Arizona Co-Chairs
Dina Sanchez
Chief Executive Officer
Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital
Debbie Johnston
Director
Arizona Department of Health Services
Committee Collaborations
The Health Services Committee works to equip the health workforce in our megaregion for the future, as well as establish binational training for health area students. This committee also works towards binational preparedness and response protocols for respiratory and other infectious-contagious diseases.
How to Get Involved
The AMC/CSEU binational committees are always looking for new members, passionate about strengthening the ties between Arizona and Mexico. As a committee member you will be surrounded by subject-area experts and business leaders from Arizona and Mexico, coming together to achieve common goals. Join a committee and help us shape policy, and exchange ideas and information through cross-border communication and collaboration.
If you’re interested in learning more about this committee or how to get involved, click here to send us a note and we’ll get you connected.
Committee Executive Summary
The Health Committee successfully finalized the bilingual Arizona-Sonora Binational Communication Protocol. They have also begun real-world simulation exercises that will continue through January 2027 to ensure preparedness for cross-border responses. Additionally, the Committee is exploring partnerships with Arizona Community Colleges to offer affordable, local alternative courses that support workforce development throughout the region.
Action Plans
#1 – Cross-Border Nursing Mobility and Professional Development: The committee is actively exploring a strategic partnership with Arizona Community Colleges to design affordable, localized alternative coursework to optimize cost savings, academic accessibility, and higher scores. Concurrently, efforts remain underway with the International Alliance Group to finalize preparatory work with Rubio Pharma University, expanding advanced personal and professional development tracks for nursing staff transitioning between Sonora and Arizona.
#2 – Clinical Rotations and Student Internships: To elevate professionalization capabilities across the megaregion, the committee is designing clinical internship frameworks evaluated against key metrics: Clinical Competency Pass Rates, Preceptor Performance Ratings, and a unified Language & Cultural Competency Index. Arizona Health Committee and Commission representatives are currently conducting feasibility evaluations to identify local clinical placement sites and strategic institutional partners.
#3 – Binational Health Emergency Response Protocols: The Arizona-Sonora binational communication protocol has been successfully finalized and was officially presented at the June 2026 plenary session. To guarantee total administrative accessibility, complete bilingual editions are available in both English and Spanish. Administrative efforts have shifted to executing a detailed, phased rollout timeline to govern joint implementation and future field simulation exercises.