Elizabeth McNamee

A Legacy of Leadership, Equity, and Community

For over three decades, Elizabeth McNamee has stood at the intersection of healthcare, community, and systems change, quietly shaping the future of public health in Arizona and beyond. Her work has never been about recognition or accolades. Instead, it has always been about impact.

Elizabeth began her journey to practice medicine, but during her early studies, she discovered something even more powerful: public health. She quickly realized that addressing social and environmental factors, like income, education, and housing, could create deeper, longer-lasting change than treating symptoms alone. It was a realization that would define her life's work.

By the 1970s, Elizabeth had already seen the writing on the wall: access to healthcare, while essential, accounted for only a fraction of what shapes our well-being. The real work, she believed, was in reshaping the environments people lived in, the systems, policies, and opportunities that either lifted communities or held them back.

And so, Elizabeth became a bridge. Between sectors. Between institutions. Between people.

Her leadership roles in government, business, and philanthropy were never about titles, but about aligning efforts to drive meaningful change. At St. Luke's Health Initiatives, now Vitalyst Health Foundation, Elizabeth championed innovation grants that fueled community-driven solutions, supported shared data systems to close care gaps, and helped lay the foundation for what would become the Center for Health Information and Research (CHiR) at Arizona State University. This work not only improved outcomes but also strengthened the relationships between payers, providers, and employers, demonstrating that collaboration wasn’t just idealistic, but also effective.

One of the projects closest to her heart was a grassroots effort in South Phoenix aimed at combating food insecurity. The initiative brought together unlikely but essential partners: community gardens, school districts, universities, and health workers. Each brought something unique to the table. The result was a vibrant network of empowerment, where health was cultivated alongside vegetables, and dignity grew in every row.

Throughout her career, Elizabeth has remained steadfast in her belief that public health must be rooted in the voices of the people it serves. In her role as Chair of the Community Town Halls Committee for Arizona Town Hall, she facilitated dialogue among everyday Arizonans, ensuring that policy was informed not only by statistics but also by lived experience. Her approach fostered a culture where grassroots voices weren't just heard, they helped shape statewide strategies.

As an advisor to educational institutions like Grand Canyon University's College of Nursing, Elizabeth has also poured into the next generation of healthcare leaders. Her advice to them is simple but profound: seek mentors, build bridges across sectors, and never underestimate the power of collective action. "When the outcome is strong," she says, "who gets the credit matters far less than how many people benefit."

Her recognition as a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) is a testament to her decades of service and unyielding pursuit of excellence. More than a professional milestone, it represents a shift in the field she has helped influence, one where equity, social determinants, and inclusive engagement increasingly define leadership.

When asked what it takes to create meaningful systems change, Elizabeth responds with clarity: a shared vision, trusted partnerships, disaggregated data, and adaptive leadership. These aren’t just strategies to her; they are the values that have guided her from the very beginning.

She has helped lead conversations around some of society’s most complex issues, from homelessness to mental health, by creating spaces that foster trust, compassion, and common ground. Her approach is both human and strategic: she listens deeply, grounds decisions in real data, and never loses sight of the humanity behind the policy.

For all her professional accolades, what drives Elizabeth isn’t prestige. It’s people. Community is her fuel, her family is her heart, and gratitude is her anchor.

Looking back, she reflects on mentors like Dr. Pearl Tang and initiatives like Spaces of Opportunity and CHiR with deep appreciation. But she’s always looking ahead.

"I hope to be remembered as someone who brought people together to solve complex problems with mutual respect and shared purpose. Someone who saw public health not as a silo but as a bridge to a better world."

With laughter in her voice and purpose in her heart, Elizabeth McNamee reminds us that the most impactful work often happens behind the scenes; quietly, consistently, and always with love.

Get stories like Elizabeth's in your inbox