Intermountain Health presentó hoy los planes para un nuevo Intermountain LDS Hospital en el centro de Salt Lake City, lo que representa una inversión transformadora en el futuro de la atención médica para los residentes de Utah y reafirma el compromiso de servir a la comunidad durante las generaciones venideras.

El nuevo hospital estará ubicado en un terreno de aproximadamente ocho acres en 745 South State Street, donde anteriormente estuvo durante muchos años una tienda Sears, que cerró en 2018.

El nuevo hospital será el punto central de un importante desarrollo en el centro de la ciudad y ofrecerá un entorno moderno y centrado en el paciente, diseñado para satisfacer las cambiantes necesidades de atención médica del Condado de Salt Lake, el sur del Condado de Davis y la región más amplia de Intermountain.

“Durante más de 120 años, Intermountain LDS Hospital ha sido un centro de atención médica de confianza, que ha atendido a generaciones de familias desde su apertura en 1905”, dijo Heather Wall, presidenta de Intermountain LDS Hospital. “Lo que comenzó como un pequeño hospital de una comunidad pionera se ha convertido en uno de los centros de atención médica más respetados del país. El nuevo hospital honrará ese legado y, al mismo tiempo, sentará las bases para el próximo siglo de atención extraordinaria”.

Después de un análisis exhaustivo de las necesidades de salud de la comunidad de Salt Lake City, las tendencias de los pacientes, los requisitos de las instalaciones y las proyecciones de crecimiento a largo plazo, Intermountain determinó que construir un hospital de reemplazo ofrecería mayor valor y flexibilidad que modernizar el predio actual, ubicado en un vecindario residencial del distrito Avenues de Salt Lake City.

“Estamos encantados de contar con un Intermountain LDS Hospital en el centro de la ciudad, construido para apoyar a nuestra próspera comunidad del centro y a toda la ciudad, con un mejor acceso a atención médica de primer nivel”, dijo Erin Mendenhall, alcaldesa de Salt Lake City. “Esto será un enorme beneficio y un recurso para todos nuestros residentes”.

El nuevo hospital estará diseñado para brindar atención avanzada y de última generación en un entorno urbano del centro de la ciudad, al mismo tiempo que ofrecerá un entorno accesible y centrado en el paciente para quienes reciben atención, así como para sus familias y cuidadores.

“Este proyecto tiene como objetivo preparar la atención médica para el futuro y, al mismo tiempo, honrar más de 100 años de servicio a la comunidad”, dijo Wall. “El nuevo predio de Intermountain LDS Hospital ampliará el acceso, proporcionará un entorno moderno para la recuperación, apoyará el crecimiento económico y ayudará a garantizar que Salt Lake City continúe siendo sede de una atención médica excepcional durante las generaciones venideras”.

Los pacientes del nuevo Intermountain LDS Hospital se beneficiarán de un mejor acceso a los servicios de emergencia y cuidados intensivos, con un acceso conveniente a las autopistas, incluidas la Interestatal 15, la Interestatal 80 y la Interestatal 215. También hay numerosas opciones de transporte público junto al nuevo predio del hospital, lo que mejorará el acceso para todos.

“Esta es una inversión que se realiza una vez por generación en la salud y el bienestar de nuestra comunidad”, dijo Ralph Jean-Mary, presidente del Utah Central Market de Intermountain Health. “El nuevo Intermountain LDS Hospital refleja nuestro compromiso inquebrantable de brindar a los residentes una atención segura, accesible y de alta calidad. Nos permitirá atender mejor a los pacientes, apoyar a nuestros empleados, adoptar la innovación y satisfacer las necesidades de atención médica de la comunidad para las generaciones futuras”.

Los líderes de Intermountain Health afirman que el hospital continuará desempeñando su función de larga trayectoria como proveedor de atención médica de confianza, al mismo tiempo que fortalecerá áreas clave de servicio, entre ellas la atención de traumatismo, salud de la mujer, ortopedia, atención del cáncer, cuidados intensivos, salud conductual y servicios para recién nacidos.

Diseñado teniendo a los pacientes y empleados como eje central de cada decisión, el nuevo hospital contará con tecnología avanzada, espacios clínicos flexibles y entornos acogedores que favorezcan la recuperación. Un atrio distintivo y áreas específicas de descanso ofrecerán a los pacientes, las familias y los cuidadores lugares para la reflexión y la renovación.

La sostenibilidad también será un enfoque clave, lo que hará que las instalaciones sean uno de los edificios de atención médica con mayor eficiencia energética y de consumo de agua de la región.

El nuevo predio incluirá un hospital de 10 pisos con más de 521,000 pies cuadrados de espacio y un edificio adjunto de consultorios médicos de siete pisos. El desarrollo también contará con una plaza pública en la esquina noroeste del terreno, creando un acogedor espacio de reunión que conectará Main Street y State Street y mejorará el vecindario circundante.

“Nuestra visión va más allá de construir un hospital”, dijo Eric Liston, presidente de la Región Canyons de Intermountain Health, que incluye Utah e Idaho. “Estamos ayudando a crear un centro de Salt Lake City más saludable y fuerte. Esta inversión apoya el crecimiento económico, amplía el acceso a la atención médica y contribuye a una comunidad dinámica donde las personas pueden vivir, trabajar, disfrutar y prosperar”.

Se espera que el proyecto fortalezca la economía regional, al mismo tiempo que apoyará aproximadamente 2,000 puestos de trabajo y generará más de $1.1 mil millones en impacto económico local anual.

El nuevo hospital también continuará con el compromiso de larga trayectoria de Intermountain LDS Hospital de brindar atención especializada a mujeres, recién nacidos y familias.

“Los servicios incluirán una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales de Nivel II avanzada, suites de parto personalizadas, medicina materno-fetal, servicios de partería y programas de educación familiar diseñados para apoyar a los padres antes y después del parto”, dijo Wall.

Otros servicios planificados para el nuevo predio del centro de la ciudad incluyen una sala de emergencias de servicio completo, un centro de acceso a salud conductual, un centro de imagenología, un centro de cirugía ambulatoria, servicios de endoscopia, farmacia, laboratorio, centro de diálisis, unidad de cuidados intensivos disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, servicios de ortopedia, neurología, cardiología, medicina pulmonar, servicios de rehabilitación, gastroenterología, urología, cuidado de heridas y otros programas especializados.

Los líderes de Intermountain Health destacaron que este proyecto no sería posible sin la colaboración y el apoyo de los empleados, médicos, donantes, líderes comunitarios, funcionarios públicos de Salt Lake City, socios de construcción y muchas otras personas que comparten una visión para el futuro de la atención médica en Salt Lake City.

“La historia de Intermountain LDS Hospital siempre ha sido una historia de comunidad y servicio”, dijo Wall. “Este nuevo hospital representa nuestra promesa de que continuaremos cuidando a las familias de todo el Condado de Salt Lake y el sur del Condado de Davis, no solo hoy, sino durante las próximas décadas. Estamos construyendo sobre un legado extraordinario y, al mismo tiempo, creando nuevas oportunidades para mejorar la salud y hacer avanzar la atención médica para las generaciones futuras”.

Actualmente están en marcha las actividades de planificación y desarrollo de la construcción del hospital, incluidos los trabajos de preparación del terreno para el proyecto de construcción.

Más adelante este año se anunciarán detalles adicionales sobre los principales hitos y plazos del proyecto a medida que estén disponibles.

No se han tomado decisiones definitivas con respecto al uso futuro del predio actual de Intermountain LDS Hospital en Avenues una vez que abra el nuevo hospital. Continuará atendiendo a los pacientes como un hospital comunitario de servicio completo mientras los líderes del hospital determinan su uso a largo plazo una vez que abra el nuevo hospital del centro de la ciudad.

                                                                               ###

Intermountain Health unveiled plans today for a new Intermountain LDS Hospital in downtown Salt Lake City, marking a transformational investment in the future of healthcare for Utah residents and reaffirming a commitment to serving the community for generations to come.

The new hospital will be located on an approximately eight-acre site at 745 South State Street, which was previously the longtime home to Sears retail store, which closed in 2018.

The new hospital will anchor a major downtown development and provide a modern, patient-centered environment designed to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Salt Lake County, South Davis County, and the broader Intermountain region.

“For more than 120 years, Intermountain LDS Hospital has been a trusted healthcare destination, serving generations of families since opening in 1905,” said Heather Wall, president of Intermountain LDS Hospital. “What began as a small pioneer community hospital has grown into one of the nation's most respected healthcare facilities. The new hospital will honor that legacy while creating a foundation for the next century of extraordinary care.”

Following extensive analysis of community health needs in Salt Lake City, patient trends, facility requirements, and long-term growth projections, Intermountain determined that constructing a replacement hospital would provide greater value and flexibility than modernizing the existing campus, which is in a residential neighborhood in Salt Lake City’s Avenues District.

“We’re thrilled to have a downtown Intermountain LDS Hospital built to support our thriving downtown community and the entire city with improved access to world-class healthcare,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “This will be a tremendous benefit and resource for all of our residents.”

The new hospital will be designed to deliver advanced state-of-the-art care in an urban downtown setting while creating an accessible and patient-centered environment for those receiving care along with their families, and caregivers.

“This project is about preparing healthcare for the future while honoring more than 100 years of service to the community,” said Wall. “The new Intermountain LDS Hospital campus will expand access, provide a modern healing environment, support economic growth, and help ensure that Salt Lake City remains home to exceptional healthcare for generations to come.”

Patients at the new Intermountain LDS Hospital will benefit from improved access to emergency and critical care services with convenient freeway access, including Interstate 15, Interstate 80, and Interstate 215. There are also many public transit options adjacent to the new hospital campus, which will improve access for everyone.

"This is a once-in-a-generation investment in the health and well-being of our community," said Ralph Jean-Mary, president of Intermountain Health’s Utah Central Market. “The new Intermountain LDS Hospital reflects our unwavering commitment to providing safe, high-quality, accessible care to residents. It will allow us to better serve patients, support our caregivers, embrace innovation, and meet the healthcare needs of the community for future generations.”

Intermountain Health leaders say the hospital will continue its long-standing role as a trusted healthcare provider while strengthening key service lines including trauma care, women's health, orthopedics, cancer care, intensive care, behavioral health, and newborn services.

Designed with patients and caregivers at the center of every decision, the new hospital will feature advanced technology, flexible clinical spaces, and welcoming healing environments. A signature atrium and dedicated respite areas will offer patients, families, and caregivers places for reflection and renewal.

Sustainability also will be a key focus, making the facility one of the most energy and water efficient healthcare buildings in the region.

The new campus will include a 10-story hospital with more than 521,000 square feet of space and an attached seven-story medical office building. The development will also feature a public plaza at the northwest corner of the site, creating a welcoming gathering space that connects Main Street and State Street, enhancing the surrounding neighborhood.

"Our vision extends beyond building a hospital," said Eric Liston, president of Intermountain Health’s Canyons Region, which includes Utah and Idaho. "We’re helping create a healthier, stronger downtown Salt Lake City. This investment supports economic growth, expands healthcare access, and contributes to a vibrant community where people can live, work, play, and thrive.”

