New administrator named for southern Utah hospital

Mark Allen has been appointed as the new administrator of Sanpete Valley Hospital. He will begin working at the hospital March 14.

Allen recently completed a 30-year career in the Air Force where he led hospitals and clinics across the country and internationally. His most recent assignment was at the Air Force's David Grant Medical Center near Sacramento, California, where he was the facility's chief operating officer. During 2010 he also served as the deputy commander of the Joint Theater Hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan.

Allen has experience in multiple healthcare settings from community hospitals to academic medical centers. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from Wright State University, and an MBA from the University of Wyoming.

Allen, 52, and his wife, Marjorie, have two grown children who live in Colorado.

"I spent a good part of my childhood in Wyoming, so I love smaller towns and the Intermountain area," said Allen. "I look forward to putting down roots in the area and getting involved with the hospital and the community," he said. "My focus at Sanpete Valley Hospital will be to strengthen its tradition of providing high quality care at the lowest appropriate cost."

Allen replaces Brad Howell, who announced his resignation as Sanpete Valley Hospital administrator several months ago to pursue other career opportunities.

Sanpete Valley Hospital is an Intermountain Healthcare facility. Intermountain Healthcare is a nonprofit health system based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Intermountain serves the healthcare needs of Utah and southeastern Idaho residents. Its mission is to provide clinically excellent medical care at affordable rates in a healing environment.