Cody Fitzwater, Chief Operating Officer

Cody earned a bachelors degree in nursing from Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. After gaining experience as an RN in both med surge and the emergency department he finally found his calling as an RN marketer and loves serving as the Director of Marketing and Business Development.

He loves healthcare marketing and the camaraderie that comes from developing relationships and creating partnerships that benefit the community that he serves.

When not at work Cody enjoys spending time with his family hiking and four-wheeling.

Brad Gardner, Director of Pharmacy

Brad is an experienced pharmacist with more than 30 years of successful pharmacy practice. He is a strong leader in clinical pharmacy interventions and drug utilization review for the hospital. His areas of clinical pharmacy expertise include antibiotic stewardship, formulary management, and total parenteral nutrition.

Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. He currently is a preceptor of pharmacy for Roseman University in Henderson Nev. He has served as president of the Utah Society of Health System Pharmacists and a state delegate to the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.

Jeff Jennings, Director of Therapy Operations

Jeff is a dedicated physical therapist with a wealth of experience and a passion for helping patients achieve their goals. After graduating from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, Jeff went on to complete his doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Utah in 2014. He embarked on his career at Utah Valley Specialty Hospital, where he honed his skills and expertise for three and a half years.

Seeking new challenges, Jeff transitioned to home health care for 6 years.

Jeff has recently returned to Utah Valley Specialty Hospital eager to make a significant impact on the lives of patients at UVSH.

Outside of work, he finds joy in spending time with his wife and three children. Hobbies include cooking, working in his yard, and spending time outdoors.

Melissa Robertson, Director of Human Resources

Melissa Robertson is our Human Resources manager with over a decade of successful hiring and employee management. She is a strong believer in helping employees reach their greatest potential. Her greatest accomplishment is watching employees succeed in doing just that!

Outside of the office Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and watching a good movie.

Abe Hess, Chief Nursing Officer

I became a nurse because I wanted to make a difference in peoples lives, I love helping people. I’ve worked in multiple different areas of healthcare including home health, hospice, med/surgical, ER, and for the last 8 years I have worked in the ICU at St Marks Hospital. I have loved leading, supporting, and growing nurses to their full potential. I’m married to a wonderful nurse and mother to our 4 boys. In my spare time I love camping, exercising, and coaching my boys in football.

Jenny Opfar, Director of Case Management

Jenny is dedicated to ensuring our patients have the best experiences from the time of admission through their discharge. As a registered nurse, she knows how to help a patient through the healthcare process.

Jenny has 15 years of experience in the nursing field. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Utah Valley University in Orem, UT, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She also served as president of the university’s student nurses association.

Teremoana Lowry, Director of Compliance

Moana was born in Canada where her transplanted island mother raised her nine children. She started her college education at Brigham Young University-Hawaii and then transitioned to Brigham Young University where she earned 3 degrees. She received her BSN in Nursing, an MA in Recreation Therapy, and an MEd in Educational Psychology. She also earned her MS in Leadership and Management from Western Governors University. She has always been interested in learning and encourages others to increase their knowledge and education through formal and informal avenues.

She spent 32 years in the Newborn Intensive Care field as a bedside nurse, clinical supervisor, clinical trainer, PICC trainer and coordinator, data manager, and clinical educator. She has been involved with teens and adults in the field of psychology over the years. Part of her career has been spent working with top researchers where she was taught that change comes from good data applied at opportune times.

She loves being outdoors but spends most of her time in the pool, gardening, or just chilling in the backyard. Moana has a large family and loves to spend her free time creating memories with them.