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Katy Welkie, who started her career 43 years ago as a pediatric care nurse at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and went on to become the hospital’s chief executive officer and vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health, is retiring in August 2025.
Welkie’s decision to retire caps a career dedicated to the betterment of children, most recently as the architect of Intermountain Health’s Primary Promise to create the nation’s model health system for children.
“Katy has devoted her career to expanding the focus on children’s health at Intermountain and across the nation,” said Nannette Berensen, chief operating officer for Intermountain Health. “Her passion, commitment, leadership capability, and depth of pediatric expertise have led to significant enhancements in how we care for children. Katy’s contributions will benefit generations to come.”
Welkie’s work at Intermountain Health began in 1982 as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in the float pool at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, back when it was located in the Salt Lake City avenues. When she became a registered nurse, she provided care in the hospital’s medical-surgical, oncology, and pediatric intensive care units.
Welkie quickly rose in leadership at the hospital, becoming a charge nurse, nursing director, hospital chief nursing officer, chief operating officer, and in 2012 became chief executive officer.
She was named vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health in 2019, the senior-most executive for Intermountain Children’s Health.
Throughout her career, Welkie has formed transformative relationships with passionate community partners, and tapped the power of philanthropy to create groundbreaking opportunities for patients, caregivers, and communities.
She created Primary Promise, Intermountain Health’s campaign to build the nation’s model health system for children. This multifaced philanthropic endeavor is supporting new research, new innovative programs in the hospital and community to help children thrive, and new care sites, including the Primary Children’s Hospital, Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus in Lehi and the new behavioral health campus in Taylorsville.
She also has been part of Intermountain Health’s groundwork to prepare to build the first standalone children’s hospital in the state of Nevada.
Welkie’s dedication to children extends beyond her role with Intermountain Health. She has been active in the Children’s Hospital Association and served asa member of the Children’s Hospital Association Board of Directors and as a member of the Quality and Safety Committee for many years.
She also served as Secretary/Treasurer for the Board of Directors for the Children’s Hospital Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS), whose goal is to help guide the national effort to eliminate serious harm in all children’s hospitals.
She is a Founding member and is on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Hospital Coalition working to provide certainty in availability, quality, access, and affordability for key medicines for children. She is also a board member of the Utah Hospital Association, The Children’s Center of Utah, Gamechanger Charity, The Ronald McDonald House Charities Intermountain Area and the Nature Conservancy of Utah.
Welkie attributes much of her success to her predecessors and mentors, including former Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital administrators Joe Mott and Joe Horton.
“It’s time for the next generation of leaders to build on our remarkable legacy,” Welkie said. “We have a strong, optimized Children’s Health structure, incredible leaders, talented caregivers, and deep connections with like-minded partner organizations and community leaders, all aligned in a shared dedication to the Child First and Always. I’m proud of our past, and optimistic about our future.”
Welkie’s retirement is effective August 15. Intermountain is working to finalize plans for Children’s Health senior leadership.
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