Her Story
About Dawn
Dawn Rodriguez is a healthcare operations and contracting professional serving in the contracting department at Banner Plans and Networks, where she works with 14 healthcare networks across Arizona. Drawing on her background in nursing, travel nursing, military service, and firsthand experience navigating Medicaid, Dawn brings frontline insight and systems-level thinking to healthcare operations. Her work focuses on improving provider interactions, claims processes, and member experiences while helping advance more accessible and compassionate care.
In her current role, Dawn is involved in implementing Salesforce to create more streamlined, user-friendly systems for providers and healthcare teams. She also contributes to health equity and quality initiatives, advocating for solutions that consider how organizational decisions affect patients, providers, and communities. Her professional perspective is shaped by a deep belief that healthcare should honor human dignity alongside clinical outcomes and that communities benefit when care is accessible, coordinated, and centered on the people it serves.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Dawn is committed to community connection, mentorship, and lifelong growth. She participates in Toastmasters and mentors fellow veterans, using public speaking and networking to encourage others to find their voice and recognize their own value. She has also earned a master's degree and a Death Doula certification, reflecting her broader interest in community-based support and care. Through her career and advocacy, Dawn continues to bridge the gap between healthcare systems and the people who depend on them, with a focus on equity, compassion, and meaningful change.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dawn
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to be confident in who they are and not be afraid to put themselves out there. Networking in inclusive, co-ed spaces can help build confidence and meaningful connections. Selling yourself is really about being authentic, owning your strengths, and recognizing that we are not in competition—we can support and lift each other up.
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