DEER VALLEY—Mark F. Dalley, who retired a few months ago as chief administrative officer for Gunnison Valley Hospital after 40 years in healthcare administration, recently received the Distinguished Healthcare Executive Award from the Utah Hospital Association (UHA).
The award, presented during the association’s Fall Leadership Conference at Deer Valley, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to improving healthcare in Utah.
According to a press release from UHA, during the decade when Dalley was administrator at Gunnison Valley Hospital, he gained a reputation as an influential leader in Utah’s rural healthcare sector.
Under Dalley’s leadership, Gunnison Valley Hospital has been awarded several national and local recognitions, including a five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Chartis Center for Rural Health designated Gunnison Valley as one of the top 100 “critical access hospitals” in the United States.
The hospital was also recognized for exceptionally low rates of readmission and mortality, as well as high standards of safety and high ratings on patient experience.
Dalley began his healthcare career more than 35 years ago as administrator for Valley View Medical Center, now Cedar City Hospital.
He served in leadership positions at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George and later at Intermountain hospitals in Utah County.
In 1996 he accepted the CEO position at Tooele Valley Healthcare before joining Rural Health Management Corporation for six years. He then left the state for several years, leading Holy Rosary Medical Center in Ontario, Oregon, before returning to Utah and joining Gunnison Valley Hospital in 2011.
Dalley received his undergraduate education at what is now Southern Utah University, and earned his master’s degree in public administration at BYU. He holds “fellow” status with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