The project is expected to strengthen the regional economy while supporting approximately 2,000 jobs and generating more than $1.1 billion in annual local economic impact.

The new hospital will also continue Intermountain LDS Hospital's longstanding commitment to specialized care for women, newborns, and families.

“Services will include an advanced Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, personalized birthing suites, maternal-fetal medicine, midwifery services, and family education programs designed to support parents before and after childbirth,” said Wall.

Additional services planned for the new downtown campus include a full-service emergency department, behavioral health access center, imaging center, ambulatory surgery center, endoscopy services, pharmacy, laboratory, dialysis center, 24/7 intensive care unit, orthopedic services, neurology, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, rehabilitation services, gastroenterology, urology, wound care, and other specialty programs.

Intermountain Health leaders emphasized that the project would not be possible without the collaboration and support of caregivers, physicians, donors, community leaders, public officials in Salt Lake City, construction partners, and countless others who share a vision for the future of healthcare in Salt Lake City.

"The story of Intermountain LDS Hospital has always been a story of community and service," said Wall. "This new hospital represents our promise that we will continue caring for families across Salt Lake County and South Davis County not only today, but for decades to come. We are building on a remarkable legacy while creating new opportunities to improve health and advance care for future generations."

Construction planning and development activities for the hospital are currently underway with work to prepare the site for the building project.

Additional details regarding project milestones and timelines will be announced as they become available later this year.

No final decisions have been made regarding the future use of the current Intermountain LDS Hospital campus in the Avenues after the new hospital opens. It will continue to serve patients as a full-service community hospital while hospital leaders determine its long-term use when the new downtown hospital opens.

                                                                                                                                                              ###

Los pacientes de cuatro hospitales cuyas vidas han sido transformadas gracias a un trasplante de corazón se reunieron el martes con médicos, enfermeras, empleados y líderes del sector de salud para celebrar el 40.^o aniversario del Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco de UTAH , uno de los programas de trasplante cardíaco más singulares y exitosos del país.

El evento conmemorativo celebró 40 años de colaboración, innovación y atención médica que salva vidas, posibles gracias a una alianza cooperativa única entre los equipos de trasplante cardíaco de los cuatro hospitales de trasplante cardíaco de Utah: Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, University of Utah Health y George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center.

Desde la realización del primer trasplante de corazón del programa en marzo de 1985, el Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco de UTAH (Utah Transplantation Affiliated Hospitals) ha realizado 2074 trasplantes cardíacos que han salvado vidas, brindando esperanza y una segunda oportunidad de vida a miles de pacientes y familias en Utah y en todo el país.

Es uno de los programas más singulares y exitosos de este tipo en los Estados Unidos.

En lugar de competir entre sí, los cuatro hospitales trabajan de manera conjunta para compartir experiencia, recursos, investigación y talento clínico, con un único objetivo: mejorar los resultados de los pacientes adultos, pediátricos y veteranos con insuficiencia cardíaca avanzada y de aquellos que necesitan un trasplante de corazón.

Como el único programa de trasplante cardíaco de la región Mountain West, el Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco de UTAH ha obtenido reconocimiento nacional no solo por su excelencia clínica, sino también por su excepcional modelo de cooperación entre cuatro instituciones médicas independientes.

“Durante 40 años, este consorcio ha representado algo verdaderamente especial: el poder de la colaboración", afirmó Rami Alharethi, MD, director médico del Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco en Intermountain Medical Center en Murray. “Estas cuatro instituciones, cada una de las cuales aportan fortalezas, experiencia y compromiso únicos, se unieron en torno a un propósito común: brindar atención de vanguardia a los pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca avanzada en toda la región de Mountain West y alrededor de los Estados Unidos. Esta colaboración ha sido la base de nuestro éxito".

El modelo colaborativo del consorcio es diferente al de la mayoría de los programas de trasplantes en los Estados Unidos. Médicos, cirujanos, profesionales médicos de práctica avanzada, enfermeras, investigadores y personal de apoyo de los cuatro hospitales miembros trabajan en conjunto para evaluar a los pacientes, desarrollar planes de tratamiento, realizar investigaciones y proporcionar atención coordinada antes y después del trasplante.

Esta alianza permite que los pacientes se beneficien de la experiencia colectiva de algunos de los principales especialistas en insuficiencia cardíaca y trasplante del país, al mismo tiempo que mantienen acceso a la atención dentro de su propio sistema de salud.

Al compartir recursos y conocimientos, el programa puede ofrecer servicios altamente especializados, acelerar la adopción de nuevos tratamientos y garantizar que los pacientes reciban la mejor atención disponible, independientemente del lugar donde ingresen al sistema.

"Hace cuatro décadas, el Programa Cardíaco de UTAH se fundó sobre la idea de que la colaboración podía transformar la atención avanzada del corazón’, afirmó Josef Stehlik, MD, director médico del Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco de University of Utah Health". "Hoy, ese espíritu de innovación impulsa investigaciones revolucionarias en trasplante cardíaco, soporte circulatorio mecánico y recuperación cardíaca que benefician a pacientes mucho más allá de las fronteras de nuestro estado. Las familias viajan hasta nosotros desde toda la región de Mountain West y desde otros lugares del país porque los avances en trasplantes que logramos en nuestros laboratorios y clínicas se traducen directamente en vidas más largas y saludables”.

Para muchos receptores de trasplantes, el 40.^th aniversario del consorcio sirve como un recordatorio del valioso regalo del tiempo.

“Cada trasplante representa mucho más que un procedimiento médico”, afirmó Ashwin Lal, MD, cirujano pediátrico de trasplantes de University of Utah Health e Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “Cada trasplante representa más cumpleaños celebrados, más metas alcanzadas, más familias que permanecen unidas y más futuros que se hacen posibles gracias a la generosidad de los donantes de órganos y a la dedicación de los equipos multidisciplinarios de atención del Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco de UTAH”.

Durante las últimas cuatro décadas, el Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco de UTAH ha contribuido a consolidar a Utah como líder mundial en trasplante cardíaco y en la atención de la insuficiencia cardíaca avanzada. Sus médicos han sido pioneros en innovaciones en medicina de trasplantes, soporte circulatorio mecánico y tratamiento de la insuficiencia cardíaca, mejorando la atención no solo para los pacientes de Utah, sino también para pacientes de todo el mundo.

“Somos solo uno de los seis centros del Departamento de Asuntos de los Veteranos (VA, por sus siglas en inglés) en el país que realizan trasplantes cardíacos, y es un honor servir a los veteranos a través de nuestra colaboración en el Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco de UTAH”, afirmó Stavros G. Drakos, MD, codirector de Insuficiencia Cardíaca y Trasplante Cardíaco en George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center en Salt Lake City. “Esta colaboración ha impactado las vidas de veteranos de todo el país, garantizando que reciban las habilidades, la dedicación y los recursos combinados de los cuatro equipos médicos, y nos ayuda a cumplir la misión de la VA de atender a quienes han servido en las fuerzas armadas de nuestra nación”.

Al iniciar su quinta década, los profesionales clínicos continúan comprometidos con ampliar el acceso a las terapias avanzadas para la insuficiencia cardíaca, impulsar la investigación y la innovación, y fortalecer el modelo de colaboración que ha definido al programa desde su creación en 1985.

                                                                                                                            ###

Select Health, wholly owned subsidiary of Intermountain Health, has awarded $150,000 to 30 community organizations through its annual Select Health Awards program. Across Idaho, Nevada and Utah, healthier communities are taking shape in places people visit everyday including community centers, schools, housing programs, food pantries and neighborhood organizations. The work happening in these spaces helps people find stability, build connections and access resources that support their health and well-being.

The 2026 recipients address a wide range of social drivers of health, including food security, housing stability, educational opportunity, preventive health services, support for older adults and individuals with disabilities and programs that aid families and communities. Their work helps individuals and families overcome barriers, improve quality of life and build healthier futures. Each organization received $5,000 to support local efforts that strengthen communities across the Mountain West.

“Health is shaped by many factors beyond medical care. Access to safe housing, nutritious food, education, social support and preventive services all influence a person’s health and well-being,” said Rob Hitchcock, Select Health president and CEO. “The organizations recognized through this year’s Select Health Awards address those needs every day. They are helping people build stronger foundations for health, creating opportunities to thrive and making a lasting difference in their local communities.”

2026 Select Health Awards Recipients

Idaho

· Four County Alliance of Southeast Idaho – Soda Springs Joint School District #150: Through partnerships that support education, workforce development and economic growth, the organization helps strengthen opportunities and quality of life in southeastern Idaho communities.

· Friends of the Children – Eastern Idaho: Provides long-term professional mentoring for youth facing significant obstacles. Its model helps young people build confidence, resilience and skills that support lifelong success.

· Glocal Community Partners: A Christian organization that welcomes refugees through programs that foster belonging, connection and community engagement. The organization helps families build supportive relationships and navigate life in their new communities.

· Idaho Hispanic Foundation: Connects Hispanic and Latino individuals and families with resources, workforce development programs and leadership opportunities. Its work helps create pathways to economic mobility and long-term success.

· Lutheran Community Services Northwest – Safe Families for Children: Supports families during times of crisis by connecting them with caring volunteers and community resources. The program helps strengthen family stability and keep children safe.

· Lincoln County Youth Center – Richfield Food Bank: Addresses food insecurity by providing nutritious food and supportive resources to individuals and families throughout rural Idaho. Its efforts help promote wellness, dignity and greater community stability.

· The Mentoring Network Inc: Builds one-to-one mentoring relationships that help vulnerable children develop confidence, life skills and stronger futures. These relationships provide encouragement, support, and positive role models.

· Toby’s Place: Creates opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities through residential, vocational, educational and social programs. Its services help participants build independence and meaningful community connections.

· Unlimited Potential Athletics: Expands access to adaptive sports and recreation for individuals with disabilities. The organization promotes physical health, emotional well-being and social connection through inclusive athletic opportunities.

· Upper Valley Child Advocacy Center: Provides a child-focused environment where children and families impacted by abuse can access advocacy, support and services that promote health and recovery.

Nevada

· Chefs for Kids: The organization works to address childhood hunger through education and awareness initiatives that help children access nutritious food and develop healthy habits.

· Foundation Assisting Seniors: Provides free durable medical equipment and wellness checks for older adults. Its services help seniors maintain independence, safety and dignity while remaining in their homes.

· Kline Veterans Fund: Supports homeless and at-risk veterans and their families through emergency housing assistance and support services. Its work helps veterans achieve greater stability and access to essential resources.

· Las Vegas PRIDE, Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc.: Amplifies the voice of the LGBTQIA+ community in Southern Nevada and creates opportunities for connection, visibility and community engagement.

· Lend A Hand Boulder City: Improves quality of life for individuals with disabilities, chronic illness, and age-related challenges by providing services and support that may not otherwise be accessible.

· Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation: Provides educational, social, and life-skills opportunities for children who are visually impaired. Its programs help young people build confidence, independence and skills that support lifelong success.

· People Over Profit Foundation: Supports Nevada’s education community through programs that promote educational achievement and financial stability, helping students and families create pathways to future success.

