Rahul Chawla, pediatric intensivist and pediatric emergency room physician at Banner Children’s at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, is a new member of the Make-A-Wish Arizona board of directors.

The board now includes 35 individuals dedicating volunteer time and efforts toward granting wishes for children with critical illnesses. Chawla was added to the board in June with two additional Arizona leaders.

Chawla joined Banner Children’s in 2017 and has served on the Banner Foundation board of directors since early 2021.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to join the board of directors of Make-A-Wish Arizona,” Chawla shared in a news release. “I am a very strong believer in their mission and the joy that they bring to patients and their families.”

He is an active board member of K2 Adventures Foundation in Scottsdale and leads their Global Health Programs. In 2018, he received the prestigious “Mt. Everest Award” from K2 Adventures Foundation for his role in improving pediatric healthcare in the Mount Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania in Africa.

“We are delighted to welcome Rahul to our board of directors and look forward to his unique perspective as a member of the medical community as we work toward our goal of granting 420 wishes in Arizona this fiscal year,” Make-A-Wish Arizona President and CEO Fran Mallace stated. “Our current board of directors is eager to work with Rahul and to have his support as together we create life-changing wishes.”

Banner Thunderbird Medical Center is located at 5555 W. Thunderbird Road.