Brooks Rehabilitation Breaks Ground on New Physical Rehabilitation Hospital in Arizona

Brooks Rehabilitation, nationally acclaimed for its expertise in treating life-changing injuries and complex medical conditions, held a groundbreaking ceremony today for its new cutting-edge, 80,000-square-foot inpatient rehabilitation hospital on Mayo Clinic’s Phoenix campus.

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 rehabilitation hospital in Florida and among the top 20 nationwide, the new hospital will join Brooks’ network of three existing inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Florida. The expansion into Arizona sets the stage for new growth, innovation and exceptional clinical outcomes and further demonstrates Brooks’ vision to redefine post-acute rehabilitation.

Shared Commitment to Excellence

Eric Mann, board chairman for Brooks Rehabilitation, kicked off the groundbreaking ceremony by welcoming City of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, city officials, Brooks board members, development partners and members of the Mayo Clinic and Brooks leadership team.

Mayor Gallego spoke about the importance of excellent healthcare in Phoenix and their commitment to recruiting top healthcare organizations. “I’m so excited to welcome Brooks to this beautiful part of our incredible city. Mayo has saved so many lives and improved so many lives in the city of Phoenix and this collaboration will only take this success rate to the next level,” she shared. “Our Industrial Development Authority has been a partner which was able to provide $80.5 million in financing and the City has invested $45 million in infrastructure to help this collaboration move forward.”

Doug Baer, Brooks Rehabilitation President and Chief Executive Officer, expressed his enthusiasm for the project and thanked the Mayor, board members and the teams at Mayo Clinic and Brooks. “Brooks has been laser focused on providing physical rehabilitation services for the last 50 plus years, and this specialized expertise allows us to grow and develop as the leader in our field. Having worked with Mayo Clinic Florida over the last 20 years, our missions and values are closely aligned, with both organizations focusing on high quality clinical care, treating the most complex patients in a coordinated system, researching new treatments and technologies and advancing education for our clinicians. We’re proud Mayo Clinic sought Brooks out when they needed a rehabilitation partner, and we’ve experienced firsthand the wonderful care Mayo provides and why they are ranked as the No. 1 health system in the world.”

Richard Gray, MD, CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona, highlighted the growing collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Brooks Rehabilitation, emphasizing the impact of their partnership in elevating patient care. “Together we look forward to providing world-class care in the Phoenix area that is integrated, collaborative and above all else, patient-centered. We at Mayo Clinic will transition patients to this new rehabilitation hospital confident that they will receive the cutting-edge therapies they need to make a successful return to their lives,” said Dr. Gray.

Bryan K. Ganter, MD, chairperson of the Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation department, shared the history of rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic beginning back in 1915.

Brooks Rehabilitation System Chief Medical Officer Trevor H. Paris, MD, FAAPMR, closed out the event by discussing the foundation of working with dedicated clinical teams at Mayo Clinic in Florida to care for shared patients, working through challenges and helping them to achieve their highest functional outcomes.

Leadership Rooted in Culture

Brooks also introduced key leadership appointments for the new location. Bryan Murphy, CRRN, MHA, MRMC, will serve as President and VP of Operations. Murphy’s career at Brooks began in 2009 as a certified nursing assistant, and he has since taken on positions of increasing authority. In his current role as the VP of operations at the Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital – Bartram Campus, he’s demonstrated exceptional leadership in patient care, quality and operational growth.

Kerry A. Maher, PT, MD, is named Interim Medical Director. With dual training in physical therapy and physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Maher brings a wealth of clinical and operational expertise. She will oversee the development of referral relationships with Mayo Clinic in Arizona and the broader Phoenix medical community while assisting in crafting clinical care protocols to ensure seamless integration of Brooks’ renowned rehabilitation model.

“As we expand our reach, it is essential to replicate the same culture and system of care that have made Brooks Rehabilitation a trusted leader in physical recovery,” said Dr. Paris. “We’re excited to have two dedicated, high-performing employees rise to the occasion to shape our presence in Arizona on Mayo Clinic’s campus.”

A Hospital Built for Healing and Growth

Located adjacent to Mayo Clinic’s Phoenix hospital and near the Arizona State University Health Futures Center, the new state-of-the-art facility will include 60 private patient rooms, with room for expansion as demand for care grows. The hospital will specialize in caring for patients recovering from strokes, organ transplantation, advanced cancer and other complex medical conditions.

The hospital will bring more than 200 new jobs to the region once fully operational. It represents a $70 million investment in the Phoenix healthcare landscape, with the project expected to be completed by fall 2026.

The new hospital’s development team includes: Anchor Health Properties as the developer; Kitchell as the general contractor; Hoefer Welker as the architect; Kimley-Horn as the civil engineer. Additionally, the hospital has entered into a long-term lease agreement for the property with Pan-American Financial Assistance Foundation with funding arranged and structured by Veyron.

Mayo Clinic has a minority interest in this joint venture.