· R.E.A.C.H. (Research Education Access for Community Health): Works to reduce health disparities by providing culturally responsive education, preventive services and improved access to care for underserved communities.

· Thanksgiving Heroes Las Vegas: Helps families experiencing hardship access meals and community support during the holiday season. Its efforts bring people together while helping address food insecurity.

· The Anchor of Hope: Provides stable housing, case management, workforce readiness, peer support and other services for individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration, substance use challenges and other barriers to stability.

Utah

· Brigham City Community Center with Senior Services: The organization helps older adults and vulnerable populations remain active, connected and supported. Its programs address social needs that contribute to overall health and quality of life.

· Building Youth Around the World: The nonprofit works to ensure children and families have access to necessities, health and hygiene resources and educational support. Its efforts focus on reducing economic and social barriers in underserved communities.

· Hope Alliance: Hope Alliance expands access to vision care and eyeglasses to underserved communities in Utah and around the world. The organization’s work helps people access services that can help improve learning, employment and daily living.

· National Society for English Language Learners: Provides immersive English instruction for adult immigrants. Participants strengthen communications skills, build community connections and gain tools that support long-term success.

· Pantry to Porch: The organization works to address food insecurity by coordinating volunteers who deliver food directly to individuals and families. The service helps reach people who face barriers to accessing local food resources.

· Playworks Utah: Playworks creates opportunities for children to be active, engaged and connected through safe and meaningful play. Its programs support physical health, social development and positive school experiences.

· Salt Lake Harm Reduction Project: The organization helps reduce stigma, prevent the spread of infectious disease, and connects people with essential health resources. Its work supports healthier outcomes for individuals and communities.

· Tooele Education Foundation: The foundation supports students and educators throughout Tooele County School District. By investing in educational success and well-being, it helps create conditions that support lifelong health and opportunity.

· Uintah Basin Association of Governments Community Services Department: The department provides services that help low-income individuals and families achieve greater stability. Programs include shelter, rental assistance, transitional housing and food assistance.

· Youthlinc: Youthlinc develops leaders through service and humanitarian experiences. Its mission is to create lifelong humanitarians who are committed to strengthening communities at home and abroad.

“The organizations recognized this year reflect the many ways communities come together to support health and well-being,” Hitchcock said. “From supporting families and students to expanding access to food, housing, education and community services, these organizations are making a positive impact throughout communities in Idaho, Nevada and Utah.”

For nearly two decades, the Select Health Awards program has provided more than $1 million to community organizations in Idaho, Nevada and Utah. The program recognizes organizations that help people access resources, services and opportunities that contribute to better health outcomes. By supporting community-based solutions, Select Health helps advance healthier, more resilient communities across the Mountain West.

For more information about the Select Health Awards program or to nominate an organization for future consideration, visit selecthealthawards.org.

###

Intermountain Medical Center in Murray is the first hospital in Utah – and only the second in the United States – to use an advanced MRI imaging system currently available to help support doctors improve diagnosis for heart and cancer patients.

GE HealthCare’s SIGNA Sprint Elite MRI is an innovative imaging system that utilizes advanced technology and AI software that can reduce scan times and produce clearer images for doctors to enhance diagnoses for heart and cancer patients.

The new GE HealthCare MRI machine began operation at Intermountain Medical Center earlier this year and is already helping Intermountain doctors improve diagnosis and treatments.

“A moving heart with blood flowing through it is one of the hardest things to get clear images of without taking long periods of time in an MRI machine,” said Brent Wilson, MD, an Intermountain Health cardiologist at Intermountain Medical Center. “These clearer images allow us to use new approaches to mapping out injured areas of heart tissue which improves our treatments. This is a big leap forward in cardiac MRI, and we’re excited to be one of the first in the United States using it.”

This innovative system has built in AI technology that can help reduce signal to noise ratio, which is a level of interference reducing image quality. This technology can help enhance the clarity of MRI images, which was not available on Intermountain Health’s previous MRI machines.

“We're grateful to collaborate with Intermountain Health to bring SIGNA Sprint Elite MRI to clinicians and patients in Utah,” said Joel Christensen, enterprise client director at GE HealthCare. “Our goal is to help clinicians get the information they need to make timely, confident care decisions for patients facing serious conditions such as heart disease and cancer. This work reflects our shared focus on advancing high-quality, patient-centered care in Utah.”

Because this MRI technology can provide clearer imaging, it has the potential to significantly reduce the time needed for patients to be scanned in the machine, which means the hospital can serve more patients.

“Faster scans mean reduced wait times, and patients don’t have delays in getting the diagnosis and care that they need,” said Amy Warnick, MRI coordinator at Intermountain Medical Center.

Another important benefit for cardiac patients is the ability to take scans without having to have patients hold their breath for extended periods to get a cleaner image, which is what happens now.

“Asking someone to hold their breath doesn’t seem like a big deal, but for a person with heart issues it can be taxing on the body,” said Warnick. “This new machine isn’t just giving us exceptional images but is putting patient comfort as a major focus and we’re already seeing a difference.”

###

Patients from four hospitals whose lives have been transformed through heart transplantation joined with physicians, nurses, caregivers, and healthcare leaders on Tuesday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the UTAH Cardiac Transplant Program, one of the nation’s most unique and successful heart transplant programs.

The milestone event commemorated 40 years of collaboration, innovation, and life-saving care made possible through a unique cooperative partnership among heart transplant teams at Utah’s four heart transplant hospitals: Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, University of Utah Health, and the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center.

Since performing the program’s first heart transplant in March 1985, the UTAH (Utah Transplantation Affiliated Hospitals) Cardiac Transplant Program has performed 2,074 life-saving heart transplants, providing hope and a second chance at life to thousands of patients and families throughout Utah and across the nation.

It’s one of the most unique and successful programs of its kind in the United States.

Rather than competing, the four hospitals work together to share expertise, resources, research, and clinical talent with a singular focus on improving outcomes for adult, pediatric, and veteran patients with advanced heart failure and those in need of a heart transplant.

As the only heart transplant program in the Mountain West, the UTAH Cardiac Transplant Program has become nationally recognized not only for its clinical excellence, but also for its uncommon model of cooperation among four independent health institutions.

“For 40 years, this consortium has represented something truly special: the power of collaboration,” Rami Alharethi, MD, medical director of the Heart Transplant Program at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. “These four institutions, each bringing unique strengths, expertise, and commitment, came together around a common purpose – to provide state of art care for patients with advanced heart failure across the Mountain West and throughout the United States. This collaboration has been the foundation of our success.”

The consortium’s collaborative model is unlike most transplant programs in the United States. Physicians, surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses, researchers, and support staff from the four member hospitals work together to evaluate patients, develop treatment plans, conduct research, and provide coordinated care before and after transplantation.

This partnership allows patients to benefit from the collective expertise of some of the nation’s leading heart failure and transplant specialists while maintaining access to care within their own health system.

By pooling resources and knowledge, the program can offer highly specialized services, accelerate the adoption of new treatments, and ensure patients receive the best available care regardless of where they enter the system.

"Four decades ago, the UTAH Cardiac Program was founded on the idea that collaboration could transform advanced heart care,” said Josef Stehlik, MD, medical director of the Heart Transplant Program at University of Utah Health. “Today, that spirit of innovation drives groundbreaking research in heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, and heart recovery that helps patients far beyond our state borders. Families travel to us from across the Mountain West and the nation because the transplant breakthroughs made in our labs and clinics directly translate into longer, healthier lives."

For many transplant recipients, the 40^th anniversary of the consortium serves as a reminder of the precious gift of time.

“Every transplant represents more than a medical procedure,” said Ashwin Lal, MD, a pediatric cardiologist for University of Utah Health/Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “Each transplant represents more birthdays celebrated, milestones reached, families kept together, and futures made possible through the generosity of organ donors and the dedication of multidisciplinary care teams through the UTAH Cardiac Transplant Program.”

Over the past four decades, the UTAH Cardiac Transplant Program has helped establish Utah as a global leader in heart transplantation and advanced heart failure care. Its physicians have pioneered innovations in transplant medicine, mechanical circulatory support, and heart failure treatment, improving care not only for patients in Utah but for patients around the world.

“We’re just one of six VA facilities in the nation that provide heart transplants, and we are honored to serve veterans through our partnership in the UTAH Cardiac Transplant Program,” said Stavros G. Drakos, MD, co-chief of Heart Failure & Heart Transplant at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City. “This collaboration has touched the lives of veterans from across the country, ensuring they receive the combined skill, dedication, and resources of all four medical teams and helps us fulfill VA’s mission to care for those who have served our nation’s military.”

As the program enters its fifth decade, clinicians remain committed to expanding access to advanced heart failure therapies, advancing research and innovation, and strengthening the collaborative model that has defined the program since its inception in 1985.

                                                                                                        ###
 

Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, in partnership with Mesa County Opioid Response Group, will build a memorial flag display at Lincoln Park to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Monday, Aug. 31.

The event is a global recognition aimed at raising awareness of one of the world’s most urgent public health crises and reducing the stigma of a drug-related death.

Community members are encouraged to visit the 1,765 flags displayed at Lincoln Park in remembrance of the Colorado lives lost to drug overdose in 2025. 

Among the purple flags, 29 white flags will be specifically dedicated to those who have died in Mesa County.  In 2025, there was a 10% increase in total overdose deaths in Colorado, while there was a 17% decrease in Mesa County.

Representatives from various community organizations which are part of Mesa County Opioid Response Group will provide information and resources to help individuals and families who might be affected by drug dependence.

Across Colorado, 66.6% of the overdose deaths in 2025 involved an opioid (1,175).  Among opioid-related overdose deaths, 83.4% (980) involved fentanyl. 

While this number is down from its peak in 2023 (1,273 opioid overdose deaths of which 1,097 involving fentanyl), it is the second most deadly year on record for overdoses in the state of Colorado, and this year posted the largest number of deaths due to methamphetamine (850).

“In Mesa County in 2025, 29 of our fellow citizens died from an overdose or accidental poisoning with an opioid or illicit substance,” said Ryan Jackman, MD, Intermountain Health senior medical director for behavioral health. “Forty-five percent of our overdoses included methamphetamine, 31% involved an opioid, most commonly fentanyl, and 35% included alcohol.  More than half of these deaths occurred from individuals using multiple substances. Ninety percent of these deaths were accidental. This matches my experience as an addiction doctor; people don’t choose to overdose. Equally important, their family and friends were not planning on losing a loved one to overdose.” 

“A common misconception is that people at risk of overdose are easy to identify. They’re not. Their family members will tell you. A person can be at high risk because they returned to use, because the drug they use is not what they thought they were using, or because something else with their health has changed. The reality is that overdose prevention should be part of routine, compassionate healthcare and not reserved only for people who fit a stereotype.”

Dr. Jackson said this highlights the continued need for raising awareness in Mesa County about substance use, substance use disorder, and overdose which include accidental poisoning from fentanyl. 

“This year’s International Overdose Awareness Day display will aim to allow people to honor those we’ve lost and draw increased attention to a very treatable condition and the resources and efforts being made in Mesa County to do just that,” Dr. Jackman said.

Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic works to increase treatment for substance use disorders. The clinic provides individuals with outpatient treatment options for substance use disorders, including medication for substance use disorders, naloxone, management of co-occurring mental health conditions, along with individual and group therapy.

The clinic partners with the Colorado Health Network and Colorado Health Institute to improve access to opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery. 

The clinic also works closely with regional partners across the Western Slope including Mesa County Opioid Resource Group, the Women’s Recovery Center, the Mesa County Department of Human Services, and the divisions of probation and parole to ensure individuals receive coordinated care and services.

Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine can be reached at 970-298-3801, or by visiting Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic online. People can also call the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).  

Media are invited to attend any of the events below:

Aug. 31:
Lincoln Park Flag Placement 
6 a.m.

Lincoln Park Resource Table and Media Interview Opportunity: 
7-10 a.m. Dr. Ryan Jackman will be available to discuss the risks of overdose, the importance of treatment, and the challenges and benefits of recovery. Media should meet on the west side of Lincoln Park in the grassy field along 12th Street.

CMU Outreach Table, Narcan Training, & Resource Fair
1–3 p.m. 

Time of Remembrance 
Lincoln Park 
7 p.m. to Dusk

The Las Vegas Raiders and Intermountain Health today announced a $25 million gift to help build Nevada's first stand-alone children's hospital. 

The gift was led by Raiders owners Mark Davis, Egon Durban, and Michael Meldman – each of whom contributed $5 million toward the development – and the Raiders, which committed the additional $10 million.

“The Las Vegas Raiders are making our largest philanthropic commitment in franchise history because we are dedicated to building a healthier future for kids in Nevada,” said Mark Davis, owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. “We want this gift to remind children and families that they have our team backing them and that the support of the entire Raider Nation is in their corner.”  

The hospital, located at the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park, will be the first of its kind in Nevada, anchoring a new future for kids and families across the state and delivering comprehensive, high-acuity pediatric care. 

The 828,000 square-foot standalone children’s hospital will be located on a 33-acre campus and feature 180 patient beds, with room to grow. It will provide advanced emergency services designed specifically for children and a full spectrum outpatient center alongside inpatient and specialty care. 

“The Raiders are committed to excellence, and this gift is a generational investment that will keep families closer, strengthen our community, and give every kid every chance to thrive," said Mitch Cloward, Intermountain Health region president.

In recognition of this landmark gift, Intermountain Health Nevada Children’s Hospital’s physical therapy and rehabilitation space, along with its bistro – spaces designed for healing and recovery, will be named in the Raiders’ honor.

The future Las Vegas Raiders Bistro, located adjacent to the hospital’s main lobby, will provide nourishment, comfort, and a moment of respite for families. This will be a space where caregivers and parents navigating the complexities of having a child in the hospital can pause. Whether gathering strength for the next conversation, sharing a quiet meal, or seeking a moment of normalcy, families will find support here. 

"Sports remind us that we do our best when we have the right team around us," said Michael Meldman. "Families deserve to feel supported every step of the way. In addition to the experts at Intermountain Health, the Raiders family stands with our community's kids.”

The Las Vegas Raiders Inpatient Rehab Gym will help children heal, grow stronger, and regain confidence through movement and play. Purposefully created to be both innovative and whimsical, the space will feature advanced therapeutic equipment alongside playful design elements. Here, therapy will feel empowering and fun, while supporting physical recovery, nurturing resilience, independence, and joy. 

The Raiders’ commitment to children’s health helps make every developmental milestone possible.

“When we invest in children, we invest in everything that comes next — their education, their opportunities, and their future,” said Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the Las Vegas Raiders. “We want Nevada’s kids to know that their home team is cheering them on.”

The Nevada Campaign for Kids will strengthen, address, and extend pediatric care for children across the region. Led by co-chairs Bill and Wendy Hornbuckle, this visionary effort will be accomplished through building a broad coalition of philanthropic, clinical, and community partners committed to exceptional care for children.

The Raiders monumental gift will help make that vision possible by expanding access to exceptional pediatric care and creating a hospital experience designed around the needs of children and families.

“This incredible gift honoring Raider Nation is among the largest contributed through an NFL franchise and serves as a pacesetting prelude to the region’s most impactful and galvanizing healthcare campaign for children ever,” said David Flood, president of Intermountain Foundation and chief development officer at Intermountain Health. “This great organization loves these communities, this state, their players and personnel, and of course, their incredible fans. From our very first conversations with the Raiders leaders, this gift was envisioned as a lasting investment in families for generations to come. We are honored, and hopeful, that many will soon be inspired to follow.”

Intermountain Health has been the official healthcare partner of the Las Vegas Raiders since 2019. Construction is expected to start on the hospital in the coming months, with an anticipated opening date in 2030.

# # #

The helmet was crushed. Zach Winward was not. That is the difference an 8-year-old's bike helmet made on a March morning when a pickup truck struck him near his St. George home. 

Today, Zach's family held up that shattered helmet before cameras and community members, sharing a message they hope no parent forgets: a helmet can change a family's entire story.

Intermountain Health, Gold Cross Ambulance, and Washington City leaders gathered Friday morning at Washington Wheels Park for a helmet safety news conference to remind families of the simple steps they can take to keep children safe. 

Behind the event's urgency is a troubling reality showing up in emergency departments across the region.

Intermountain trauma data underscores the growing concern. 

Intermountain's Primary Children's Hospital campuses show a nearly 67% jump in e-bike–related injuries among children and teens in a single year, mirroring a national surge that saw e-bike ER visits more than double between 2022 and 2024. 

Of the 536 young patients treated in Intermountain Health emergency departments last year for injuries while riding a bicycle or scooter, only 38% reported wearing a helmet. Statewide, Utah recorded 2,358 bicycle-related injuries and 45 fatalities from 2020 to 2024, with nearly a quarter of crashes involving riders under age 24.

"Every child deserves to come home safely after riding a bike, e-bike, scooter or skateboard," said Erin Remund, trauma outreach and injury prevention coordinator at Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital. "A crash can happen in seconds, but recovery can take months or even years — and so many of these injuries are preventable."

For the Winwards, the science is now deeply personal. 

Just over a week after Zach's eighth birthday, a driver blinded by the morning sun turned into a nearby cul-de-sac and hit him. Zach was struck by the front of the truck, went underneath, and was run over by the rear tire. An officer found a tuft of blonde hair on the inside of that tire and concluded the helmet had protected the boy's head. 

Zach walked out of the hospital less than four hours later with only road rash, abrasions and a minor shoulder blade fracture — no traumatic brain injury, not even a concussion.

"That helmet is the reason we are standing here with Zach — and not at his funeral," said Jason Winward, Zach's father. "The few seconds it takes to put on a helmet can completely change a family's story, as it did ours."

Intermountain Health trauma specialists say stories like Zach’s highlight why helmet use remains one of the most effective ways to prevent serious injury among young riders.

Washington City Mayor Kress Staheli pointed to Utah's new e-bike helmet law and the role every driver, parent and neighbor plays in keeping young riders safe.

The message from the Winwards, Intermountain Health, and its partners was simple: make helmets automatic — every ride, every time. 

That means setting up a firm "no helmet, no ride" rule, wearing one yourself, and matching the helmet to the activity, since faster e-bikes create far more force in a crash.

Families can find helmet fitting guidance, safety tips and additional resources from Intermountain Children's Health at the Wear Your Helmet resource page.

###

Intermountain Health Park City Hospital celebró la apertura de su nuevo centro oncológico el jueves con un acto de corte de cinta y una visita guiada para el público.

El nuevo Centro Oncológico de Intermountain Health Park City Hospital atenderá hasta 1,500 pacientes al año con espacio ampliado, equipos de alta tecnología y opciones de tratamiento más cerca de casa.

“El cáncer ya es un viaje difícil para los pacientes y sus familias, y brindar atención que salva vidas cerca de casa en Wasatch Back ayudará a aliviar parte de este estrés”, dijo Tawnya Bowles, MD, cirujana oncológica de Intermountain Health y directora médica sénior de Servicios de Oncología para la región de Canyon de Intermountain Health. “Esperamos que este nuevo centro ayude a aliviar la carga para que los pacientes puedan concentrarse en recuperarse”.

El nuevo centro oncológico de Intermountain tiene 10,800 pies cuadrados y cuenta con 18 cabinas de infusión, lo que supone un aumento considerable con respecto a las cuatro cabinas que habían estado prestando servicio a los pacientes durante los últimos años. También habrá salas dedicadas para citas de oncología médica, que permitirán visitas de telesalud con expertos en cáncer de Intermountain fuera del área de Wasatch Back.

Una de las mayores adiciones es un acelerador lineal avanzado para tratamientos con radiación de última generación. Si bien en muchos hospitales se ofrecen servicios de infusión para quimioterapia, la tecnología avanzada y los conocimientos especializados necesarios para los servicios de radiación hacen que sea difícil encontrarlos en muchos centros rurales.

“Los tratamientos con radiación son tratamientos diarios que duran casi dos meses, lo que hace que tener oncología radioterápica cerca de casa sea tan importante”, dijo la Dra. Bowles. “Cuando hablamos de programas de tratamiento intensos, el hecho de no tener que conducir más lejos en el valle supone una gran diferencia para nuestros pacientes”.

El nuevo Centro Oncológico de Intermountain es una de las varias ampliaciones que ha tenido Intermountain Park City Hospital desde su inauguración en 2009. Desde entonces, el aumento de personas que viven, trabajan y visitan el área de Wasatch Back ha requerido que el hospital agregue más servicios para satisfacer la demanda de servicios de atención médica.

“Este es el siguiente paso importante para que nuestro hospital continúe satisfaciendo las necesidades de nuestra comunidad y ayude a los residentes de nuestra comunidad a vivir la vida más saludable posible”, dijo Lori Weston, presidenta de Intermountain Park City Hospital. “Desde Wasatch Back, pasando por la cuenca de Uinta y hasta Wyoming, estamos trabajando arduamente para brindar la mejor atención oncológica posible a nuestros pacientes”.

Los estudios han demostrado que la atención del cáncer cerca de casa no solo es más conveniente, sino que también puede ayudar a los pacientes a cumplir con su programa de tratamiento recomendado, lo que puede dar lugar a mejores resultados.

Para obtener más información sobre el nuevo Centro Oncológico Intermountain Park City, haga clic aquí.

###

NOTA PARA LOS MEDIOS: Videos e imágenes disponibles bajo petición.

Intermountain Park City Hospital celebrated the opening of its new cancer center on Thursday with a ribbon cutting and public tour.

The new Intermountain Health Park City Hospital Cancer Center will serve up to 1,500 patients annually with expanded space, high tech equipment, and treatment options closer to home.

“Cancer is already a difficult journey for patients and their families, and providing lifesaving care close to home in the Wasatch Back will help alleviate some of this stress,” said Tawnya Bowles, MD, an Intermountain Health cancer surgeon and senior medical director for oncology services for Intermountain Health’s Canyon’s Region. “We hope this new center helps ease the burden so patients can focus on getting well.”

