PHOENIX (April 29, 2022) – Not very many doctors can say they have helped provide care for professional athletes. However, Dr. Gustavo J. Armendariz has been there and done that. The Banner Health physician will officially retire on Sunday, May 1, capping off a 34-year medical career as an orthpedic surgeon.
His specialty in foot and ankle injuries led him to be named one of the team physicians for the Phoenix Suns, a position he served in for 16 years. Additionally, he has been an orthopedic consultant for various professional sports teams and school programs, such as the Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers, Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University.
Early in his career, Dr. Armendariz was focused on helping those injured while on the job, becoming one of the first bilingual and binational orthopedic surgeons in Phoenix to do so. This distinction helped him become a trusted and valued medical doctor and surgeon for the Hispanic community.
“My commitment was to help as a surgeon at the front end of an injury so that hopefully my patient would be able to return to their career,” said Dr. Armendariz. “Being bilingual in Spanish helped me relate to the portion of our population that had communication challenges with their doctor.”
Dr. Armendariz joined Banner Health on May 1 of 2020. He practiced at The Orthopedic Clinic Association (TOCA) in Phoenix and Tempe, and performed foot and ankle surgeries at Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix.
Dr. Armendariz said, “I retire now knowing that I have served my community honorably. I feel I never lost focus of the reason I became an orthopedic surgeon. I have accomplished what God sent me here to do in this portion of my life. I will now let my new adventures also be spiritually guided.”
About Banner Health
Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. In addition to 30 acute-care hospitals, Banner also has an academic division, Banner – University Medicine, and a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. 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. To make health care easier, 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits, and Banner operates a free 24/7 nurse line for health questions or concerns. Patients may also reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and can book appointments online with many Banner-employed doctors. 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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