St. Luke’s Newsroom

When you’re sitting in a chemotherapy chair for hours, there are some things medicine can’t give you. A familiar voice. A hand to hold. Someone you love sitting close enough to remind you why you’re fighting. Tom knows how much that matters. After more than 100 chemotherapy treatments, he and his wife Cheryl have spent a lot of long days together at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute. The Boise Chemo Infusion Center was built more than 25 years ago. Since then, Idaho’s population and the number of patients needing chemotherapy have nearly doubled. St. Luke’s donors are helping expand cancer care in our region by supporting the Boise Chemo Infusion Center expansion project. Your gift right now can help bring innovative facilities and hope to patients fighting cancer in Idaho. Make a Donation to St. Luke’s Cancer Institute: https://stlukesonline.org/en/specialties-services/cancer-care/make-a-donation-to-st-lukes-cancer-institute/

Veterans Day honors and thanks millions of service members for their service, sacrifice and resilience. At St. Luke’s, we honor them by showing appreciation and supporting organizations that advance mental health, employment, and education. We encourage those employees to stay engaged year-round and consider joining our Veterans Employee Resource Group. St. Luke’s will light the skybridge in red, white, and blue. ​ Earlier this autumn, we highlighted Dr. Timothy Ruth, who loves challenges. In fact, for most of his life, he has preferred to face multiple at once.​ A St. Luke’s family medicine physician who also is medical director of the on-demand virtual care team, Ruth grew up knowing he wanted to be in the military. Later, he developed an interest in medicine.​ Read more about Dr. Ruth’s journey from flight surgeon to family physician on the St. Luke’s newsroom: https://stlukesonline.org/en/news/2026/once-a-flight-surgeon-st-lukes-physician-stays-busy-with-multiple-roles-and-a-band-on-the-side/

Air St. Luke’s brings ‘stop the bleed’ to Eagle.​ When the Eagle Fire Department welcomed the community to its annual open house, Air St. Luke’s and multiple teams across the health system were there to bring lifesaving education directly to the people we serve.​ Stop the Bleed educators, some from as far away as Elmore, worked with Air St. Luke’s Critical Care Transport clinicians to teach community members how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take action before first responders arrive. Air St. Luke’s ground crews engaged attendees in conversations about emergency care and preparedness.​ The St. Luke’s Children’s Injury Prevention team created an interactive experience for families, explaining the importance of car seat safety, the Safe Sitter program and other resources designed to help keep children safe and healthy.​ The Air St. Luke’s membership team answered questions about its services, coverage area and benefits of membership.​ Learn more about Air St. Luke’s: https://stlukesonline.org/en/specialties-services/air-st-lukes/

St. Luke’s Cancer Institute: Twin Falls recently celebrated the grand opening of a new linear accelerator to treat cancer patients in the Magic Valley and surrounding areas. The new machine will offer even more precise, efficient treatment options, all while making the experience more comfortable and convenient for cancer patients.​ This investment demonstrates St. Luke’s long-term commitment to rural and regional communities and providing exceptional cancer care close to home.​ “When patients are facing cancer treatment, every mile of travel and every hour away from home matters,” said Dr. Richard Hymas, radiation oncologist. “Having access to advanced radiation therapy reduces the burden on patients and their families and allows us to administer high-quality care to them.”​ In 2025 alone, the Magic Valley radiation oncology team treated 552 patients (which included nearly 10,000 radiation treatments with linear accelerators) and the team is on track to exceed those numbers in 2026.​ St. Luke’s Foundation and generous donors helped support the artwork for the treatment room ceiling, giving patients a space that reflects both compassion and healing.