The new Intermountain cancer center is 10,800-square feet and includes 18 infusion bays, a significant increase from the four bays which have served patients for the past several years. There will also be dedicated rooms for medical oncology appointments, which allow for telehealth visits with Intermountain cancer experts outside of the Wasatch Back.

One of the biggest additions is an advanced linear accelerator for state-of-the-art radiation treatment. While infusion services for chemotherapy are offered at many hospitals, the advanced technology and expertise needed for radiation services makes it difficult to find in many rural facilities.

“Radiation treatments are daily treatments over the course of nearly two months, which makes having radiation oncology close to home so important” said Dr. Bowles. “When we’re talking about intense treatment schedules, not having to drive further down the valley makes all the difference in the world for our patients.”

The new Intermountain Cancer Center is one of several expansions Intermountain Park City Hospital has undergone since first opening in 2009. Since then, the rise of people living, working, and visiting the Wasatch Back has required the hospital to add more services to meet the demand for healthcare services.

“This is the next major step for our hospital to continue to meet the needs of our community and to help residents in our community live the healthiest lives possible,” said Lori Weston, president of Intermountain Park City Hospital. “From the Wasatch Back, to the Unita Basin, and into Wyoming, we’re working hard to provide the best cancer care possible for our patients.”

Studies have shown that cancer care closer to home isn’t just more convenient but can help patients stay on their recommended treatment schedule which can lead to better outcomes.

For more information on new Intermountain Park City Cancer Center, click here.

###

NOTE TO MEDIA: Video and images available upon request

Diez hospitales de Intermountain Health en Utah, Colorado y Montana están participando en un Protocolo de acceso ampliado nacional para proporcionar a los pacientes elegibles con cáncer de páncreas avanzado acceso a un nuevo medicamento que casi duplicó las tasas de supervivencia de los pacientes en los ensayos clínicos iniciales.

Los oncólogos de Intermountain Health dicen que el medicamento, daraxonrasib, parece ser un gran avance en el tratamiento del cáncer de páncreas, uno de los cánceres más mortales y difíciles de tratar, que tiene una de las tasas de supervivencia más bajas de todos los cánceres.

"Este es un verdadero cambio de paradigma en la forma en que tratamos el cáncer de páncreas", dijo Mark Lewis, MD, director de oncología gastrointestinal en Intermountain Health. "No recuerdo la última vez que vi un avance tan positivo en el tratamiento del cáncer de páncreas. Esto realmente parece ser un punto de inflexión en el tratamiento de esta terrible enfermedad".

Los oncólogos de Intermountain Health informaron a los medios de comunicación el martes sobre lo que significa esta opción de tratamiento para los pacientes con cáncer de páncreas avanzado y por qué es fundamental que los pacientes tengan acceso a este novedoso tratamiento farmacológico, que se dirige a las células cancerosas de una manera diferente a la quimioterapia tradicional.

Para los oncólogos, el cáncer de páncreas es difícil de tratar. Debido a que a menudo no tiene síntomas perceptibles, el cáncer de páncreas frecuentemente se diagnostica en una etapa avanzada, cuando la enfermedad generalmente es incurable. Incluso para los pacientes diagnosticados con cáncer de páncreas en etapa temprana, muchos no se curan.

"Los pacientes con cáncer de páncreas necesitan urgentemente más opciones de tratamiento", dijo el Dr. Lewis. "En la conferencia de la Sociedad americana de oncología clínica (ASCO, por sus siglas en inglés) de este año, donde se anunciaron los resultados de este estudio, oncólogos y científicos de todo el mundo ovacionaron de pie al equipo de investigación. Así de emocionante es esto".

Alrededor de 67,000 estadounidenses son diagnosticados con cáncer de páncreas, y más de 52,000 mueren de la enfermedad anualmente, según la Sociedad americana contra el cáncer (American Cancer Society). Es la tercera causa de muerte por cáncer en los Estados Unidos.

El Dr. Ned Jones, hematólogo/oncólogo de Intermountain Health en el Hospital Intermountain St Mary's en Grand Junction, Colorado, dijo que el acceso a terapias nuevas y efectivas contra el cáncer es fundamental para los pacientes, especialmente en las comunidades más pequeñas.

"Estamos encantados de tener acceso anticipado a una terapia prometedora y desesperadamente necesaria para nuestros pacientes con cáncer de páncreas", dijo el Dr. Jones. "Los datos de este estudio generaron un entusiasmo considerable entre la comunidad oncológica y resaltan la posibilidad de un progreso significativo en una enfermedad en la que los avances en el tratamiento han sido difíciles de lograr".

La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) ha aprobado a los oncólogos de Intermountain Health para tratar a pacientes elegibles con cáncer de páncreas avanzado con daraxonrasib a través de su Protocolo de acceso ampliado nacional en 10 hospitales de Intermountain en Utah, Colorado y Montana.

Estos son:

• Intermountain Alta View Hospital, Sandy, Utah

• Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah

• Intermountain Layton Hospital, Layton, Utah

• Intermountain LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Intermountain Lutheran Hospital, Wheat Ridge, Colo.

• Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital, Ogden, Utah

• Intermountain Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver, Colo.

• Intermountain St. Mary’s Hospital, Grand Junction, Colo.

• Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, St. George, Utah

• Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital, Billings, Mont.

Estos hospitales fueron seleccionados para formar parte del Protocolo de acceso ampliado para el medicamento en función de su experiencia en medicina de precisión, investigación clínica y tratamiento integral del cáncer.

Daraxonrasib es una terapia dirigida en investigación que se toma diariamente por vía oral y que está diseñada para abordar mutaciones genéticas específicas que impulsan el crecimiento tumoral. Daraxonrasib se dirige específicamente a las mutaciones homólogas del oncogén viral del sarcoma de rata Kirsten (KRAS), que desempeñan un papel fundamental en el crecimiento de las células cancerosas.

Las mutaciones KRAS están presentes en más del 90 % de los cánceres de páncreas y pueden hacer que las vías de señalización celular que regulan el crecimiento permanezcan activadas de forma persistente, lo que impulsa la proliferación descontrolada de células cancerosas.

Los investigadores descubrieron que el daraxonrasib es eficaz para desactivar las señales de crecimiento generadas por KRAS mutado, lo que hace que las células de cáncer de páncreas dejen de crecer y evita que el cáncer se propague.

Si bien el medicamento no cura el cáncer de páncreas, los oncólogos dicen que es un gran avance.

Este tratamiento representa un cambio progresivo hacia la oncología de precisión, donde las terapias se adaptan a las características moleculares únicas del cáncer de un paciente, dijo el Dr. Lewis.

"El cáncer de páncreas a menudo se diagnostica en etapas avanzadas porque los síntomas con frecuencia no aparecen hasta que la enfermedad ha progresado hasta un punto significativo", dijo el Dr. Lewis. "Como resultado, muchos pacientes pueden enfrentarse a un número limitado de opciones de tratamiento eficaces y a peores resultados de supervivencia en comparación con muchos otros tipos de cáncer. Es por eso que estamos esperanzados con esta iniciativa".

Los resultados del estudio clínico de 500 pacientes se presentaron en la conferencia anual de la Sociedad americana de oncología clínica en mayo. El estudio encontró que, como segunda línea de tratamiento, daraxonrasib duplicó el tiempo de supervivencia para los pacientes con cáncer de páncreas metastásico, aumentándolo de 6,7 meses a 13,2 meses.

En este estudio no se investigó a pacientes con enfermedad localizada o cáncer de páncreas avanzado tratados en el entorno inicial o de primera línea. En esos entornos, el daraxonrasib solo se usa actualmente como parte de un ensayo clínico.

El Protocolo de acceso ampliado en los 10 hospitales de Intermountain Health permite a los pacientes elegibles recibir daraxonrasib antes de una disponibilidad comercial más amplia, lo que ayuda a cerrar una brecha crítica para los pacientes que pueden haber agotado otros enfoques de tratamiento.

Actualmente, el medicamento ha sido probado en todas las fases de los ensayos clínicos para evaluar su seguridad y eficacia. La participación del paciente requiere una solicitud del médico y se evalúa caso por caso de acuerdo con los requisitos de elegibilidad del programa.

Al ofrecer daraxonrasib en las comunidades locales de Utah, Colorado y Montana, Intermountain Health está ayudando a los pacientes a obtener atención oncológica de vanguardia más cerca de casa, dicen los médicos.

"Se trata de algo más que un nuevo medicamento: se trata de dar a los pacientes más tiempo y más opciones", dijo la Dra. Alicia Swink, directora médica sénior de oncología regional de Intermountain Health, con sede en Grand Junction. "Durante mucho tiempo, el cáncer de páncreas ha sido uno de los cánceres más difíciles a los que nos enfrentamos. Ver nuevos avances como este nos da a nosotros, y a nuestros pacientes, una esperanza real".

                                                                                                                                                     ###

The Urban Chamber of Commerce has named Intermountain Health Nonprofit of the Year in Nevada, an honor recognizing the health system's deep investment in the health, economic vitality, and long-term success of Southern Nevada.

The award was presented during the Chamber's annual Green Tie Awards, its premier celebration honoring businesses, nonprofit organizations, educators, advocates, and community leaders whose leadership and service have made a significant impact on the region.

The recognition highlights a distinction that sits at the heart of how Intermountain operates. As a nonprofit health system, Intermountain reinvests 100% of its operating income back into the communities it serves through improved facilities, technology, expanded services, and programs that address the community’s needs.

"This recognition means so much because it comes from the community itself," said Mitch Cloward, regional president for Intermountain Health. “The Urban Chamber understands that healthy communities and thriving businesses go hand in hand. As a nonprofit, our success isn't measured by profits, it's measured by whether our neighbors are healthier, our workforce is stronger, and our community has better access to care. We're honored to be part of that work in Southern Nevada.”

As a nonprofit, Intermountain invests in the care its communities need most. Across Southern Nevada, that includes hospitals, clinics, community health programs, and partnerships that expand access to care and address the social drivers of health – from expanding access to nutritious food for more than 13,400 Southern Nevadans in 2025 to investing in housing stability and economic opportunity.

"On behalf of the Urban Chamber of Commerce, I am proud to recognize Intermountain Health as our Nonprofit of the Year," said Chris Shelton, president and CEO of the Urban Chamber of Commerce. "Their commitment extends beyond healthcare; it reflects a genuine investment in the health, economic vitality, and success of our community. This is what meaningful partnership looks like, and together, we achieve more.”

                                                                            ###
 

Intermountain Health has selected Scott Peek as the new region president to oversee business and clinical operations across the enterprise’s markets in Colorado, Montana, Eastern Wyoming, and New Mexico, known as the Peaks Region.

Most recently Peek has served as the operational lead for the region and as the market president for the Colorado Front Range.

In addition to overseeing the business and clinical operations, Peek will serve as the strategic leader responsible for Intermountain’s Catholic assets. In this role he will serve on the Enterprise Leadership Team and System Operations Council, lead the Peaks Region Executive Team, support the Catholic mission in partnership with Leaven Ministries, and act as the board liaison to support governance across the region. Peek will also represent Intermountain Health on the board for the recently announced joint venture with AdventHealth in Colorado’s Front Range.

