GLENDALE, Ariz. (April 28, 2026) – Banner Thunderbird Medical Center on Monday unveiled its newly renovated emergency department lobby as part of a larger investment plan to better serve the community by enhancing one of the busiest facilities in the area.
“Our emergency department is the front door to this hospital, and we understand the importance of offering a warm, welcoming and safe environment for the many people who step inside during times of uncertainty,” said Jennifer Toerpe, chief nursing officer of Banner Thunderbird. “By taking steps to revamp these areas and improve the patient experience, we’re not merely investing in our building — we’re investing in the community we serve.”
The new lobby features larger, separate waiting areas for children and adults and improved triage spaces. Additionally, a family restroom was installed and vending machines have been added to the space.
While no family with children wants to end up in an emergency department, Banner Children’s at Thunderbird offers one of the best, safest places for care when it comes to young patients. In addition to its top tier emergency department, the facility is home to the West Valley’s only pediatric intensive care unit. Banner Children’s at Thunderbird also recently became an affiliate member of the Children’s Oncology Group, the world’s largest organization devoted to childhood and adolescent cancer research.
While healing is often attributed to clinical care, doctors and nurses, Banner Thunderbird strives to help people get better from the moment they walk in the door. With the new and improved emergency department lobby, teams at the hospital are continuing to advance how health care should look and feel for the community by making the hospital experience seamless and less stressful for people and families seeking treatment.
About Banner Health
As one of the nation's largest fully integrated nonprofit health systems, we are pioneering a sustainable care model that prioritizes prevention, manages chronic disease, and reduces health spending – succeeding when patients stay healthy, not when they get sick. We operate 33 hospitals and more than 400 sites across six states, delivering seamless care from primary to quaternary medicine, including health insurance, physician networks, world-renowned specialty services, and behavioral health. Accountable to the communities we serve, we reinvest every dollar into advancing care, research, and facilities, providing more than $1 billion each year in community benefit. Through our partnership with the University of Arizona, we drive clinical discoveries across more than 800 trials and train more than 1,300 residents and fellows annually. Headquartered in Arizona, we serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. Our hospitals are consistently ranked among Arizona's top-performing by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/about.
Captions Lobby 03: Chris Sullivan, MD, chief medical officer of Banner Thunderbird, and Jennifer Toerpe, chief nursing officer, at ribbon cutting Lobby 04: Ray Malnar, vice mayor of the city of Glendale, and Toerpe at ribbon cutting Lobby 05: Dr. Sullivan, Toerpe and Phoenix Suns Gorilla at ribbon cutting Lobby 07: Left to right: Jennifer Toerpe; Kendal Dold, RN, outreach program manager; Teri Johnson-Kelley, RN, director of the emergency department; Sommer Willoughby, RN, associate director of the emergency department; Mike Rabka, RN, associate director of the emergency department; Summer Lord, RN, associate director of the emergency department; Rachel Rivers, RN, director of the emergency department; Matthew Keeler, DO, medical director, transfer services
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