Leadership Team at Carondelet Hospital

Guiding Us into the Future

Meet the people who are proudly leading Carondelet Health Network in our commitment to delivering high-quality health and wellness to the community. These leaders strive for excellence, innovation and accountability in all areas of care.

CEO - Frank Molinaro

Frank Molinaro is chief executive officer of Carondelet Health Network in Southern Arizona. He is also CEO of Abrazo Community Health in the greater Phoenix Area, and Arizona Group CEO for Tenet Healthcare. Molinaro has held multiple hospital CEO positions over his career, successfully guiding strategic direction for hospital operations, service line development and growth, as well as leadership for improved results in the areas of quality, safety and patient satisfaction.

Molinaro holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia. He is a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served on several local and regional boards.

Market Chief Strategy Officer

Kelly Raach leads hospital strategy as the market chief strategy officer for St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Tucson, and Holy Cross Hospital in Nogales.

Raach has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare in Arizona, joining Carondelet in 2016. She holds her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from University of Arizona Eller College and her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Chief Operating Officer

Nikki Castel, MD, is chief operating officer at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She previously served as associate administrator at Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear, Ariz., a Level I trauma center. Castel has also worked in healthcare consulting and completed a plastic surgery residency at Rutgers Medical School. She received a bachelor of science degree in Biochemistry at Arizona State University and earned her Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Chief Nursing Officer

Kimberly Diaz, RN is chief nursing officer at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Prior to joining Carondelet, she held nursing leadership positions in Colorado, Florida and Pennsylvania and has more than 20 years of nursing experience. Diaz holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Millersville University and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix.

St. Mary’s Hospital Chief Operating Officer

Ryan Harper is chief operating officer at St. Mary’s Hospital. Prior to joining Carondelet, he was chief strategy officer at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus in Phoenix, and served as manager of Government Relations for Tenet's Arizona Group, which includes Abrazo Health and Carondelet Health Network.

Harper holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and a graduate degree from Duke University.

Chief Human Resources Officer
Ricky Russell is chief human resources office for Carondelet Health Network. His background includes CHRO positions in southern California, and he has also held various Human Resources leadership roles in the healthcare and airline industries. Russell holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia; a Master of Business Administration from Sullivan University in Louisville, KY.

Holy Cross Hospital

Debra Knapheide, M.S.N.
Chief Executive Officer/CNO/COO

Debbie’s professional experience includes serving as director of multiple clinical departments and an Associate Program Manager for Psychiatric Services. As an Associate Chief Nursing Officer, she led the Clinical Services Division of an international health care organization. She has worked with health care professionals in the U.K., India and the Philippines, in both nonprofit and for-profit settings. She is credited with the development of a Bone and Joint Program at DePaul Health Center, a 600-bed hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, and has also consulted on competency-based education for clinical staff.

Debbie earned her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Missouri and her M.S. in Nursing and Leadership from Grand Canyon University.

Dina Rojas-Sanchez
Director of Support Services

Dina is the Director of Support Services for Holy Cross Hospital in Nogales. She joined Carondelet in April 1994. She has served in many capacities for the past 22 years leading the various departments of strategic planning, community relations, media relations and marketing. She has served as the lead of all ancillary departments overseeing the operations of facilities, environmental services, dietary services, business office, security and biomedical. Dina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Multicultural Education from Northern Arizona University.