GANADO – On January 21, Sage Memorial Hospital reached a milestone that has been nearly two decades in the making – the hospital successfully performed its first surgical procedure since 2006.
The moment marked more than the return of surgery. It represented a turning point in local healthcare, one centered on access, dignity, and keeping care close to home.
Hospital leaders, providers, and staff recently gathered to reflect on this progress during a series of healthcare expansion meetings that highlighted both infrastructure growth and the deeper purpose guiding the hospital’s work. With the opening of two new NHS buildings and plans underway for additional services, including a future daycare, Sage Memorial is steadily evolving into a comprehensive center of care. The shared goal is to reduce the need for patients to travel hours to Flagstaff or Phoenix, a burden that often separates families during critical moments of care.
That vision is supported by significant investment. A $3 million state award has been secured for a new dialysis unit, strengthening services that are already underway and expanding long-term capacity for patients who previously had limited local options. Each improvement represents a deliberate step toward keeping patients within their community, surrounded by family, culture, and familiar surroundings.
The return of surgical services followed a carefully planned, phased approach that began in June 2023. After moving into a new hospital facility in December 2024, the hospital initiated the first phase in January 2026 with outpatient endoscopic screening procedures. From there, services will expand to include simpler surgeries, followed by non-elective procedures. The main operating room is scheduled to open in March 2026, alongside the return of labor and delivery services, including cesarean sections. When operational, it will mark nearly 20 years since obstetrical services were last available locally.
This progress did not happen overnight, nor did it rest on one department alone. Nursing, IT, supply chain, security, environmental services, and administrative teams worked in close coordination to make surgical services a reality. The effort also attracted additional medical specialists, including gastroenterologists, further strengthening the hospital’s clinical capabilities and reputation.
At the center of this transformation is Dr. Kenneth Anaeme, Chief Medical Officer at Sage Memorial Hospital. After years of practicing in Phoenix, Dr. Anaeme made the decision to commit his expertise to rural healthcare, a choice he describes as the most fulfilling chapter of his career.
“There’s so much convenience in Phoenix,” Dr. Anaeme said. “But the more time I spent working here, the more I realized this is where I wanted to be. I wanted to be in a place where I was truly making a difference.”
His leadership reflects a broader philosophy embraced across the hospital: that high-quality care should not be defined by geography. Under his guidance, Sage Memorial has focused not only on clinical excellence, but on creating an environment where patients feel respected, seen, and at ease.
That commitment is evident throughout the facility. Patient experience is treated as an essential part of healing, with both outpatient and inpatient spaces designed to feel familiar and comforting. More than 100 pieces of local artwork are displayed throughout the hospital, including works by Navajo artists. From the lobby to patient rooms and the chapel, tribal elements, stained glass, and carefully selected visual details transform the hospital into a space that reflects the community it serves.
“The reopening of surgical services at Sage Memorial Hospital is a powerful example of what sustained investment and collaboration can achieve,” President Nygren said. “For too long, our people have had to travel great distances for essential care. This milestone brings us closer to a healthcare system that truly serves our communities where they are.”
The hospital’s growing reputation is also drawing attention beyond the community. Visiting physicians have expressed interest in performing elective procedures at Sage Memorial after seeing the quality of the facility firsthand, some noting that it rivals or exceeds what they have elsewhere. These reactions underscore how far the hospital has come and where it is headed.
As Sage Memorial Hospital looks to the future, the message is clear. With surgical services restored, dialysis expanding, and labor and delivery returning, the hospital is redefining what rural healthcare can be. This milestone is not simply about a first surgery. It is about restoring trust, strengthening community health, and ensuring that quality care lives where the people are.
