CATCH UP WITH DR. KEVIN BAGLEY - CLASS OF 2021
My wife and I both finished our training in 2021. We landed in Cortez, CO, at a 16-bed critical access hospital serving the 4 Corners region. We were fortunate to find a place that allowed us access to the outdoors and a job that allowed us to practice at our full scope. The location is wonderful. It is in the desert southwest, adjacent to the canyon country of southeast Utah. It also borders the San Juan Mountains, where we play in the summer and snow at Telluride, Silverton, and the vast backcountry. There are also some world-class desert mountain bike trails in town.
My job as a general surgeon is what I wanted—a job that allows me to practice a broad scope of general surgery. That being said, I am no general surgeon to the degree of those before me, such as Dr. Nelson. I spend about 50% of my elective time doing scopes and the other 50% doing everything from breast cancer to benign anorectal and most everything in between. Our hospital in also a level 4 trauma center. The procedures for all of these are mostly the same, but I have new challenges of triage and resource limitation. It has been an experience of growth for which I am grateful. I reflect every day on the excellence of the University of Utah training program that allowed me to do this broad scope in a world of specialized surgeons. As much as anything, I am grateful for having educators and mentors who taught me more than just specific operations. Knowledge of technique, anatomy, and plans A, B, C, and bail out has gotten me a long way. I also have the great fortune of having trained with some of the smartest and most talented people in the world, who are kind enough to answer phone calls about rural dilemmas, medical oddities, or bad outcomes.
My wife, Jessie, is an OB/GYN generalist. We get the pleasure of being each other’s first assist on call when skilled hands beyond a scrub tech are needed. It is an added bonus of the job that I get to witness how wonderful she is at her craft, and also seeing her wide-ranging impact on the community at large.
Our first child, Olivia, was born just prior to finishing our training. She is now 4 years old. Our second child, Leo, is almost 2. They have given us new challenges, but also give us the most joy of anything in the world. We also have 2 wonderful dogs who adventure with us around the 4 Corners.
This is an interesting time of an update from our family, because after 4 years in Cortez Jessie and I have made the decision to return to Salt Lake City for job and life opportunities. We are excited to take a little bit less call and have some more time to enjoy our family. We look forward to a return to the community of friends and mentors that made us who we are today.
