Sage Memorial Hospital Announces Reopening of Surgical Services After Nearly 20 Years

GANADO, Ariz. – Sage Memorial Hospital (SMH) is proud to announce the reopening of its surgical services department. The department, which has been closed since 2006, will resume operations with its first procedure—a colonoscopy and endoscopy—scheduled for the morning of January 21. This milestone marks a historic return to surgical services, ending a nearly 20-year hiatus in the hospital’s general surgery department having ceased operations due to facility challenges and regulatory issues.

“This launch is a major milestone for our community,” said Dr. Kenneth Anaeme, Chief Medical Officer at Sage Memorial Hospital. “After years without local surgical options, we’re bringing these essential services back home.”

The reopening follows a year of intensive preparation since the hospital’s move to its new state-of-the-art facility in December 2024. The new unit will initially focus on outpatient procedures, allowing patients to receive high-quality surgical care and return home the same day.

“For our relatives, this is going to be a significant benefit and convenience,” Anaeme added. “We generally have on average about 10 to 15 referrals for endoscopic procedures every month going out, and these relatives are going out to Flagstaff, and to Phoenix, and recently, we have been unable to secure endoscopies at Flagstaff because they are booked. So, this will stop once we open up because our relatives will be able to get these procedures done right here at Sage.”

Dr. Anaeme outlined SMH’s phased “crawl, walk, run” approach which will begin with outpatient procedures like colonoscopies and esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs). By late February or March 2026, services will expand to labor and delivery, including Caesarean sections, followed by laparoscopic surgeries such as gallbladder removals. Emergency surgeries are anticipated within a year, transforming SMH into a 24/7 surgical unit.

Key personnel include Dr. David Johnson as head of surgery services, Dr. Roger Hucek (also performing surgeries), and Dr Swarnjit Singh (gastroenterologist). In addition, future partnerships with Creighton University Medical Center, will support expanded advanced daytime surgeries once fully operational Anaeme explains.

For more information, please contact the Sage Memorial Hospital at (928) 755-4500 or visit our website at www.sagememorial.com for the latest updates, procedure details, and patient resources.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Christian Bigwater,
Chief Patient Experience Officer
christian.bigwater@sagememorial.com
Office – (928) 755-4532 | Cell – (928) 221-4205