The Indian Health Service announced Aug. 25 the appointment of James Driving Hawk as the chief executive officer of the Phoenix Indian Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The center is the IHS’ largest hospital, providing direct health care services to more than 150,000 patients.

Driving Hawk, an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, has served as director of the IHS Great Plains Area Office since 2019, where he provided leadership in the administration of a comprehensive federal, tribal, and urban Indian health care system.

Driving Hawk has more than 23 years of experience in financial management, healthcare administration, purchased/referred care, business office operations and tribal budget consultation. Before joining the IHS Great Plains Area, he served as executive officer of the IHS Phoenix Area Office.

Driving Hawk led the IHS Great Plains Area as director and acting director for more than four years. During that time, he established a new governance structure for all hospitals and clinics and developed a division of quality and compliance for the area. Under his leadership, all IHS health care facilities in the Great Plains Area achieved full accreditation.

Driving Hawk holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Cardinal Stritch University and is a current member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

The Phoenix Indian Medical Center provides primary care services to four Phoenix Service Unit tribes; the San Lucy District of the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Tonto Apache Tribe, the Yavapai-Apache Indian Tribe, and the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe. The center also works closely with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, that have contracted operations of their primary care. Tribal members who receive care at the center are also often residents of the greater Phoenix area and hail from tribes throughout the country.