Erica Muñoz-Evans
Erica Muñoz-Evans is an experienced healthcare executive and empathic team leader with over 15 years of experience in patient-facing healthcare environments and approximately five years in executive leadership roles. Based in Gilbert, Arizona, she specializes in healthcare administration, operations management, clinical data analytics, quality assurance, and practice delivery optimization. She holds both a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), earned from the University of Phoenix, and brings a strong foundation in both clinical operations and business strategy to her leadership work.
Throughout her career, Erica has focused on improving healthcare systems and enhancing patient experiences through efficient operations, staff development, and process improvement. She has held leadership positions including Director of Operations and Healthcare Executive roles, where she has overseen team performance, managed budgets, supported regulatory compliance, and strengthened care delivery workflows. In addition to her operational expertise, she serves on medical advisory boards for educational institutions, contributing to program development, accreditation standards, and the training of future healthcare professionals.
Erica’s professional mission is deeply rooted in advocacy and service, inspired by personal experiences navigating the healthcare system within her own family. She is passionate about helping underserved communities overcome barriers to care such as cost, transportation, and system complexity. Active in organizations such as the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives, she is committed to advancing equitable, patient-centered care while mentoring teams and fostering collaborative, compassionate healthcare environments.
• Business certificate
• DDI
• Medical Certifications
• Cultural Competence in Health Care
• Certificate in Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare
• Medical Assistant
• Notary Public Commission
• NRCMA
• Advanced leadership Certification
• University of Phoenix - MHA/MBA
• COVID-19 Contract Tracer
• Sigma Alpha Pi
• HBA-Healthcare Businesswomen Association
• American College of HC Executives
• Carrington College
• Pima Medical Institute
What do you attribute your success to?
I would have to say this is very religious, but it would have to be to God, because if I tell you my whole life story, you would just never imagine. I was told that I couldn't go to college because it was too expensive. When I was young, my parents got divorced, my mom had a midlife crisis, and my dad was very much not present. I had to help take care of my brothers and sisters and live with my grandmother. A lot of times, we didn't have food or the means to buy simple things that we needed. I would say perseverance would have been the biggest thing, just not giving up, because I could have easily been a product of my environment, but I chose not to be. There is hope because it's really staying focused and really just knowing that you can do this. I would say that's probably the biggest thing.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The biggest thing that I've been told is when things get hard, don't ever give up. There's always light at that end of the tunnel, you just have to find it. I think that was one big thing. But then also, I had another lady that was very close and mentored me quite a bit, and she always told me don't underestimate your potential and your impact. She said you think it's something so small, but it's actually something so big for others, and I think that really resonated with me.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that you're needed here, you can do this, and you will make a big impact. I think those are the three biggest things I would tell young women entering healthcare.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are getting patients to appointments so that they can get the quality care that they need. Patients start feeling better and think they may be better, but then they keep crashing, meaning they end up in the hospital, or urgent care, or just have further advanced chronic conditions. I think that's the biggest thing that we're all trying to work on - how do we get our patients in for an appointment, and how do we get them really just engaged in care? A lot of times when you talk to patients or potential patients, the money is the biggest aspect that they fear, or transportation issues. So just letting them know there's resources out there and how to navigate the healthcare system in general has been a big focus of mine.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
First and foremost, one of my biggest values is integrity - just making sure to always do the right thing no matter what, even if it's hard. The second thing is just transparency. Trust is a big thing for others and myself. And accountability - making sure that I hold myself to that higher standard to make sure that I'm providing that impact. I think that's something very big. And just helping others is very big for me.
Locations
University of Phoenix
Mesa, AZ 85210