Mesa County Public Health announced Dr. Kathryn Spangler will be its new medical director, effective June 1.

Spangler is a hospitalist at Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, where she has worked the past seven years. Mesa County Public Health said in a news release that Spangler’s leadership roles included the associate chief hospitalist and interim medical director for the St. Mary’s Medical Group.

“I am really looking forward to making a positive impact in our community and improving the health of Mesa County,” Spangler said. “I have collaborated with several people from public health in the past. I’ve seen their dedication firsthand and am excited to work alongside them.”

Spangler is a Grand Junction High School alum and graduated with a degree in chemical and biochemical engineering from Colorado School of Mines. She earned a master’s degree in public health before attending the University of New Mexico for medical school. She completed her residency at the University of Utah.

“Her clinical expertise, public health knowledge and leadership experience make her a perfect fit for our agency,” Mesa County Public Health Executive Director Erin Minnerath said of Spangler. “We know she will be an incredible asset to our staff and provide invaluable support as we work to serve Mesa County.”

Spangler will serve as the Mesa County Public Health’s primary medical advisor, providing expert guidance and overseeing infectious-disease response. She will provide clinical leadership and quality assurance for the agency’s reproductive health services and regional laboratory.

Spangler succeeds Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, who retired after serving as medical director since 2021. His leadership was instrumental in navigating health challenges in Mesa County such as the COVID-19 pandemic and measles outbreak in 2025.

“We want to share our deepest gratitude for Dr. Fitzgerald,” Minnerath said. “After years of dedicated service to Mesa County, he is heading into a well-deserved retirement. He has been an incredible leader and a mentor to so many of us. We are grateful for the legacy of care he leaves behind.”