school. From there she worked her way up – first as a nurse, then a nurse leader, a hospital executive, a hospital president and finally a division president within CommonSpirit Health.
Linda, who is often described as a leader with a servant’s heart, has led with grace, purpose, and a forceful vision throughout her career. Her mission-driven devotion to improving the health of all people, especially to those who are vulnerable, while advancing social justice, has enriched the lives of thousands of individuals.
Please make a gift to show appreciation to Linda for dedicating her career to improving the lives of others through health care with your gift today!