“I am thrilled to have Scott step into this leadership role,” said Nannette Berensen, chief operating officer. “Scott is a servant leader who is strategic, calm under pressure, and deeply invested in the success of those around him. During his time at Intermountain, he has built strong, trusted relationships, and he brings a combination of vision and steadiness which is exactly what the region needs. I have every confidence that under Scott’s leadership, the caregivers, patients, and communities we serve will thrive.”

Peek joined Intermountain in January 2023 as the Colorado Front Range Market president. Prior to joining Intermountain, he was a senior vice president at Baylor Scott & White Health where he oversaw joint ventures, proactive care models, strategic planning, and performance improvement. Peek holds a Master of Healthcare Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“It is a true honor to serve the Peaks Region in this role, not only helping people live their healthiest lives, but also serving our Catholic mission of revealing and fostering God’s healing love to the communities we serve, especially the poor and vulnerable,” Peek said. “In times of great change and uncertainty like healthcare faces right now, these anchors are important reminders of our calling to serve others and each other.”

Peek officially begins this new role on Aug. 16.

Ten Intermountain Health hospitals in Utah, Colorado, and Montana are participating in a national Expanded Access Protocol to provide eligible patients with advanced pancreatic cancer access to a new drug that nearly doubled patient survival rates in initial clinical trials.

Intermountain Health oncologists say the drug, daraxonrasib, appears to be a breakthrough in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, one of deadliest, most difficult-to-treat cancers, which has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers.

“This is a true paradigm shift in how we treat pancreatic cancer,” said Mark Lewis, MD, director of gastrointestinal oncology at Intermountain Health. “I can’t remember the last time I saw such a positive leap forward in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This really does appear to be a game changer in the treatment of this terrible disease.”

Intermountain Health oncologists briefed media on Tuesday on what this treatment option means for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and why it’s critical that patients have access to this novel drug treatment, which targets cancer cells in a different way than traditional chemotherapy.

For oncologists, pancreatic cancer is challenging to treat. Because it often does not have noticeable symptoms, pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when the disease is typically incurable. Even for patients diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer, many will not be cured.

"Patients with pancreatic cancer urgently need more treatment options," said Dr. Lewis. “At this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference where results of this study were announced, oncologists and scientists from around the world gave the research team a standing ovation. That’s how exciting this is.”

About 67,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and more than 52,000 die from the disease, annually, according to the American Cancer Society. It’s the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

Ned Jones, MD, an Intermountain Health hematologist/oncologist at Intermountain St Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, said access to new and effective cancer therapies is critical for patients – especially in smaller communities.  

“We are thrilled to have early access to a promising and desperately needed therapy for our patients with pancreatic cancer,” said Dr. Jones. “The data from this study generated considerable excitement among the oncology community and highlight the potential for meaningful progress in a disease where advances in treatment have been difficult to achieve.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Intermountain Health oncologists to treat eligible patients with advanced pancreatic cancer using daraxonrasib through its national Expanded Access Protocol at 10 Intermountain hospitals in Utah, Colorado, and Montana.

They are:

• Intermountain Alta View Hospital, Sandy, Utah

• Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah

• Intermountain Layton Hospital, Layton, Utah

• Intermountain LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Intermountain Lutheran Hospital, Wheat Ridge, Colo.

• Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital, Ogden, Utah

• Intermountain Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver, Colo.

• Intermountain St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, Grand Junction, Colo.

• Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, St. George, Utah

• Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital, Billings, Mont.

These hospitals were selected to be part of the Expanded Access Protocol for the drug based on their expertise in precision medicine, clinical research, and comprehensive cancer treatment.

Daraxonrasib is an investigational targeted therapy taken orally daily that is designed to address specific genetic mutations that drive tumor growth. Daraxonrasib specifically targets Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations, which play a critical role in cancer cell growth.

KRAS mutations are present in more than 90% of pancreatic cancers and can cause the cellular signaling pathways that regulate growth to remain persistently activated, driving the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells.

Researchers found that daraxonrasib is effective in shutting down those growth signals generated by mutated KRAS, causing pancreatic cancer cells to stop growing and the cancer from spreading.

While the drug does not cure pancreatic cancer, oncologists say it’s a huge advancement.

This treatment represents a growing shift toward precision oncology, where therapies are tailored to the unique molecular characteristics of a patient's cancer, said Dr. Lewis.

“Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages because symptoms frequently do not appear until the disease has progressed to a significant point,” said Dr. Lewis. “As a result, many patients can face a limited number of effective treatment options and poorer survival outcomes compared with many other cancers. That’s why we’re hopeful by this initiative.”

Results of the clinical trial of 500 patients were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual conference in May. The study found that as a second line of treatment, daraxonrasib doubled survival time for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, increasing it from 6.7 months to 13.2 months.

This study did not investigate patients with localized disease or advanced pancreatic cancer treated in the upfront/first-line setting. In those settings, daraxonrasib is only currently used as part of a clinical trial. 

The Expanded Access Protocol at the 10 Intermountain Health hospitals allows eligible patients to receive daraxonrasib before broader commercial availability, helping bridge a critical gap for patients who may have exhausted other treatment approaches.

Currently, the medication has been tested through all phases of clinical trials to evaluate safety and efficacy. Patient participation requires a physician request and is reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to program eligibility requirements.

By offering daraxonrasib in local communities in Utah, Colorado, and Montana, Intermountain Health is helping patients obtain cutting-edge cancer care closer to home, doctors say.

“This is about more than a new drug – it’s about giving patients more time and more options,” said Alicia Swink, MD, regional oncology senior medical director for Intermountain Health, who is based in Grand Junction. “For a long time, pancreatic cancer has been one of the toughest cancers we face. Seeing new advancements like this gives us – and our patients – real hope.”

                                                                                                    ###

For years, Sylvia learned to work around chronic back pain.

The 67-year-old Fort Lupton resident said discomfort had been part of her life for decades, but it became significantly worse during the last 10 years.

"If I cleaned the bathroom or vacuumed the floor, I was in bed for the next day and a half," Sylvia said. “I was always in pain."

Like many people with ongoing back pain, Sylvia believed arthritis was largely to blame. She managed symptoms with medications for years until stomach issues forced her to stop one of the treatments she relied on. 

Seeking answers, she visited a pain management clinic, where imaging revealed a more complex issue and led to a referral to Frank Walch, MD, a spine surgeon at Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette.

Dr. Walch reviewed her diagnosis and discussed several treatment options. After learning more about her condition and the likely progression without intervention, Sylvia decided to move forward with a new style of minimally invasive spinal fusion procedure at the L5-S1 level of her spine.

"I wanted to spend my retirement years being able to care for my great-grandchildren," she said. "I wanted to help my family and enjoy my life."

Before surgery, Sylvia focused on preparing physically by building core strength with chair exercises and following her care team's recommendations to stay active. She underwent surgery in July 2025, spent one night in the hospital, and returned home the following afternoon.

"I was shocked at how minimally invasive it was," Sylvia said. "It was less invasive than I even thought it would be."

Her recovery required patience and discipline. For six weeks, she avoided bending, twisting, and lifting before beginning physical therapy. She continued her exercises on her own after formal therapy ended and credits that commitment for helping her achieve a strong recovery.

One year later, Sylvia said the results have exceeded her expectations.

Today, she regularly walks a mile with her husband and their greyhounds, manages stairs without difficulty, and helps her daughter with household tasks. Most importantly, she can care for her three great-grandchildren, something she wasn't physically able to do before surgery.

"I can get up and down in the pickup truck. I go for walks with my husband. I can go up and down the stairs 10 times a day and I'm okay," she said. "I could not do that before."

Sylvia admits she initially had concerns about spine surgery. She had heard negative stories over the years but chose to focus on the information provided by her care team and advances in modern surgical techniques. 
"Medical care has come so far," she said. "A lot of the horror stories people hear are from years ago when procedures were much more invasive."

Looking back, Sylvia believes preparation, a positive attitude, and having a care team she could trust played an important role in her success.

"It has been life-changing," she said.

For Sylvia, success isn't measured by scans or medical appointments. It's measured in everyday moments, from walking the dogs to spending time with family.

"Now I can take care of my great-grandchildren, help my family and enjoy my retirement," she said. "That's what matters most." 
 

Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital has been named the No. 1 Best Hospital in Utah by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026-27 Best Hospitals rankings and ratings.

The recognition places St. George Regional Hospital among the nation's top-performing hospitals and reflects its longstanding commitment to delivering exceptional care to patients across Southern Utah and the surrounding region.

The hospital was rated for its strong performance in 18 adult procedures and conditions, including abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, back surgery (spinal fusion), colon cancer surgery and ear, nose and throat surgery. Additionally, 92% of patients said they would recommend the hospital to others, reflecting strong performance in patient experience and quality of care.

"Every day, our caregivers, physicians, and support come together to provide exceptional care for the patients and families who trust us with their health, said Natalie Ashby, president of Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital. "This recognition reflects the dedication to improving outcomes, advancing the patient experience, and helping people live the healthiest lives possible. We are honored to serve as a healthcare resource for this region and grateful for the trust they place in us."

Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital serves as a major referral center for southwest Utah and the surrounding region, providing advanced specialty and tertiary care close to home. The hospital continues to invest in technology, innovation, and highly skilled caregivers to meet the growing healthcare needs of the communities it serves.

According to U.S. News & World Report, more than 4,400 hospitals were evaluated for this year's rankings, with only 505 hospitals earning recognition as Best Regional Hospitals across 49 states and the District of Columbia.

"This recognition speaks to our ongoing commitment to delivering the highest-quality care and creating a better experience for every patient we serve," Ashby said. "While rankings are meaningful, our focus remains on caring for our communities and ensuring every patient receives compassionate, personalized care.”

The complete 2026-27 Best Hospitals rankings are available through U.S. News & World Report.

# # #

U.S. News & World Report has named Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital the 2026-2027 Best Hospital in Colorado in its latest edition of Best Hospitals.

Intermountain Saint Joseph Hospital also ranked as the No. 1 hospital in the Denver metro area, according to U.S. News & World Report.

For heart and vascular care, Intermountain Saint Joseph Hospital ranked No. 1 in the metro area and across Colorado.

The hospital, which celebrates its 153rd anniversary this year, was noted as high performing in 21 specialties, procedures and conditions, including geriatric care and pulmonology and lung surgery.

“This recognition belongs to the physicians, nurses, caregivers, and leaders at Saint Joseph Hospital whose commitment to excellence, safety and compassion continues to raise the standard for health care across our state,” said Amy Blasing, president of Intermountain Saint Joseph Hospital. “We are proud to be named the number one hospital in Colorado and remain focused on delivering outstanding care to every person who needs us as we have done for more than 150 years.”

U.S. News evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals across 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures and conditions; only 16% of evaluated hospitals earn a Best Hospitals designation.

“Having Intermountain Saint Joseph Hospital named the top hospital in Colorado is a tremendous achievement,” said Scott Peek, Front Range market president for Intermountain Health. “This recognition not only speaks to the culture of excellence there, but also to the strength of our entire system. When one of our hospitals is recognized at this level, it reinforces the standards we strive for across every facility and every community we serve.”

