Utahns Honored for Healthcare Contributions

At a time when healthcare has become politicized and polarizing, it’s nice to step back and honor the accomplishments of those who work in healthcare, said John Hanshaw, MountainStar Healthcare president and CEO.

“If you think about it, we’re at a time and a place in history where healthcare is at a crossroads,” Hanshaw said. “…Despite the pressure cooker we operate in, the work goes on and it’s amazing.”

Hanshaw spoke at Utah Business magazine’s annual Healthcare Heroes award luncheon Wednesday afternoon.

Eric Vogel, a dentist honored in the community outreach category, said after his cancer diagnosis a year ago, he has had to be on the receiving end of healthcare. Spending a lot of time in hospitals has made him even more grateful for kind, compassionate workers who sincerely care about patients.

The Healthcare Hero awards recognize a spectrum of healthcare workers from those like doctors and nurses to unpaid and behind-the-scenes people like volunteers and administrators.

Intermountain Healthcare Vice President and CIO Marc Probst said he doesn’t really see himself as a hero, but feels privileged to support those he considers heroes.

Mark Koelbel, KUTV anchor and master of ceremonies, said he knows many people in healthcare have a hard time seeing themselves as heroes for something they do everyday. But everyone working together makes the state an even better place to be.

“It’s the collectivity that is done by all of you that makes healthcare in the great state of Utah what it is,” he said. Koelbel said he recently had a health scare that landed him in the hospital for several days. The caring and attentive work by everyone “means more to patients than you’ll ever know,” he told the recipients.

Full List of Honorees by Category:
Administrative Excellence
Marc Probst
Pamela J Bennett
Ross VanVranken

Volunteers
Jack Crosland
Lance Bryce
Pat Barker

Innovation
T. Jared Bunch
Roy D. Bloebaum
T. Charles Casper and John Rose

Community Outreach
Lynn R. Webster
Eric Vogel
Catherine R. deVries

Healthcare Provider – Physician
James G. Carlisle
Blake D. Hamilton
Kirtly Parker Jones

Healthcare Provider – Non Physician
Dianne Kane
Kristine M. Ferguson
Karen Nye

Lifetime Achievement
L. Frank Bentley
R. Gene Moffitt
Devon Hale