As Heart Month comes to a close, we’re reminded that heart health stories often begin quietly — in the everyday choices and unexpected moments that change a life. For Kelly Royster, an avid runner, that moment came before a marathon she had spent months training for. Born with a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart defect she had lived with her whole life without issue, Kelly decided to get her heart checked at the request of her husband. That simple precaution became a turning point. Within a week, Kelly underwent open‑heart surgery, forever altering the course of her life and deepening her understanding of what it means to face a heart condition with courage and clarity. Today, Kelly brings that lived experience to every patient she serves. As the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Manager at Good Samaritan, she channels her resilience, gratitude, and passion for wellness into compassionate, expert care. This Heart Month, we salute Kelly, not only for the strength of her personal journey, but for the dedication she brings to helping heart patients navigate their own. Her story is an important reminder that awareness, action, and empathy can transform lives, one heartbeat at a time.
We're celebrating a major milestone: a less invasive fetoscopic procedure that allows surgeons to repair spina bifida before birth using just three small incisions. This innovative approach supports safer pregnancies, better long‑term outcomes for children, and keeps families close to home in Utah. From the first successful procedure earlier this year to the growing number of families already benefiting, this advancement reflects the dedication, preparation, and compassion of an extraordinary multidisciplinary team. It’s another powerful example of how the Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center, a collaboration between Intermountain Health Primary Children's Hospital and the University of Utah Health, which was made possible through the Primary Promise campaign, is helping build the nation’s model health system for children. Read the full story to learn how this breakthrough is changing lives.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) may look like something from science fiction, but for many patients across Intermountain Health’s Desert and Canyons Regions, it’s offering something profoundly real: renewed hope. Our clinicians describe TMS as “bushwhacking a new path” in the brain, helping rewire mood pathways when traditional treatments haven’t been enough. It’s noninvasive, medication‑free, and allows patients to stay fully present and engaged in daily life throughout treatment. From the steady guidance of physicians like Dr. Laura Romer and Dr. Mark Foote, to the compassionate support of caregivers like Corita Menchaca, medical assistant, TMS is more than a therapy: it’s a partnership. A chance to reconnect people with their lives, their relationships, and their sense of possibility.
When a Sunday morning in Great Falls, Montana took a frightening turn, quick action and coordinated care made all the difference. Thanks to fast CPR from his daughter and the expert heart care teams at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital, Larry Schlepp is back home in Billings and rebuilding his strength through cardiac rehabilitation. Larry’s journey is a powerful reminder of how every link in the chain of survival matters, from loved ones trained in CPR to first responders to the specialized heart experts who guide patients through recovery. At Intermountain, we’re honored to stand beside families like the Schlepps, providing advanced cardiac care and support every step of the way. Their story is a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the lifesaving impact of being prepared. Read more about Larry’s remarkable recovery and why CPR training is a skill that can change everything.
We’re proud to announce that Russ Williams has been selected as the president of the upcoming Intermountain Health Nevada Children’s Hospital, Nevada’s first standalone children’s hospital. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in pediatric and academic healthcare, Russ brings the vision, expertise, and deep commitment to community partnership needed to help shape this historic investment in the future of children’s health in Nevada. As we continue building Nevada Children’s Hospital at the UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park, Russ will help guide the development of a world‑class pediatric destination where families can access comprehensive, compassionate care close to home.
Across our care sites, offices, and home offices, all Intermountain Health caregivers have something in common: their compassion and care for patients. And we all have a reason for our careers in healthcare. For some, it’s personal experiences that encouraged them to pay it forward. For others, it’s the chance to innovate, lead, and experiment. We asked caregivers to share the ‘why’ behind their work. Their stories can inspire us all to reflect on our motivations and how we bring compassion to our work every day.
At Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, caregivers recently turned a hospital hallway into something extraordinary: a wedding venue filled with love, music, and community. When patient Muranda “Mandy” Lambert shared that she and her husband Damon had never been able to celebrate their marriage with a formal ceremony, our caregivers didn’t hesitate. Teams across the unit came together—on and off the clock—to create a moment of joy and dignity during one of life’s hardest chapters. From dresses and decorations to hair, makeup, and a homemade cake, this was compassion in action. A reminder that caring for patients means seeing the whole person, honoring their stories, and showing up with heart. Mandy passed away shortly after the ceremony, but her resilience, humor, and gratitude continue to inspire us. Her story is a powerful reminder of the healing impact of human connection.
From magic shows and church hymns to the lights of the local theater, Frankee Angel has always been a performer at heart. But after two unexpected heart attacks and a long road through severe heart failure, she feared her final curtain call had come. With the support of the cardiology and cardiac rehab teams at Intermountain Health St. James Hospital in Butte, Montana — and a life‑saving ICD she lovingly calls Minerva — Frankee regained her strength, her confidence, and her spark. Today, she’s back at the piano and preparing for her next role on stage. Read her inspiring journey and learn how knowing your heart health numbers can make all the difference.
Paul Wolford has spent 25 years as a Clinical Pharmacist at Intermountain Health with the Home Services Team. Paul began helping ShayLee Rae Hunter when she was just two years old when she was reliant on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to survive. One of the most consistent presences in her care has been Paul who has managed ShayLee’s TPN and participated in her weekly care coordination for 25 years. Despite more than two decades of virtual and clinical connection, the two had never met in person. That changed when ShayLee got a chance to celebrate Paul as he was recognized with an Intermountain Health L.O.V.E. Award that ShayLee nominated him for. ❤️
At Intermountain Health, innovation is about improving outcomes and expanding access, no matter where our patients live. When a rural Montana patient arrived at the St. Vincent Regional Hospital emergency department in Billings with dangerously high blood sugar and a chronic foot ulcer, the outcome could have been life‑altering. Through coordinated virtual and in‑person care, insulin therapy, and continuous glucose monitoring, his average glucose dropped from over 300 to 152. His wound healed. His foot was saved. Led by Justen Rudolph, MD, the St. Vincent Diabetes Center is using telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and advanced diabetes technology to deliver consistent, personalized care across Montana and neighboring states, reducing travel, improving continuity, and helping patients stay closer to home. These tools didn’t exist a decade ago. Today, they’re helping teams deliver world‑class diabetes care while meeting patients where they are. Explore how we are redefining diabetes care for rural communities in the article below.
