For years, Sarah lived with a condition she debated on having corrected, as she felt it wasn't impeding her daily routines. That changed the day she met Intermountain Health urogynecologist Javier Gonzalez, MD. What stood out wasn’t just his clinical expertise: it was the way he listened. Their conversation helped Sarah choose a path forward, and her surgery became one of the most positive care experiences she’s ever had. From timely testing to a team she trusted, Sarah says Dr. Gonzalez “felt like an old friend.” As one of only two urogynecologists serving Intermountain patients in Nevada, Dr. Gonzalez knows how much trust matters, especially when it comes to sensitive women’s health concerns. His approach is simple: lead with empathy, honor patient preferences, and build relationships that last long after surgery.
A routine Friday night game turned into a life‑saving moment, thanks to quick action, expert care, and one determined student‑athlete. When Butte High’s Preston Jensen took two hard hits on the field, certified athletic trainer Christine Mayer trusted her instincts. What she saw — and how fast she acted — helped get Preston to Intermountain Health St. James Hospital before a hidden internal injury became fatal. And today? Preston is back on his feet, training for track, and embracing a new chapter with the same grit that carried him through that night. Learn more about Preston’s story of resilience, gratitude, and the team who helped save his life in the article below.
When Brittany Knop was critically injured in a crash just days before Christmas, trauma teams at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings, Montana worked around the clock to save her life. After multiple surgeries, 18 units of donated blood, and weeks of determined rehabilitation, Brittany is now back home and rebuilding her strength one day at a time. Her message is simple and heartfelt: “Donate blood. You never know whose life you’re going to save.” We’re honored to have been part of Brittany’s journey, and inspired by her resilience, gratitude, and courage.
What began as a typical Friday night in our rural emergency department at Intermountain Health Sanpete Valley Hospital in Mount Pleasant, Utah quickly transformed into a large‑scale, all‑hands response after reports of a serious bus accident. Caregivers from across the hospital—many arriving without being asked—mobilized in minutes. Providers, nurses, EVS, imaging, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, and more came together with calm coordination and deep compassion. Months of preparation, including a full‑scale school‑bus‑crash drill, became the team’s real‑world roadmap. Four care pods were activated, five medical helicopters coordinated, and 24 patients received rapid triage and stabilization. Bilingual caregivers stepped in to support patients with limited English, ensuring every individual felt seen, heard, and safe. Leaders from the students’ school later shared heartfelt gratitude for the professionalism and humanity shown by the Sanpete Valley team. As Sanpete Valley's president and CEO Aaron Wood put it, “Our rural hospital didn’t just respond. We rose—together. And in doing so, we showed the heart, expertise, and unity that define Sanpete Valley Hospital.”
At a glance, the patient’s medical history told a story of chronic illness resulting in repeated hospitalizations. The patient made many visits to emergency rooms across the Denver metro area. But when they were admitted to Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton, caregivers looked beyond the immediate need to stabilize and discharge them. They mobilized a robust care navigation team who explored the root causes behind their repeated health crises. What they found: the patient was caught in the in-between. They were working a job without healthcare benefits – earning too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to afford stable housing or consistent care to manage their chronic condition.
We unveiled our new Intermountain Health Gastroenterology Center in Ogden, Utah, to the community on Tuesday, which is designed to make gastroenterology care, including early detection colonoscopy screening for colon cancer, more accessible and affordable for patients. The new ambulatory endoscopy center is located next to Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital and aims to lower the cost of endoscopy procedures such as colonoscopies, while helping to meet the growing health needs of the community in northern Utah. The new Intermountain Gastroenterology Center is one of three in the Intermountain system. The others are at Intermountain Alta View Hospital in Sandy and at Intermountain Riverton Hospital in Riverton, which is expected to open later this year. “With the opening of our new endoscopy centers, Intermountain Health is increasing access to a lower-cost alternative for digestive health diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to prevent, identify, and treat digestive health conditions in earlier stages,” said Nathan Merriman, MD, medical director of gastroenterology and digestive health in Utah at Intermountain Health. “This comes at a time when we’re seeing more people with chronic digestive health conditions and younger ages of colon cancer across the United States.” These new endoscopy centers are managed by Surgery Partners, a leading operator of surgical facilities and ancillary services with more than 200 locations across 30 states.
When 91‑year‑old Emmett LaBree walked back into Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital—this time carrying flowers—he came with one purpose: to thank the team who helped him heal. After a robotic‑assisted procedure to repair two hernias, Emmett recovered quickly and comfortably, right in Miles City, Montana. His experience reflects what advanced surgical technology can mean for rural communities: less travel, faster healing, and care that feels personal. With robotic-assisted surgery now available at Holy Rosary, patients across Eastern Montana have access to the same leading-edge surgical options found in larger medical centers, delivered by caregivers who know them and are committed to their well‑being. As Emmett shared, “You need something like this in a little town.”
A beloved Butte, Montana candy shop went quiet last summer, but what happened behind those closed doors became a powerful reminder of how healing happens when expertise and compassion come together. Ron Gallardo’s sudden heart emergency could have changed everything for his family and the community that has loved Shepard’s Candy for generations. Instead, coordinated care, quick action, and the steady support of the Intermountain Health St. James Hospital heart care and rehab teams helped him find his way back to strength, confidence, and the work that brings him joy. Ron's journey reflects something we see every day: when people feel supported, informed, and met exactly where they are, recovery becomes possible in ways that feel both practical and deeply human.
When a power outage disrupted vaccine storage at Orem Community Hospital, Employee Health coordinator Alyson Brown, RN, and pharmacy director Andrew Good, PharmD, teamed up to dig deeper, ask the right questions, and ultimately save thousands of dollars in vital vaccines. Their collaboration didn’t just prevent waste: it strengthened processes, improved communication, and reinforced how speaking up and supporting one another protects the communities we serve.
Surrounded by community leaders and former and current Intermountain Health presidents, Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital unveiled new permanent displays in late February that bring the region's medical history to life. The exhibits showcase historic medical instruments, physician keepsakes, and preserved artifacts from those who helped shape healthcare in Washington County. The new displays are located on the hospital's main floor and include historical artifacts that trace the evolution of care in the region over the past 100 years. Natalie Ashby, president at Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital helped unveil the displays with three previous presidents: Mitch Cloward, Terri Kane, and Steve Wilson. “As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to fully appreciate how difficult it was for those first pioneer families to make a settlement in this desert community. That would have been 1860, back before air conditioning and ice cubes,” said Steve Wilson. “I appreciate progress. It doesn’t happen easily; it doesn’t happen simply.”