To determine the Best Hospitals, U.S. News analyzes each hospital’s performance based on objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and patient experience.

The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from over 800 million records of patient care.

“A hospital named among the U.S. News Best Hospitals has demonstrated its commitment to high-quality care, especially in achieving successful outcomes for patients,” said Ben Harder, U.S. News’ managing editor and chief of health analysis. “A Best Hospitals recognition reflects consistent top-tier medical care to its community.”

U.S. News announced 505 Best Regional Hospitals that have demonstrated superior outcomes including Intermountain Saint Joseph Hospital’s No. 1 ranking in Colorado. Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Grand Junction ranked seventh in the state.

Intermountain St. Mary’s Regional Hospital was ranked fourth in Colorado for rehabilitation, and was rated high-performing in seven specialties, procedures and conditions.

Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette was rated high-performing in seven specialties, procedures and conditions. Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge was rated high-performing in three specialties, procedures and conditions.

For more information, visit Best Hospitals and use #BestHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and X.

Intermountain Health celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Intermountain Fruita Primary Care Clinic on Aug. 10.

The 5,500-square-foot clinic will expand access to care for people in Fruita, Colorado, and surrounding communities. 

The space will hold eight providers in primary care, walk-in care, and rotating specialty clinics in OB-GYN, and cardiology. 

The new location also reflects Intermountain Health’s ongoing commitment to investing in healthcare close to home.

“We have been thoughtful about how this project has progressed and what services will best fit the needs of the community,” said Joya Boyd, executive director for Intermountain Health Medical Group, Western Colorado. “We know the relationship between a person and their primary care provider is one of the most important healthcare relationships, so we wanted to increase access to that service and make it close and convenient for people in Fruita.”

To create a greener, more welcoming campus for patients and the community, planners have included more than 20 new trees and 68 parking spaces designed for convenient patient access.

The clinic is expected to open in summer 2027.

LAS VEGAS – Intermountain Health celebró la gran inauguración de su nueva clínica Badura Clinic el jueves 30 de julio, con una ceremonia de apertura y puertas abiertas a la comunidad en el edificio médico de 90 000 (noventa mil) pies cuadrados en el sudoeste de Las Vegas.

La clínica de tres pisos marca el primer proyecto de construcción desde cero de Intermountain Health en Nevada y reúne a una amplia gama de servicios de atención primaria y de especialidad bajo un mismo techo, lo que facilita que los pacientes y sus familias obtengan una atención coordinada y de alta calidad cerca de sus hogares.

Ubicada en 8350 W. Badura Ave., la clínica está en el corazón del área de Spring Valley, uno de los corredores de más rápido crecimiento Las Vegas Valley, con una población cercana a 250 000 (doscientos cincuenta mil) habitantes. El evento atrajo a líderes de Intermountain Health, empleados, funcionarios electos, colaboradores de la comunidad y equipos del proyecto, quienes se reunieron para marcar el hito y recorrer el espacio nuevo.

"Si bien este edificio reúne tecnología de avanzada, servicios especializados y empleados altamente calificados, lo que más importa es cómo las personas se sienten cuando pasan por nuestras puertas", dijo Mitch Cloward, presidente de la región Desert de Intermountain Health. "Nuestros empleados cuentan con la experiencia clínica y las habilidades técnicas para brindar una atención excelente, pero también queremos que cada paciente sepa que es bienvenido, valorado y cuidado. Es un privilegio tener la oportunidad de cuidar de nuestra comunidad y ayudar a que las personas vivan la vida más saludable posible".

"Esta clínica representa mucho más que un edificio nuevo. Es un reflejo de nuestro compromiso con el sur de Nevada y con lograr que la atención médica sea más conveniente y accesible, y esté más conectada para las personas que viven aquí", indicó Trevor Smith, vicepresidente regional de las operaciones del grupo médico de Intermountain Health. "Al reunir la atención primaria, la atención de especialidad y los servicios oncológicos bajo un mismo techo, estamos creando una mejor experiencia para los pacientes y garantizando que puedan recibir la atención que necesitan cerca de sus hogares".

Atención para toda la familia, toda en un mismo lugar

Diseñada para servir a los pacientes en cada etapa de la vida, Badura Clinic reúne los servicios que antes estaban dispersos por el valle. La atención médica disponible en la clínica incluye atención primaria para adultos, atención primaria para adultos mayores, pediatría, salud de la mujer, atención oncológica, terapia de radiación, servicios de infusión, diabetes y endocrinología, reumatología y cuidados paliativos. El edificio también alberga un espacio para Shriners Children's, expandiendo el acceso a la atención de especialidad ortopédica y de rehabilitación pediátrica en Nevada.

"En el centro de la atención médica están los empleados que genuinamente cuidan de las personas a quienes sirven. Todos los días, nuestros equipos vienen a trabajar enfocados en ayudar a que los pacientes vivan la vida más saludable posible. Al reunir la atención primaria y de especialidad en un mismo lugar, facilitamos que los pacientes reciban atención coordinada y compasiva, y los ayudamos a obtener mejores resultados en cada etapa de la vida", afirmó Chard Bubb, MD, director médico superior de especialidades médicas en Intermountain Health.

Al consolidar varias clínicas (junto con dos nuevas líneas de servicio: salud de la mujer y cuidados paliativos) en un único lugar moderno, el edificio está diseñado para mejorar el acceso para los pacientes y la coordinación de los servicios. Para las familias, esto significa que un niño, un padre y un adulto mayor pueden atenderse en el mismo lugar, reduciendo así la cantidad de lugares distintos que debe visitar una familia. El centro oncológico de la clínica incluye oncología médica y de radiación, optimizando la atención para pacientes que suelen necesitar ambas, y estandariza tecnología de avanzada, lo que incluye escáneres de tomografía por emisión de positrones y tomografía computarizada, y aceleradores lineales.

Las necesidades de una comunidad en rápido crecimiento, satisfechas

Intermountain Health empezó la construcción de Badura Clinic en junio de 2024 y celebró el techado en junio de 2025. Martin-Harris Construction con base en Nevada desarrolló la construcción con arquitectura de HDR, Inc., cuyo diseño se inspiró en los colores y patrones dramáticos de un cañón cercano, Red Rock Canyon. Los equipos clínicos se mudaron a la clínica en fases a lo largo de varios meses hasta llegar a la gran inauguración, y ahora se están programando citas.

Badura Clinic refleja la continua inversión de Intermountain Health en el sur de Nevada, donde el sistema de salud sin fines de lucro sirve a más de 350 000 (trescientos cincuenta mil) pacientes y maneja más de 80 clínicas en 65 lugares a lo largo de los condados de Clark y Nye. También se construye sobre un crecimiento más amplio de Intermountain en la región, lo que incluye el anuncio del primer hospital infantil integral independiente de Nevada.

# # #

Intermountain Health celebrated the grand opening of its new Badura Clinic on Thursday, July 30, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house at the 90,000-square-foot medical office building in southwest Las Vegas.

The three-story facility marks Intermountain Health's first-ever ground-up construction project in Nevada and brings a wide range of primary and specialty care services together under one roof, making it easier for patients and families to access coordinated, high-quality care close to home.

Located at 8350 W. Badura Ave. in Las Vegas, the clinic sits in the heart of the Spring Valley area — one of the fastest-growing corridors in the Las Vegas Valley, with a population close to 250,000 residents.

The event drew Intermountain Health leaders, caregivers, elected officials, community partners and project teams who gathered to mark the milestone and tour the new space.

"While this facility brings together advanced technology, specialized services and highly skilled caregivers, what matters most is how people feel when they walk through our doors," said Mitch Cloward, president of Intermountain Health's Desert Region. “Our caregivers have the clinical expertise and technical skills to provide excellent care, but we also want every patient to know they are welcomed, valued and cared for. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to care for our community and help people live the healthiest lives possible.”

“This clinic represents much more than a new building. It's a reflection of our commitment to Southern Nevada and to making healthcare more convenient, connected and accessible for the people who live here,” said Trevor Smith, regional vice president of medical group operations for Intermountain Health. “By bringing primary care, specialty care and cancer services together under one roof, we're creating a better experience for patients and helping ensure they can receive the care they need close to home.”

Care for the whole family, all in one location

Designed to serve patients throughout every stage of life, the Badura Clinic brings together services that were previously spread across the valley.

Care available at the clinic includes adult primary care, senior primary care, pediatrics, women's health, cancer care, radiation therapy, infusion services, diabetes and endocrinology, rheumatology and palliative care. The facility also houses a space for Shriners Children's, expanding access to pediatric orthopedic and rehabilitative specialty care in Nevada.

“At the heart of healthcare are caregivers who genuinely care about the people they serve. Every day, our teams come to work focused on helping patients live the healthiest lives possible. By bringing primary and specialty care together in one location, we're making it easier for patients to receive coordinated, compassionate care and helping them achieve better outcomes throughout every stage of life,” said Chard Bubb, MD, senior medical director for medical specialties at Intermountain Health.

By consolidating multiple clinics — along with two new service lines, women's health and palliative care — into a single, modern location, the building is designed to improve patient access and service coordination. For families, that means a child, parent, and older adult may be able to receive care in the same familiar place, reducing the number of separate locations a family must navigate.

The clinic's cancer center includes medical and radiation oncology, streamlining care for patients who often need both, and standardizes advanced technology including PET and CT scanners and linear accelerators.

Meeting the needs of a fast-growing community

Intermountain Health broke ground on the Badura Clinic in June 2024 and celebrated a topping-off ceremony in June 2025.

Nevada-based Martin-Harris Construction developed the building, with architecture by HDR, Inc., whose design drew inspiration from the dramatic colors and patterns of nearby Red Rock Canyon. 
 

Clinical teams moved into the clinic in phases over several months leading up to the grand opening, and appointments are being scheduled now.

The Badura Clinic reflects Intermountain Health's ongoing investment in Southern Nevada, where the not-for-profit health system serves more than 350,000 patients and operates more than 80 clinics across 65 locations throughout Clark and Nye counties.

It also builds on Intermountain's broader growth in the region, including the announcement of Nevada's first comprehensive standalone children's hospital.

# # #

With Nevada ranked 51st in the nation for youth mental health, Intermountain Health and the Las Vegas Raiders are working together to help student-athletes bring mental health resources, encouragement, and support back to their schools and communities.

On Wednesday, July 15, Intermountain Health and the Las Vegas Raiders hosted the 2026 Intermountain Impact Player event at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson. 

The event brought together this year’s Impact Players of the Week, along with their families, coaches, and community partners, for an afternoon focused on youth leadership, mental health awareness, and service.

The event highlighted Intermountain Health’s message that “The Strongest Play is Asking for Help,” encouraging student-athletes to become mental health advocates among their peers. 

As part of the hands-on service project, participants assembled 1,000 mental health resource kits that will be shared with schools and communities throughout Southern Nevada.

