Rachael Kilpatrick- Intermountain Health: St. George Regional Hospital (MHA '26)

 

Checking in from Southern Utah! Only 1,181 miles from Kinnick Stadium. This summer, I have been interning at Intermountain St. George Regional, in St. George Utah. I have spent my time working with the Hospital Executive Team and the Medical Oncology Clinic here at St. George. Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit health system made up of 33 hospitals and 400 + clinics over their 3 regions. Their mission, to help people live the healthiest lives possible is not just a statement but rather a lived value in all caregivers. The organization’s culture is one like no other. From the first time I stepped foot inside the hospital, I’ve been welcomed with open arms and have joined a new family. 

I’ve had the opportunity to work under the guidance of Mark Evans, the Chief Operating Officer of the hospital. Mark has been an incredible leader and an even better person. He has not only made me feel welcome at work but also in the community. Mark has taken my co-intern, Dustin, and me on hikes, hosted us for dinner with his family, and consistently checked in on me—not just as an intern, but as a person. 

I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting some amazing Intermountain Hawkeyes. I was honored to visit Jamison Robinett in Cedar City and see all the incredible things he’s accomplished as president there. Jamison is always willing to give great advice and I have been lucky to have him in the Desert Region. 

My main project this summer has been with the medical oncology team, evaluating current workflow processes to determine whether an additional FTE is in the hospital’s best interest—and what the potential impact on patient care might be without one. Throughout this project, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to engage with the continuous improvement team and dive deep into change management strategies. I’ve conducted RCAs, shadowed various teams in the oncology clinic, participated in chemo education sessions, and even led team huddles. Outside of this, I also have evaluated current infusion schedule capacity and explored strategies to manage growth in a city that’s rapidly expanding.

One of the most eye-opening experiences this summer was participating in an education session for a patient diagnosed with metastatic cancer. I was moved to see staff members still shedding tears after working in oncology for several years. It gave me hope and comfort—where before, I have been nervous about the vulnerability that comes with cancer care.  

Going to work every day has been easy in a place surrounded by caregivers who are genuinely good people. I’ve been lucky to work alongside Dustin, a fellow intern from the University of Minnesota’s MHA program. It’s been a unique and valuable experience to collaborate and share perspectives from our different academic backgrounds. I can’t imagine this summer without a co-intern.

I’ve also been so grateful for Camryn, my roommate this summer. We’ve carpooled to work, watched Bachelor in Paradise, and she’s been there for me since the moment I arrived in St. George. I’ll miss them both! 

Outside of work, I’ve loved exploring the natural beauty of Southern Utah. Before this summer, I had never been to a national park and now I’ve been to three! St. George is just 1 hour and 30 minutes from Las Vegas, so I made a trip to see Kenny Chesney at the Sphere, stocked up at Trader Joe’s (I was very sad to be without it all summer), and toured the Intermountain Desert Region Headquarters. In my free time, I made it a mission to try every soda shop in town, and I truly don’t know how I’ll survive without a FiiZ soda back in Iowa.

All in all, it’s been a summer full of new experiences, learning, growth, and pushing myself to be the best leader I can be. I will miss my Desert Region family, but I’m also excited for one final year as a Hawkeye. My passion for raising the standard of care has never been stronger, and I am forever grateful for my summer in sunny St. George!