CATCH UP WITH DR. GREG LIVERS - CLASS OF 2009
When I finished my General Surgery residency at the University of Utah, I knew I wanted to stay in Salt Lake City. It’s impossible to beat the combination of professional opportunities and the lifestyle here—the mountains, the trails, the sense of community. After graduation, I jumped into private practice. For five years, I worked hard, learned a lot, and enjoyed the independence that comes with running your own show. At the same time, I worked part time at the VA. But over time, I realized that I was enjoying my time at the VA more than private practice. That’s when I made the full time move to the VA hospital, and it’s been one of the best decisions of my career.
The VA has been a great fit for me. I love the mission of caring for veterans, and I’ve found the work deeply rewarding. On top of that, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with the residents from the University of Utah’s General Surgery program. Teaching has become one of the most meaningful parts of my job. There’s something special about watching residents grow in confidence and skill, and it reminds me of my own training—those long days, the steep learning curve, and the mentors who shaped me. In addition, I followed one of the rules that I tell all graduating residents: be very careful in picking your partners. Billy Peche has been at the VA a little longer than me and having him as a partner has been fantastic. We have been able to have other great people join our group including Ellen Morrow, Jennwood Chen, Luke Martin, Austin Cannon and most recently Kevin Bagley.
Outside of work, life has been full and rich. My wife, Julie, and I have two sons—Charlie, who’s 19 now, and Will, who’s 17. It’s hard to believe how fast they’ve grown. We’ve made it a priority to travel together as a family, and we’ve been lucky to see some incredible places: Europe, South Africa, Japan, and the Galápagos Islands. Those trips have given us memories I’ll treasure forever—whether it’s snorkeling in the Galápagos with sea lions, or exploring the streets of Cape Town with my boys.
Salt Lake City has been the perfect home base for us. I still ski and bike as much as I can—those are lifelong passions—but about five years ago, I discovered yoga, and it’s become a big part of my routine. At first, I thought yoga would just be a way to stretch and recover from skiing and biking, but it’s turned into something much more. It’s helped me find balance, both physically and mentally, and it’s a great counterpoint to surgery and outdoor sports.
Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful—for the training I received at Utah, for the mentors who invested in me, and for the opportunities I’ve had since residency. Life is good here. I have a career that challenges and fulfills me, a family I love spending time with, and a lifestyle that keeps me active and grounded.
