St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center Gives Purpose to Providers

©Journal Communications/Jeff Adkins

St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center offers graduate residency programs that empower future medical providers to excel in providing patient care. 

Kelsey Davis and Tyler Walters share how the hands-on training and personal mentoring during their residency helped them grow and expand their horizons as health care professionals. 

A Nurse Resident’s Journey

Kelsey Davis, Nursing Resident 
The stunning outdoor beauty of Southern Idaho and a desire to positively impact the region’s health care landscape drew Kelsey Davis to Twin Falls. 

“I chose to do my residency in this area of the country because Idaho is stunning. I completely fell in love with its natural beauty when I moved here four years ago,” Davis says. “I enjoy anything outdoors, and this region seems like the perfect place for being with my dogs, hunting, fishing and golfing. I often spend my evenings going on drives to soak in the beautiful scenery. The sunsets and sunrises are incredible.” 

The STAR Nurse Residency Program: Supporting New Nurses

Davis, 24, who grew up in the rural Central Valley in California, recently participated in the 12-month STAR (Supporting Transitions and Relationships) Nurse Residency Program at St. Luke’s Magic Valley. Through this evidence-based, interactive offering, nurse residents gain knowledge, practice skills, and develop relationships with their peers, which helps to smooth the transition from being a student to a first-year nursing professional. 

“The residency program has helped prepare me as a new graduate by providing the tools I need to be successful and keep my patients safe,” says the young nurse who also holds a bachelor’s degree in health administration. “Meeting with our educators and discussing various situations has created a safe space for new graduates to ask questions, providing valuable lessons.” 

She credits her mother, registered nurse Julie Davis, as being an important role model. 

“I believe it’s crucial to consider the significant role nurses play in being there for patients on both their best and worst day, especially in the labor and delivery/postpartum department where I work,” she says. “I take great pride in providing compassionate care to my patients.” 

A Pharmacist’s Dedication to Patient Care

Tyler Walters, Pharmacy Resident 
Tyler Walters interviewed with pharmacy residency programs from Washington to Florida and says, “After spending my fourth year of pharmacy school at St. Luke’s Magic Valley, I knew there could not be a better group of pharmacists to work with than what I already had here. I decided this is where I wanted to do my residency.” 

The hospital’s residency program is a 12-month, first-year postgraduate course featuring various clinical rotations from adult medicine to infectious diseases. 

Walters, 28, who grew up in the Twin Falls area, enjoys the outdoors. 

“I have always loved that you can drive a few miles out of town to great places to swim, hike, golf, fish and hunt. There are hidden gems everywhere,” he says. 

St. Luke’s Residency Program: Hands-On Training and Mentorship

Family is an important part of the pharmacist’s life. His career choice was inspired by his sister, Delaney, who was born with a rare neurodevelopmental disorder known as Schaaf-Yang syndrome. 

“The health care teams that have worked to help her maximize her potential solidified my desire to take care of people the way they take care of my sister,” says the new father, who, along with his wife, Haley, recently celebrated the birth of their first child. 

He plans to work as an inpatient hospital pharmacist with his eye on staying at St. Luke’s. 

“My residency at St. Luke’s has been a true test that has pushed me to grow as a pharmacist,” Walters says. “My preceptors and mentors challenge me to continue to learn. Most of all, I know that everything I do impacts others, and that is a special burden that I never want to take lightly.”