Wanda Shoer Will Lead Phoenix Children's People Strategy
Wanda Shoer will assume the role of senior vice president and chief people officer at Phoenix Children's on Nov. 2.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in People
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Phoenix Children's has appointed Wanda Shoer as its new senior vice president and chief people officer, effective Nov. 2. She will oversee the health system's people strategy, including talent acquisition and organizational effectiveness.
Why it matters
The appointment marks a leadership transition for the Phoenix health system as it aims to strengthen its human resources and team development initiatives. Shoer joins the organization bringing over two decades of professional experience in organizational transformation.
Shoer brings 25 years of professional experience in organizational transformation to the health system. She joins after previously serving as chief learning officer at Sanofi, which employs 80,000 people globally.
The players
Wanda Shoer
She is the incoming senior vice president and chief people officer at Phoenix Children's who previously served as the chief learning officer at Sanofi.
Steve Schuster
He is the current interim chief human resources officer at Phoenix Children's who will retire after an 8-year tenure with the organization.
Phoenix Children's
It is a pediatric health system based in Phoenix that manages a comprehensive network of care for children.
Sanofi
It is a global healthcare company that employs approximately 80,000 people worldwide.
Johnson & Johnson
It is a multinational corporation where Wanda Shoer worked for more than 10 years.
The details
Wanda Shoer will manage human resources, team member development, and talent acquisition for the organization. She previously spent over 10 years at Johnson & Johnson before her tenure at Sanofi.
Timeline
Wanda Shoer assumes her new role on Nov. 2.
Steve Schuster will retire from Phoenix Children's at the end of 2026.
Market Landscape
This appointment follows the broader industry trend of prioritizing dedicated leadership for organizational effectiveness and talent management in large hospital systems. It positions the health system to compete for specialized talent by formalizing its people strategy under seasoned executive leadership.
The leadership change serves as an internal administrative update and will not result in immediate changes to patient services or clinical pricing. Patients and local community members should expect no disruption to current hospital operations as the organization completes this leadership transition.
The takeaway
Effective human resources management is increasingly critical for large healthcare institutions to maintain operational excellence. Patients and staff should view executive leadership changes as part of a broader effort to ensure long-term organizational stability and quality of care.
What happens next
Steve Schuster will retire from his position at Phoenix Children's at the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more news on executive changes in the area, visit Phoenix People.
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