Meet Our Team
The surgical team at San Luis Valley Health is small, stable, and tightly connected to the surrounding community. Two general surgeons anchor the practice, supported by employed anesthesia, certified surgical staff, and a network of PRN surgeons who help cover call. The defining feature of this team is longevity: both surgeons came directly out of residency and have stayed roughly nine years, which says a great deal about the working environment you would be joining.
Surgical Team
Both surgeons hold leadership roles in addition to their clinical work, including a hospital board seat, the trauma medical director position, and medical executive committee involvement. SLV Health values physician voice at the governance level, with three physicians serving on the board.
Clinical Support
- 4 employed CRNAs providing in-house anesthesia coverage
- Certified scrub techs serving as first assists in the OR
- Circulating and prep nurses supporting each case
- A dedicated wound care provider in clinic, with surgeons collaborating
- A scheduling nurse who screens routine screening colonoscopies
Coverage Structure
- 2 full-time general surgeons, with one currently taking reduced call
- 5 to 6 PRN surgeons who pick up coverage dates
- On weekends, the CRNA, scrub tech, and nurse take call together with the surgeon for a 72-hour block
Practice Culture
The surgeons describe a collaborative, low-ego team where people know one another well, both in and out of the hospital. The culture rewards adaptability and community involvement over hierarchy.
- Strong collegiality among surgeons, OR staff, nursing, and the broader medical staff
- A team-player mindset, given the small size of the hospital and community
- Surgeons active in the community as coaches, board members, and neighbors
- Departed and retired colleagues, including the prior surgeon now at Fort Carson and the founding mentor, remain engaged with the hospital
Interprofessional Relationships
The surgeons report strong, accessible relationships across departments.
- Radiology: reliable reads, easy phone and in-person access, on-site coverage 4 days per week
- Hospitalists: 4 full-time, supporting admissions and consults
- Primary care: direct contact, with most Valley primary care physicians holding the surgeons' cell numbers
What the Team Is Looking For
The ideal colleague is someone who wants to live, work, and build roots in the Valley, not simply fill a position.
- At least several years of experience preferred, though strong new graduates are considered
- Trained primarily in open and laparoscopic technique
- Comfortable, or willing to ramp up, with a high volume of endoscopy
- Comfortable practicing independently in a rural setting
- A team player who values community and brings steady emotional composure