The Women Physician Leadership Council (WPLC) recently hosted its 2025 Trailblazer Awards Reception — an inspiring evening celebrating women who are redefining what’s possible in medicine. This year’s honorees exemplify HonorHealth’s ICARE values, demonstrating leadership, collaboration and innovation that elevate care for patients and colleagues.

What it means to be a trailblazer

Trailblazers see beyond boundaries, challenging what’s always been done to make space for what’s next. They improve care, empower colleagues and strengthen our system as a whole. Guided by vision, compassion and a relentless pursuit of better outcomes, these leaders embody the spirit of HonorHealth: collaborative, innovative and rooted in expertise.

Meet the 2025 Trailblazer Award recipients

Alicia Mangram, MD

Nominated for: Transforming surgical education and access. 
Dr. Mangram’s pioneering work in robotic surgery and geriatric trauma programs has expanded access to high-quality surgical care statewide. Her dedication to advancing surgical education continues to shape the next generation of compassionate, skilled surgeons.

Amy Axberg, MD

Nominated for: Reimagining emergency care and wellness. 
Dr. Axberg’s leadership in innovating the “split-flow” ER model has improved patient experiences and operational efficiency. Equally passionate about physician wellness, she leads by example — calm under pressure, collaborative in every challenge.

Rebecca Chester, MD

Nominated for: Leading systemwide innovation in cardiogenic shock care. 
Dr. Chester’s expertise and systemwide leadership have transformed how HonorHealth teams identify and manage high-risk cardiac patients. Her training programs empower teams to act early, improving outcomes and saving lives across ICUs and ERs.

Sivakami (Brenda) Moorthy, DO

Nominated for: Empowering patients through physician-led breast cancer care. 
Dr. Moorthy has reshaped breast cancer care through a compassionate, coordinated and cutting-edge approach. Her model centers the physician-patient relationship, ensuring that every patient feels supported and informed through each stage of recovery.

Cathleen Harris, MD

Nominated for: Championing maternal heart health with real-time innovation. 
Dr. Harris founded Arizona’s first Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Program, a collaborative effort uniting specialists to reduce maternal risk and improve postpartum heart outcomes. Her vision is saving lives and transforming care for mothers statewide.

Celebrating leadership, collaboration and care

The Trailblazer Awards remind us that progress in healthcare isn’t just measured by technology or research, it’s reflected in the people who lead with heart, integrity and vision. These physicians embody the all-together mindset that defines HonorHealth: when expertise and empathy combine, extraordinary things happen.

Want to learn more about the WPLC and how to get involved? Visit the HonorHealth Women Physician Leadership Council page.