Alberto Vasquez, Intermountain Garfield Memorial Hospital Administrator, Announces His Retirement in 2022

Alberto Vasquez, administrator of Intermountain Garfield Memorial Hospital in Panguitch, has announced his plans to retire from Intermountain Healthcare in April 2022, after 35 years with the health system.  

Vasquez has served as administrator of Intermountain Garfield Memorial Hospital since 2003. 

During his tenure at Garfield, Vasquez has overseen significant facility development, including a $6 million remodel of the campus. Garfield Memorial Hospital has been recognized as one of the top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and have been nationally recognized by Press Ganey’s Guardian and Pinnacle awards for top tier customer service in emergency and outpatient services. 

The nursing home service, which is unique to the Garfield Memorial, has been awarded “Best in Class” for multiple years. Vasquez has also played a key role in helping develop Intermountain’s strategy around neighborhood hospitals. 

In 2019, Garfield Memorial Hospital was in the national spotlight when a tourist bus was in an accident near Bryce Canyon National Park, killing four and injuring 24 people. Garfield Memorial treated many of those patients – a situation seldom experienced by a small rural hospital – and helped coordinate with other Intermountain facilities for transfers.  

Vasquez has been active in the community participating in the Panguitch Prevention Coalition, Southwest Utah Healthcare Preparedness Coalition, and other local organizations. He has also served as the chair of the Rural Hospital Council of Utah Hospital Association and is a board member of the Utah Hospital Association.

Prior to taking the assignment at Garfield, Vasquez worked at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and was the administrator Star Valley Hospital in Afton, Wyoming. He earned a master’s in healthcare administration from and a bachelor’s in accounting, both from BYU.

“Alberto has been an amazing leader who has helped this rural hospital truly excel and meet the needs of the residents of Garfield County in a meaningful way,” said Jim Sheets, vice president and chief operating officer of specialty-based care for Intermountain. “Alberto is smart, resourceful and one of the kindest individuals I have worked with. He has made a big different to this organization and leaves the hospital and his community better places. I am excited for Alberto to pursue other dreams and passions and wish him and his wife, Meri well in this transition.”

A search process for Alberto’s replacement will begin in the next few weeks.