A stroke changed everything for Terra and her husband, Ron. Terra needed full-time care, so Ron could no longer work their family ranch in Indian Valley. Ron had to accept that he needed to ask for help. That’s when the St. Luke’s McCall Foundation Compassion Fund stepped in to help cover essential heating costs so they could focus on what mattered most: Terra’s recovery. Your generosity helps local patients and families through life’s toughest moments. ❤️ 100% of donations made to the St. Luke’s McCall Compassion Fund stay in your West Central Mountain community. Please make a gift today, visit the St. Luke’s McCall - Compassion Fund https://stlukesonline.org/en/giving/our-foundations/mccall-foundation/mccall-foundation-compassion-fund/

With St. Luke’s Health Plan, you’re connected to more than just St. Luke’s doctors. Our network is composed of nearly three-fourths independent doctors and specialists across our 20-county footprint. That means more choices, more convenience and more care — right in your local Idaho community. https://www.stlukeshealthplan.org/find-a-doctor

St. Luke’s Dr. Michael Walton and Marle Shelton-Hoff were honored at the Idaho Hospital Association’s 93rd Annual Convention last month. Dr. Walton and Shelton-Hoff were selected from an impressive group of nominees from across Idaho. Their awards recognize individuals who epitomize the highest levels of excellence and achievement in the hospital or health field. Dr. Michael Walton, system medical director at St. Luke’s, received the Excellence in Medicine Award. Since joining St. Luke’s in 2019, Dr. Walton has made lasting contributions to the advancement of behavioral healthcare by expanding access to high-quality behavioral health care across urban and rural communities. Marle Shelton-Hoff, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer at St. Luke’s, was honored with the Award of Excellence in Patient Care. As chief nursing officer of St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, Shelton-Hoff helped guide the Boise Medical Center to a sixth Magnet designation in 2025 and multiple Guardian of Excellence honors from Press-Ganey. Her visionary leadership and commitment to collaboration, safety and innovation are the foundation for a team of approximately 1,700 caregivers delivering care across Idaho’s largest tertiary medical center, including the state’s only children’s hospital and pediatric trauma program.

A St. Luke’s-led study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry offers new insight into how follow-up support can help teens and adults at risk for suicide. The SPARC Trial included 1,520 patients and compared supportive phone calls with Caring Contacts delivered through two-way text messages. Researchers found the most effective approach differed by age: Caring Contacts resulted in lower suicide risk scores among teens, while supportive phone calls were associated with lower suicide risk and loneliness among adults during the first six months. The study, led by St. Luke’s research scientist Anna Radin, DrPH, MPH, could help health care organizations better tailor suicide prevention follow-up care to patients’ needs. Learn more on the St. Luke’s newsroom: https://stlukesonline.org/en/news/2026/st-lukes-led-suicide-prevention-study-published-in-leading-psychiatry-journal/

On October 22, St. Luke’s proudly honored fifth-generation Idahoan and longtime community leader Andy Erstad with the 2026 Ralph J. Comstock, Jr. Light of Philanthropy Award before a record crowd of family, friends and community members. Together with his wife, Shannon, Andy has been a generous supporter of St. Luke’s Children’s while sharing his time, talents and leadership throughout the Treasure Valley. His service spans education, the arts, recreation, human rights and civic life, and through erstad ARCHITECTS, he has fostered a culture of giving back. Andy’s impact can be seen in the places he has helped create, the organizations he has strengthened, the students he has supported and the people inspired by his example. That is the heart of the Light of Philanthropy Award: using what you have to help build something better. Congratulations, Andy, and thank you to you and Shannon for all you continue to do for our community. Watch the event video to learn more of Andy’s impact across the Treasure Valley: https://youtu.be/bnbbUG2a8Nc?si=-DER22_fazdmmXuO

🎃👻 No one does Halloween quite like St. Luke’s! From innovative costumes to hilarious surprises, our teams brought the Halloween spirit to life across the health system. Check out some of our favorite photos from this year’s Spooky Season! 🍬🧙‍♀️🦸‍♂️

Isolation can be a serious issue for new moms, as postpartum depression can be exacerbated by a lack of connection. This was why Liz Watson, an OB nurse at St. Luke’s McCall, started the Growing Together Bunch in February 2026. As Liz describes, “Being a part of a tribe is a really special and critical part of new parenting. By bringing women together to support each other, developing strong bonds between each other and their children, we can improve mental health and resilience.” The Growing Together Bunch gathers new moms and their babies at the hospital once a month to receive lactation support and enjoy guest workshops. The St. Luke’s McCall Foundation was happy to provide funding from generous community donations to get the group started with supplies they needed for their gatherings. Learn more about the Growing Together Bunch and how you can donate to support St. Luke’s McCall Foundation programs in our community by visiting the link below. https://stlukesonline.org/en/healthier-communities/support-groups/growing-together-bunch/