Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Mimi Coomler, CEO of Tucson Medical Center

Date: August 28, 2025
Host: Laura Dyrda
Guest: Mimi Coomler, Chief Executive Officer, Tucson Medical Center & Chief Hospital Executive, TMC Health

Episode Overview

This episode features Laura Dyrda’s conversation with Mimi Coomler, CEO of Tucson Medical Center. The discussion highlights the hospital’s recent growth, notable successes, and evolving strategy to address critical challenges in healthcare access, affordability, and reliability. Mimi shares practical examples of new initiatives (including a new hospital, a cancer center, and the use of AI agents), and closes with her leadership philosophy for steering a community hospital through a disruptive decade.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

[00:42] Background: Mimi Coomler & The Tucson Medical Center (TMC)

• Mimi’s journey: Former registered nurse, nearly nine years at TMC.
• TMC profile:
  • Not-for-profit, locally governed
  • $1B organization with four hospitals (two critical access, a flagship hospital, and a 55-bed hospital southeast of Tucson)
  • Mission focused on serving Southern Arizona communities

[01:41] Recent Successes and Wins

• Rincon Hospital Launch:
  • 55-bed facility in southeast Tucson, $100M investment
  • Opened “on time and on budget” to meet suburb growth
  • Established a maternity program in what was previously a “maternity health desert”
  • “We need to be where our people are.” — Mimi Coomler [01:56]
• TMC Health Cancer Center:
  • Years in planning; launched with integrated strategy and collaboration with former private oncology practice
  • Expanded geographic reach and clinical integration
  • “Cancer patients... need a care team surrounding them as they go through that journey.” — Mimi Coomler [03:16]

[03:58] Value of Integrated Oncology & Close-to-Home Services

• Mimi emphasizes seamless cancer care; reducing fragmentation by integrating oncology clinics and establishing multidisciplinary teams locally.
• “Having oncology clinics and oncology services close to home... is just a very important part of building services that provide access to care that patients need and deserve.” — Mimi Coomler [04:19]

[04:52] Strategic Focus Areas: Building a Durable Health System

• Access to Care: Expanding digital entryways, same-day appointments (TMC Today), and telehealth services.
  • “We’ve invested significantly in that digital front door... so patients can... schedule right from that online platform.” — Mimi Coomler [06:00]
• Affordability: Responds to community concern over expense and lack of access.
• Reliability: Addressing quality and safety; striving to make healthcare “safe enough.”
• External Pressures: Mentions “OB3” funding cuts in Arizona as a challenge, but notes they may accelerate necessary change.

[07:59] Opportunities for Growth: Leveraging AI & Technology

• AI in Affordability and Access:
  • TMC has launched “Humi” — an HR AI agent, which efficiently answers employee questions and connects staff with appropriate resources.
    • “Since we launched him, we've had 1300 employees ask Humi questions... and really has about a 98% success rate.” — Mimi Coomler [08:20]
    • Memorable moment: Employee asked Humi, “Will I ever find love again?” The AI’s compassionate, referral-based response highlighted both utility and human-centric design. [09:09]
• Reduced HR Burden:
  • AI agents free up human resources and deliver cost containment without sacrificing service.
• Curiosity in Leadership: Continual exploration of AI to enhance efficiency and expand care, e.g., using AI to reduce no-shows or automate referrals.

[11:03] Leadership in the Next Five Years: “Disciplined Humanity”

• Leadership must balance:
  • Discipline: Data-driven decision-making, fiscal stewardship, and curiosity—especially about technology’s role.
  • Humanity: Connection to workforce well-being, health equity, and trust-building with physicians and the community.
• “We need discipline... paired with that humanity side. Ensuring that we're connected to the workforce well being, to health equity, to ensuring our physicians are aligned. Those are the kind of things that I believe really help us sustain trust.” — Mimi Coomler [11:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We need to be where our people are.” — Mimi Coomler [01:56]
• “That integrated health system approach to exceptional care... have been the hallmarks of the launch of the TMC Health Cancer Center.” — Mimi Coomler [03:24]
• “Having oncology clinics and oncology services close to home... is just a very important part of building services that provide access to care that patients need and deserve.” — Mimi Coomler [04:19]
• “We’ve invested significantly in that digital front door... so patients can... schedule right from that online platform.” — Mimi Coomler [06:00]
• About AI agent Humi:
  • “Will I ever find love again?” — Anonymous employee [09:10]
  • “Love and companionship is an important part of happiness. We have EAP resources that can help you...” — Humi [09:12]
• “I really define [future leadership] right now as two words, disciplined humanity.” — Mimi Coomler [11:03]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:42 — Mimi’s background & TMC overview
• 01:41 — Recent wins: Rincon Hospital and Cancer Center
• 03:58 — Importance of close-to-home cancer care
• 04:52 — Top strategic priorities: Access, affordability, and reliability
• 07:59 — AI integration: Humi the HR agent; advancing affordability and access
• 11:03 — Leadership vision: Disciplined humanity

Tone & Language:
Mimi Coomler projects a pragmatic, service-oriented, and optimistic tone, continually referencing the mission to improve healthcare access and outcomes in Southern Arizona while candidly addressing both obstacles and innovations.

For Listeners:
This episode is a concise yet rich exploration of how a forward-looking community health system balances technological innovation, service expansion, and community trust—illuminated by real-world examples and a compassionate vision for leadership in challenging times.