Sun Health, a community-based medical nonprofit organization and champion of healthy living, has added eight new staff members to better serve those whose lives are enriched through its varied health care programs and senior living communities.

Michelle Hosler, RN, BSN, PHN, was recently named senior manager of Community Health Services responsible for overseeing Sun Health’s robust Care Transitions and Medication Management programs, two initiatives designed to help participants better manage their health. Hosler has served the West Valley for more than 13 years, most recently as director of operations at Amedisys Home Care. Prior to that, she served as director of Sun Health Home Care Services, a position she held for nine years before the agency was sold to Amedisys. In many ways, Hosler’s recent appointment is somewhat of a Sun Health homecoming.

Joining Hosler on the Care Transitions team is Shirley Burnette, LPN, Care Transitions program coordinator. Burnette is tasked with increasing awareness of Sun Health’s community health initiatives by meeting with patients at Banner Boswell and Banner Del E. Webb medical centers. Her duties include conducting daily rounds at the hospitals to introduce the program and educate patients about health management through home visits and phone consultations. With 34 years of experience as an LPN, most of which was spent at Banner Boswell Medical Center, Burnette is a familiar face among hospital staff and patients.

Tina Walker is the newest member of the Sun Health Senior Living sales team. The Arizona native now serves as a residency counselor at La Loma Village in Litchfield Park. Walker joins Sun Health with more than eight years of retirement living sales, including posts at such communities as Sierra Winds and Montecito. Prior to working in that area, Walker spent more than 25 years in food services sales as a health care specialist working with senior living communities.

Sun Health’s finance team was bolstered with the addition of Cathy Buyno as an accountant responsible for financial reporting on behalf of Sun Health Foundation’s Volunteers In Philanthropy (VIPs), which operates Sun Health’s resale and gift shops and hosts an array of special events to raise funds for the organization’s nonprofit mission. Buyno brings more than 20 years of accounting experience to her role at Sun Health, including the past five years serving as a senior general ledger accountant at Triwest Healthcare Alliance.

After spending two years working in the Sun Health Senior Living Community’s bistro, The Colonnade promoted Tammy Neller to dining room manager. Neller now oversees training and supervising dining room staff to ensure the highest standards of service as well as coordinating with the directors of food service and special events to successfully fulfill all dining-related requests and special functions.

The Colonnade’s culinary expertise also got a boost with the addition of Sous Chef Kelvin Wong, who trained at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Wong brings more than 15 years of experience to the role. Prior to joining Sun Health, he served at such esteemed organizations as the Hilton and Four Seasons hotel chains, Troon and Arrowhead country clubs, and Banner Del E. Webb and Maricopa medical centers. As sous chef at the Colonnade, his varied food preparation and service responsibilities ranged from supervising kitchen staff and managing inventory to ensuring proper food handling and preparation.

Strengthening its daily operations, The Colonnade added Doug Schrantz as a desktop support technician providing critical diagnostic and technical assistance to the community employees who rely on a myriad of desktop programs to execute essential business functions. Schrantz holds both A+ and Network+ certifications, both of which are awarded for demonstrating competency and skill in the fields of computer and network support capabilities. He comes to Sun Health from John C. Lincoln where he served as a systems support and Vocera technician.

Stephanie Mendez joined Sun Health Foundation as an administrative assistant with an expansive list of responsibilities centered on the successful planning and execution of philanthropic and donor recognition events and activities. Mendez, who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences, most recently worked at Arizona State University West where she assisted with registering new students, supported faculty and staff, helped organize a major university conference, and worked alongside a professor to compile historical photos for the 2007 book “Historical Photos of Phoenix.”

###