Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, an innovative integrated health leader, announced it has appointed Barbara Firminger to its board of directors.

An industry veteran with more than 25 years of operational and healthcare leadership experience, Firminger has held various strategic roles for nonprofit and for-profit healthcare organizations, a press release explained.

Her specialties include improving bottom-line performance, market strategy and implementation, developing network partnerships, project management, and data analytics.

“Barbara’s broad knowledge of healthcare management, including practice acquisitions, integration, population health strategies, and value-based payment optimization, will be a real asset to our organization,” CEO Steven Sheets stated in the release. “Her experience and excellent interpersonal skills make her a great addition to our board of directors.”

Previous positions include CEO of Bayless Integrated Healthcare, chief administrative officer/chief access officer at Northern Arizona Healthcare and CEO of Physician Groups for IASIS Healthcare, vice president of Vail Valley Medical Center, COO of Kids Care of Michigan, and senior vice president of operations for Irving General Hospital, according to the release.

Firminger currently works as an agent for CARR, the nation’s leading commercial real estate services firm specializing in advising healthcare providers.

She also earned her bachelor of arts in psychology and economics from Duke University and her MBA in healthcare administration from Boston University, the release stated.