Montrose Regional Health Celebrates Community Leadership at Fall Clinics Event

 At last weekend’s 52^nd annual Fall Clinics at the Montrose Pavilion, Montrose Regional Health and the medical community recognized one physician, one advanced professional practitioner and one community member for their outstanding contributions to the Hospital, the community and the Medical Staff. 

            Dr. Mary Vader, representing the Fall Clinics Committee, recognized Margret (Meg) Benasutti, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, who was chosen as the recipient of the “Advanced Professional Practitioner” of the Year. Meg was recognized for more than 30 years of patient care as a Nurse Practitioner in the Montrose, Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride communities. Meg joined Dr. James Gilham in practice in 2000 at Alpine Women’s Centre in Montrose where she continues to practice today. Meg graduated nursing school in Winona, Minnesota in 1984 and from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul Minnesota in 1990 as an Advanced Practice Nurse.  Meg moved to Colorado with her husband Larry in 1991. 

            Meg continues to provide obstetrical and gynecologic care and is responsible for educating new pregnant patients at Alpine Women’s Centre. She manages hormone therapy for patients with pre and post-menopausal disorders. Meg regularly trains nurses who are continuing advanced practice clinical education, and is instrumental in assisting with office practice administration. Meg has been active with the Montrose County School District’s annual health education program for many years, a CPR instructor for 25 years and continues to provide health education for the Ridgway and Ouray Schools. She is an avid runner, skier, and hiker. Meg and her husband Larry have three children, who reside in Colorado.

            Dr. Mary Vader was recognized as an outstanding individual whose impact has had a lasting effect on the Montrose community by Dr. Michael Brezinsky on behalf of the Fall Clinics Committee. Dr. Vader is a native of Western Colorado and grew up 65 miles from Montrose on a ranch in Gunnison, Colorado with 10 brothers and sisters. She left Colorado during her undergraduate education to obtain her BS and DO degrees in Texas, then completed training in Pediatrics at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. “Dr. Mary” then returned home in the early 1990’s where she was a partner in Pediatric Associates and continues to serve the Montrose, Olathe and Delta communities. 

In addition to her private practice and practice at Montrose Regional Health, Dr. Mary started a child abuse practice more than 30 years ago, and in 2003 helped found the Dolphin House, a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center that serves the six counties of the 7th Judicial District. The House is now a child-friendly facility whose main purpose is to provide children a safe place for telling their difficult experience during the necessary investigation of child abuse. She is the medical consultant to the child protection team and helped oversee and assist in the training of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, who work with law enforcement to ensure proper collection and handling of evidence and provide compassionate care to the victim. Dr. Vader is the founder of the Helping Hands Foundation, a way to provide financial assistance for those with an immediate need such as gas and grocery cards, medical supplies, doctor visits, education, limited home repair or anything that will simply make it possible to be self-sufficient and productive in their lives. To date Helping Hands has donated nearly $200,000 to those in need in our community. 

Along with a group of Montrose physicians, Dr. Vader was instrumental in establishing the Montrose Medical Mission, a non-profit, unaffiliated outreach clinic that provided free medical care for those without health insurance. The clinic providers treated patients every Monday evening at the County Health and Human Services building for more than 10 years. 

      Dr. Vader has participated in multiple Medical Missions through Rotoplast, the Rotary International Plastic Surgery team who perform surgery on children with cleft lip and cleft palate around the world. She also participated in missionary work in Guatemala.  

      Dr. Vader’s volunteerism at the Hospital extends to service on many Committees including leadership positions on Medical Executive Committee as Chief of Staff, service on the Board of Directors as current Chair, and she most recently completed her Chaplaincy Degree, offering regular visits to patients or caregivers in need of spiritual or religious care.  

            The “Physician of the Year” is chosen based on their on-going contribution to quality medical care, medical staff and hospital activities, community service activities and years of service. Dr. Mary Vader highlighted the contributions of this year’s recipient, Dr. Steven Emmons who practices Oncology and Hematology at the San Juan Cancer Center. Dr. Emmons completed his medical education and residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He then completed an Oncology/Hematology fellowship at the University of Vermont/Fletcher Allen Healthcare in Burlington, Vermont where he practiced oncology and hematology while working as an Assistant Professor and Clinical Instructor. Dr. Emmons joined the San Juan Cancer Center at Montrose Regional Health in 2018. Dr. Emmons was recognized for his compassionate patient care and contributing regularly to the continuing medical education of the medical staff.  Dr. Emmons and his wife Kathleen Hall enjoy hiking and spending time with family including their two sons, Sean, a senior at Arizona State University and Liam, a freshman at Colorado School of Mines.  

### 

About Montrose Regional Health (www.MontroseHealth.com) 

Montrose Regional Health is a 501(c)3 nonprofit healthcare system serving Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Gunnison, Delta, Hinsdale and San Juan counties. The hospital is licensed for 75-beds and offers an extensive range of inpatient & outpatient health care services, including cardiology, oncology, minimally invasive surgery, laboratory, medical imaging/radiology, Mountain View Therapy, Level III Trauma Center, Acute Rehabilitation Unit, Spine & Pain Center, advanced respiratory & pulmonary services, and the family birthing center. The health system has a reputation for acquiring the latest technologies in healthcare, from robotic assisted surgical services to UVC-disinfection technology. Montrose Regional Health is the second-largest employer in Montrose County, with more than 700 employees and 100 providers who represent 23 medical specialties. With a tagline that reads Caring for you like family, the health system is known for its warm patient care. 

About Montrose Regional Health (www.MontroseHealth.com)

Montrose Regional Health is a 501(c)3 nonprofit healthcare system serving Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Gunnison, Delta, Hinsdale and San Juan counties. The hospital is licensed for 75-beds and offers an extensive range of inpatient & outpatient health care services, including cardiology, oncology, minimally invasive surgery, laboratory, medical imaging/radiology, Mountain View Therapy, Acute Rehabilitation Unit, advanced respiratory & pulmonary services, and the family birthing center. The health system has a reputation for acquiring the latest technologies in healthcare, from robotic assisted surgical services to UVC-disinfection technology. Montrose Regional Health is the second-largest employer in Montrose County, with more than 700 employees and 100 providers who represent 23 medical specialties. With a tagline that reads Caring for you like family, the health system is known for its warm patient care.