PHOENIX (Sept. 19, 2025) – Two Banner Health leaders recognized for their contributions to healthcare innovation have been honored as Health Care Heroes by the Phoenix Business Journal. Evan Lederman, MD, chief of sports medicine for Banner Health, and Noelle Trinder, DNP, RN, senior director of healthcare careers, exemplify how visionary leadership can transform patient care quality and expand access to specialized services.
Dr. Lederman's approach to sports medicine has created new standards for comprehensive athletic care while making cutting-edge treatments available to patients at all levels, while Trinder's innovative workforce development programs have strengthened the healthcare pipeline, ensuring communities have access to highly trained professionals who deliver exceptional patient care.
Dr. Lederman has been with Banner Health since 2019 and had more than 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry. He is double board certified in orthopedic surgery and orthopedic sports medicine. He has become a trusted fixture in the professional sports world, serving as head team physician for the NBA Phoenix Suns and the WNBA Phoenix Mercury and previously for major league baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers. He has been a clinical professor for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix orthopedic residency program since its inception and leads the orthopedic sports medicine fellowship to train the next generation of sports medicine physicians. His was named the Health Care Hero in the Physician award category for not only his work but dedication and passion for patients.
“Dr. Lederman’s leadership has put Phoenix on the map as a destination for cutting-edge sports medicine for athletes at every level,” said Lisa Mukavitz, vice president of service lines for Banner Health. “His visionary approach integrates injury prevention, performance training, biomechanical analysis and rehabilitation into a seamless continuum of care. His innovative protocols have improved patient outcomes while expanding access to specialized care for both professional athletes and community members.”
Trinder was recognized in the health care careers category, which honors people who have made a significant contribution to fostering interest in the healthcare field in others, including professors, students and administrators.
Trinder oversees the New Nurse Experience program for new graduate registered nurse hiring, international recruitment, academic partnerships, student coordination, tuition, grants, scholarships, workforce development, internship, Project Search for neurodivergent interns and the K-12 initiatives across six states. In her career at Banner, Trinder has played key roles in progressive care, clinical education, served as interim Chief Nursing Officer at Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix and now is a senior leader in human resources. She has served on numerous state and national boards and currently sits on the board of the Maricopa County Workforce Development board.
“Trinder is a true champion in healthcare excellence and workforce innovation,” said Jami Sinick, vice president of talent acquisition for Banner Health. “With more than two decades at Banner Health, she has transformed how health systems attract, support and grow future healthcare clinicians. Her visionary leadership spans our system and impacts thousands of students, nurses and allied health professionals each year, ensuring our communities receive the highest quality care from skilled professionals who are prepared to meet their needs.”
Both honorees were recognized during an award celebration on Sept. 18.
About Banner Health
Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country and a leader in provider-sponsored health insurance serving 3.5 million people annually across six states. With 33 hospitals and more than 450 additional care sites, Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division, and a nursing registry. Through its longstanding, innovative relationship with the University of Arizona, Banner’s academic medicine division provides ground-breaking clinical discoveries, advanced life-saving care and educates 1,300 physicians annually. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center treats more than 103,000 patients a year. Banner Plans and Networks offers Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health coverage to more than 1.2 million members. In 2024, Banner Health provided $1 billion worth of community benefits to assist those in need through a range of programs. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
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