Intermountain Press Release

Provo, Utah—Three new leaders have been named for Intermountain Healthcare's three Utah County hospitals, including a new administrator and nurse administrator at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and a new operations officer for Cardiovascular Services.

Steve Smoot has been named the new administrator and CEO of Utah Valley Regional, succeeding Mary Ann Young who has served as the hospital's administrator since 1999. Smoot is currently CEO of Intermountain Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City, where he oversaw a $1.4 million capital campaign for a new cancer center, helped develop a free clinic to serve the uninsured and was instrumental in establishing a dialysis center in the hospital's community.

"We are delighted to have Steve join our leadership team," said David Clark, Intermountain's regional vice president and CEO in Utah County. "His track record in Cedar City is stellar, overseeing operations and engaging the medical staff and community. He brings a highly collaborative leadership style with him to our hospital and our team."

Before joining Intermountain, Smoot was CEO of Mineral Community Hospital in Superior, Mont. He earned his undergraduate education at Weber State University and his master's degree in business administration from Brigham Young University.

Smoot will assume his Utah Valley Regional responsibilities on April 9. With his arrival, Young will focus on her new role as a regional operations officer with responsibility for Women's and Children's as well as Critical Care/ER services.

"I am grateful that we are able to retain Mary Ann's leadership, expertise and passion on our Executive Council as she transitions to her new role," said Clark. "I want to take this opportunity to thank Mary Ann for her incredible service as administrator during an important era of growth and development. She has a great love for this hospital and all those associated with it."

Lisa Paletta has been named Utah Valley Regional's new nursing administrator. Paletta, who currently serves as the manager of the hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit, will begin her new assignment on April 1. Hospital nursing administrator is a new position focused on nursing oversight and coordination with other nursing administrators at Utah Valley Regional. Lisa will also oversee the Medical/Surgical Services, Care Management, Staffing Resources and Nursing Supervisors.

A resident of Springville, Paletta joined Intermountain in 1994. In addition to her responsibilities as NICU manager, she has served as chair of the Service Excellence Team and as a member of the Medication Safety Team, Magnet Steering Committee and Excellence Council. Paletta is a registered nurse and holds a master's degree in public administration from Brigham Young University.

Robert W. Allen has been named the new operations officer for Cardiovascular Services, Diagnostic Imaging, Respiratory Therapy, Food & Nutrition Services and Outpatient Clinics in Intermountain's three Utah County hospitals. Allen fills the position being vacated by Nan Nicponski, who accepted an operations officer position at Intermountain's new Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

Allen joins Intermountain Healthcare from Massachusetts where he has been the CEO of Merrimack Valley Hospital. Under his leadership, Merrimack Valley Hospital completed construction of an 83,000-square-foot office building, established a primary care clinic network and focused on responding to community and physician concerns. A graduate of Brigham Young University, Allen holds a master's degree in business administration from Utah State University. Prior to leading MVH, he was the CEO at Memorial Hospital of Salem County in Salem, New Jersey. Allen will begin his new position in Utah County near the middle of April.