“When Nevada ranks last in the nation for youth mental health, it’s a call to action for all of us,” said Dr. Sheryl Morelli, MD, senior medical director for Intermountain Children’s Health in Nevada. “Young people need to know they are not alone, that it’s OK to ask for help, and that support is available. By partnering with the Las Vegas Raiders and empowering student-athletes to carry this message back to their schools, we can help normalize conversations around mental health and connect more families with resources.”

Mental health resource kits included items designed to support emotional wellbeing and help students access trusted resources, including CredibleMind resource handouts, emotional wellbeing flyers, journals, stress balls, bracelets, stickers, and other support materials. 

Former Raiders quarterback Jay Schroeder also joined the event to speak with players and their families about the importance of making an impact beyond the game. Schroeder, who played for the Raiders from 1988 to 1992, shared how what student-athletes do off the field — in their schools, families, and communities — can be just as meaningful as what they accomplish on the field.

The event is part of the ongoing partnership between Intermountain Health and the Las Vegas Raiders to support youth health, wellness, leadership, and community impact across Southern Nevada. 

###

What began as a joyful family visit to grandparents on a church mission in Uruguay quickly became every parent’s worst nightmare when their three-year old daughter suddenly became gravely ill and was near death.

Thanks to a highly specialized flight team of caregivers from Intermountain Health who flew a specially equipped medical jet more than 6,300 miles over 18 hours to retrieve the young girl and fly her back to Utah for extensive medical care she is thriving.

Today, Estelle Santiago and her family, who live in Midway, Utah, reunited with that Intermountain Health team to say thank you and celebrate Estelle’s fourth birthday – a milestone that her parents didn’t think would be possible in January. 

“We are forever indebted to them for saving Estelle’s life,” said Estelle’s mom, Ellie Santiago. “Thanks to their dedication, skill, and swift action, our daughter is still with us today and for that we are eternally thankful. They’re truly angels.” 

On January 7, 2026, a call came into the Intermountain Health Transfer Center in Salt Lake City about a critically ill three‑year‑old Utah patient who had suddenly fallen gravely sick while visiting Uruguay. 

The Santiago family had traveled thousands of miles to celebrate the holidays; now they were sending frantic messages, terrified and pleading for help. 

Estelle had been diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) – a condition so severe that by the time she reached the hospital, she was seizing, in renal failure, and soon spiraled into respiratory and cardiac failure. Her parents, Michael and Ellie, needed to bring Estelle home for advanced medical care, and they needed it fast.

Within hours, their health insurance approved authorization for the medical flight to Uruguay. The Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance team immediately began the landing‑permit process – a step that typically takes 7 to 10 days. 

Jon Woods, MD, a University of Utah Health/Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital pediatric critical care physician, stepped in as medical control of the flight to coordinate Estelle’s care with physicians at British Hospital of Montevideo in Uruguay, as well as oversee her care during the long flight home.

As Intermountain Health’s first international pediatric transport patient, Estelle would need around-the-clock care during the global flight

Dr. Wood’s first task was to understand Estelle’s condition and assess whether she could survive a medical transport of this magnitude. The medical team at British Hospital of Montevideo told Dr. Woods that Estelle was so sick, they weren’t sure she would make it through the flight. 

Despite the gravity of her condition, Dr. Woods was deeply moved by the effort of the medical team in Uruguay and the care she was receiving at the hospital there. 

He also knew that Estelle would receive the best care possible while being transported home on the Intermountain long-range medical jet – a Bombardier Challenger 604 – an airborne ICU that has a range of 4,600 miles.

Still, the biggest challenge lay ahead: Estelle’s continuous dialysis would have to be paused during transport. Even so, Dr. Woods assured both teams that the Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance team crew was capable, prepared, and ready. 

And then, something extraordinary happened. The landing permit was approved in just 24 hours. That moment shifted the medical mission from “if” to “how fast.”

On January 9, the Intermountain flight crew of three medical team members and four pilots launched south. After overnighting in Peru, two pilots and the medical crew continued to Montevideo, Uruguay.  

When they arrived, Estelle was intubated and supported by 6-7 drips managing her blood pressure, cardiac output, and sedation. The magnitude of the moment was not lost on anyone, especially the crew who would shoulder her care for the next 18 hours.

The 18‑Hour Journey Home

On January 11, the Intermountain Health team began the long journey north – first to Peru for fuel and a pilot swap, then t Brownsville, Texas, for customs, and finally home to Salt Lake City.

The operation required flawless coordination not just in the air, but also on the ground.

“The speed and efficiency necessary to make the transport safe, rapid, and successful were extraordinary,” said Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance Nurse Rose Linsler, RN, who was at Estelle’s side throughout the flight. “On Wednesday night we first heard about our patient. By early Friday morning, we were departing for Uruguay, and by that Sunday night, Estelle was in her ICU bed at Primary Children’s Hospital getting the care she needed.”

“Like all our transports, this was a massive team effort,” said Bracken Mecham, an Intermountain air ambulance pilot who was part of Estelle’s flight team. “Everyone – from coordinators to communications specialists, mechanics, medical personnel, and pilots ­– worked tirelessly for days to safely bring Estelle home. 

When the Intermountain medical jet finally landed in Salt Lake, Estelle was transported directly to the pediatric ICU at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. 

For the first time in many days, her parents were back in Utah with their daughter. Estelle’s dad, Michael, said the experience was a roller coaster of emotions for he and Ellie. 

“We felt completely helpless as Estelle’s condition spiraled out of control in Uruguay. The moment the Intermountain team landed there, we felt relief and gratitude beyond words, like the cavalry had arrived,” he said. “We will never forget the overwhelming peace that washed over us when she was wheeled into her PICU room at Primary Children’s Hospital. Although she wasn't out of the woods, we could finally breathe, knowing she was in the best possible hands.” 

Estelle would spend several weeks hospitalized at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, progressing from the intensive care unit care to rehabilitation before she was finally able to go home. 

While she recovered in the hospital, Estelle’s parents sent the air ambulance team a video update of her condition.

“There was Estelle sitting upright on her mother’s lap,” said Linsler with a smile. “No ventilator. No continuous EEG. No dialysis. Just a toddler taking tiny sips from a spoon. It was wonderful.”

“I love developing relationships with families – some lasting only the duration of the transport, some a lifetime,” she added. “They are such a lovely family. I feel honored to have met them and privileged to help bring their daughter home.”

Today, Estelle is doing well and continues to get stronger each day, her parents say. 

“Estelle is doing incredible,” said Ellie. “She has led her own recovery with a positive attitude and endless energy. Six months ago, if we could have seen the level to which she has recovered, we would not have believed it. She has a few lingering problems, but nothing that will hold her back. Estelle is on track to make a full recovery and we’re so grateful.”

Intermountain Health added the Bombardier Challenger 604 medical jet to its air ambulance fleet in in 2022 for long-range global flights like one that helped Estelle. It is also used for organ retrievals for transplant patients. The aircraft is unique as it has a large cabin area that can accommodate two patients, the medical team, and allow for complex medical procedures while in flight. 

                                                                                                                                                           ###

Intermountain Health's Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (RESEP), also known as the Downwinders Clinic, will host free public meetings across Utah to provide information about the recently reinstated Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and help individuals determine whether they or a loved one may qualify for compensation.

The educational meetings will explain changes made to the federal program, including newly eligible geographic areas and expanded access for individuals affected by radioactive fallout from Cold War-era nuclear testing and uranium industry activities.

Attendees will have an opportunity to:

• Learn about the reinstated and expanded RECA program.
• Determine whether they may qualify for compensation.
• Receive applications and educational materials.
• Learn about the online application portal.
• Ask questions about eligibility and the claims process.

Individuals who have completed an application may also schedule a one-on-one review appointment to ensure documents are complete before submission.

The term "downwinder" refers to individuals who were exposed to radioactive fallout from atmospheric nuclear testing conducted at the Nevada Test Site. Many affected individuals and families live throughout Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho and New Mexico.

Under the reinstated law, eligible individuals may qualify for compensation through the federal RECA program.

Public Meeting Schedule:

Thursday, July 30, 2026
St. George
Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital Cancer Center
Building 7, Classrooms A, B and C
600 S. Medical Center Drive
4-5 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026
Provo/Orem
Utah Valley Hospital
Sorenson Tower, Building 4
Second Floor, Classrooms 1, 2 and 3
395 Cougar Blvd.
2-3 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026
Salt Lake City
Intermountain Medical Center
Doty Family Education Center, Building 6
West Auditorium
5121 S. Cottonwood St.
6-7 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026
Logan
Logan Public Library
285 N. Main St.
1-2 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 7, 2026
Ogden
McKay-Dee Hospital
Thomas Dee Auditorium
4401 Harrison Blvd.
Noon-1 p.m.

Application Review Appointments (Appointment Required)

Friday, July 31, 2026
St. George Regional Hospital Cancer Center
Downwinders Clinic Office
1-5 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026
Intermountain Medical Center
Transformation Center, Room 103
5026 S. State St.
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 7, 2026
McKay-Dee Hospital
Thomas Dee Auditorium
2-6 p.m.

To schedule an application review appointment or for additional information, call the Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (Downwinders Clinic) at 435-251-4760.

###

Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital is hosting the Mountain West stop of the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour, a powerful national traveling art exhibition that shares the stories and experiences of individuals affected by cleft lip and palate through portraiture, storytelling, and community engagement.

The art exhibit will be held at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday, August 1, from 4-8 pm, and on Sunday, August 2, from 2-6 pm, and is free to the public.

Through art, education, and connection, this national travelling exhibit features the stories, strength, and resilience of individuals and families affected by cleft lip and palate, a common congenital birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or roof of the mouth do not fuse properly during pregnancy.

In addition to viewing the portraits, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities designed to inspire reflection and engagement.

The 100 Cleft Portraits Tour exhibit aims to raise awareness of cleft lip and palate, celebrate the individuals and families impacted by these conditions, and highlight the healthcare resources available throughout the region.

“The 100 Cleft Portraits Tour provides an inspiring platform to celebrate the beauty, courage, and individuality of people affected by cleft lip and palate,” said Dana Johns, MD, a University of Utah Health plastic surgeon and medical director of the Intermountain Primary Children’s Cleft and Craniofacial Program. “We are honored to bring this meaningful exhibition to Utah and create opportunities for families, healthcare providers, and community members to come together in support, understanding, and connection.”

Created by Katie Manning, a UK-based artist, advocate, and trauma-informed coach, the exhibition features 100 striking portraits paired with personal stories from members of the cleft community.

Together, the portraits offer a moving look at the strength, resilience, and unique journeys of children and adults living with cleft conditions.

Manning will also present Trauma-Informed Essentials, a workshop that draws on her lived experience and the personal stories that inspired the collection. Children attending the event can also participate in an interactive art room, where they will create and display self-portraits celebrating their own identities and creativity.

“Every portrait in this collection tells a story,” Manning said. “My hope is that these images help people see beyond a diagnosis and recognize the individuality, resilience, and humanity of every person represented.”

The Intermountain Primary Children’s Cleft and Craniofacial Program, in partnership with University of Utah Health, is one of the premier programs in the nation providing treatment and support for patients with cleft lip and palate and their families.

                                                                                             ###