You might hear Melvin Kirk, EVS supervisor at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado, before you see him. Giggles surround him, as well as the support to grow and learn in his career at Intermountain Health. Discover how Melvin is taking advantage of the opportunities and benefits available at Intermountain, building a flourishing, joyful career for himself.
Katy Welkie, who started her career 43 years ago as a pediatric care nurse at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and went on to become the hospital’s chief executive officer and vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health, is retiring in August 2025. Welkie’s decision to retire caps a career dedicated to the betterment of children, most recently as the architect of Intermountain Health’s Primary Promise to create the nation’s model health system for children. "Katy has devoted her career to expanding the focus on children’s health at Intermountain and across the nation," said Nannette Berensen, chief operating officer for Intermountain Health. “Her passion, commitment, leadership capability, and depth of pediatric expertise have led to significant enhancements in how we care for children. Katy’s contributions will benefit generations to come.” “It’s time for the next generation of leaders to build on our remarkable legacy,” Welkie said. “We have a strong, optimized Children’s Health structure, incredible leaders, talented caregivers, and deep connections with like-minded partner organizations and community leaders, all aligned in a shared dedication to the Child First and Always. I’m proud of our past, and optimistic about our future.” Welkie’s retirement is effective August 15. Intermountain is working to finalize plans for Children’s Health senior leadership.
A birthday to remember! 🥳🎂 When Graham, the son of Austin Smith, MD, was asked where he wanted to eat for his 7th birthday, he picked The Silver King Café at Park City Hospital. Vanessa Kibble, the culinary services manager, made sure it was a celebration to remember, as her team went above and beyond to create a fun and interactive dining experience. With just two hours’ notice, they had baked Alaska ready for Graham. They sang happy birthday and even brought his sisters a special snack.
A simple act of kindness can change a life. When Matthew was at his lowest, an emergency department tech named Aaron at Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colorado cared for him and provided him with a few words of encouragement. That moment became the foundation of his sobriety. Read his inspiring journey and the impact of this one small gesture in the article below.
When Evelyn Ealy was diagnosed with cancer, long trips to Salt Lake City from Las Vegas felt daunting. Thanks to Intermountain Health's outreach transplant clinics, Evelyn now receives expert care close to home. Learn about how we’re leading the way in transplant care for people like Evelyn and two caregivers — one donated a kidney, one received a heart — who embody the gift of organ donation.
Mason Turner, MD, finds the greatest fulfillment when a patient finds their mental wellness and feels better in their life because of our help. The senior medical director for Behavioral Health Clinical Programs also loves bringing best practices into our clinical care – especially when it comes to firearm safety and suicide prevention.
No matter the birthplace, caregivers find a home at Intermountain Health — and our backgrounds help us serve our patients. Truc Ta, MD, RPVI, moved to the U.S. from Vietnam as a child. Jaimee Imperial, MD, moved back and forth between her native Philippines and California. Jake Fitisemanu Jr was born in New Zealand and taught to treasure his heritage as he grew up in Hawaii. Learn how these caregivers bring their cultures and traditions to their work every day.
In July 2019, Mikala Gutierrez arrived at Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton, Colorado to give birth to her first child. During labor, she suffered a rare and life-threatening condition called an amniotic fluid embolism, which caused her to go into cardiac arrest. The hospital staff performed CPR for 53 minutes and administered over 30 units of blood, ultimately saving both her and her baby’s lives. The situation was so critical that staff from home rushed in, and a mass transfusion protocol was initiated. Six years later, Mikala returned to the hospital for a heartfelt reunion with the team that saved her. Now a mother of two, she expressed deep gratitude for the split-second decisions and teamwork that gave her a second chance at life and motherhood. One of the most emotional moments was seeing the doctor who had to decide whether to perform a hysterectomy—ultimately choosing not to, which allowed her to have another child. Mikala's story was recently shared on Fox31 News.
Marilyn McKasson, MD, was drawn to Intermountain Health’s commitment to exceptional patient care, which resonated with her professional ethos. Believing firmly in what she does, Dr. McKasson confidently faces healthcare challenges, maintaining her commitment to patients.
Intermountain Health is now offering a national first-of-its kind expansion of CAR-T Cell Therapy, bringing cutting-edge cancer care closer to patients in Southern Utah and Nevada. Intermountain’s new CAR-T Cell satellite clinic in St. George marks a significant milestone to improve access to FDA approved CAR T-cell therapies at a regional clinic – and is the first time in the United States that CAR T-Cell collections are now available at a remote site away from a primary treatment center. Before expanding the CAR T-Cell therapy program, patients in southwest Utah, Nevada and beyond, had to travel hundreds of miles to Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City for collection, transplant, and follow-up care. This innovative expansion of stem cell collection and CAR T-cell collection procedures at the Intermountain Health St. George Cancer Center provides advanced cancer treatment options closer to home for patients in the region. "Expanding CAR-T Cell Therapy to Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital is a testament to our commitment to providing accessible, state-of-the-art cancer treatment,” said Brad Hunter, MD, medical oncologist and director of the CAR T-cell program at Intermountain LDS Hospital. “This clinic will significantly enhance the quality of care for patients in Southern Utah and beyond our state boarders, offering them hope and healing without the need to travel long distances."
