Valley View’s long-time Chief Executive Officer, Gary Brewer, is retiring in 2019. Brewer, 67, will begin a leadership transition process to welcome Brian Murphy, MD, as Valley View’s new CEO. Brewer’s decision to retire marks over 20 years of remarkable service to expand and evolve the scope and caliber of care offered by Valley View.
“Our patients and community have benefited greatly from Gary’s work and expertise. During Gary’s tenure, Valley View has effectively evolved from a local hospital to an organization meeting the complex healthcare needs of our region. From comprehensive cancer care to interventional cardiology and care locations across our community, Gary has led our board, staff and providers in realizing a new vision for the kind of care available locally, close to home,” says Brian Leasure, Valley View Board of Trustees president.
“This has been an incredible journey over the past 21 years. I am grateful for our amazing medical staff, talented staff and dedicated community who have inspired us to challenge the idea of what is possible for a rural community. Today, Valley View offers a scope and level of care that is truly exceptional. I am thrilled to have Dr. Murphy lead Valley View forward, tapping into new ideas and possibilities for Valley View, our patients and the community we serve.” says Brewer.
Trained at Duke University Medical Center, Dr. Murphy is a board-certified urologist with the Rocky Mountain Urology Center at Valley View who has practiced for over 18 years in our community. During this time, Dr. Murphy has held a number of leadership positions, such as Valley View Chief of Staff and Valley View Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Murphy was also the Associate Director of the Duke University urology residency program. He has worked adeptly with providers, staff and administration while understanding the Roaring Fork community through raising his own two daughters. Dr. Murphy will become Valley View’s Chief Operating Officer as he transitions his practice and will later assume the role of Chief Executive Officer upon Brewer’s retirement.
“As Gary’s retirement is not unexpected, the Board has worked thoughtfully to anticipate this change. Dr. Murphy is an exceptional leader who will lead Valley View in addressing the challenges ahead. Over the course of this year, Dr. Murphy will transition his urology practice to collaborate with Gary and fully integrate into Valley View in this new capacity,” says Leasure.
Brewer has led nothing short of a transformation of healthcare available to residents and visitors of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. Under his stewardship, Valley View Hospital has grown to a 21-acre medical campus, including the addition of nearly 400,000 square feet of advanced hospital and medical offices. The new facilities have ushered in expanded healthcare services previously unavailable to the community. The availability of neurosurgery, comprehensive cancer care and interventional cardiology enables residents to stay local for both emergent and planned care. In navigating a constantly changing landscape, Brewer led work to ensure the continuity of primary care for the community. Primary care, internal medicine, OB GYN and certified midwife practices have all become part of Valley View to ensure our community’s availability to high-quality primary care. New care locations in Willits and Silt have made care more convenient for those living and working outside of Glenwood Springs.
During Brewer’s tenure, Valley View also evolved as a major economic engine for the community. Employment grew from over 400 to nearly 1,200 in 2019, generating demand for other workers such as school teachers, retail workers and accountants. The growth in the Valley View medical staff – from 40 to nearly 200 in 2018 – demonstrates not only an economic impact for the community, but represents the significant growth in care and services for all patients. Renovations and new construction also created millions of dollars in direct and secondary earnings for the community.
Since joining Valley View in 1997, Brewer initiated and led cultural changes to orient all aspects of Valley View’s care around the patient. From policies around open medical records, to service trainings and intentional architectural design, Brewer has remained steadfast in his commitment to not only the quality of Valley View’s care, but the experience of its patients. “At the end of the day, it has always been about doing what is right for our patients. That is why we are here: to serve our patients,” says Brewer. Valley View has received national recognition for this steadfast focus. JD Power and Associates, Healthgrades, Consumer Reports, the Advisory Board, the Joint Commission, Planetree, Quorum Health Resources, and the Centers for Health Design have all recognized Valley View for its model of patient care.
Brewer leaves a long and impactful legacy, not only for Valley View as an organization, but for the community as a whole.