Weber State nursing grad reflects on 40+ years in healthcare
OGDEN, Utah — Alan Holt provided compassionate care to thousands of patients during his decades-long career in healthcare.
He worked as a nurse anesthetist for nearly 40 years and participated in multiple medical humanitarian trips, where he helped patients who wouldn’t otherwise have easy access to healthcare.
“If I had to summarize my career in a few words, I would say fulfilling and very rewarding,” Holt said. “The more you get involved in taking care of people, the more you want the best for them. And that brought me back every day.”
Holt said he’s from a “medical family.” His dad was a family practice physician in Evanston, Wyoming, and he grew up admiring his dad’s kind demeanor and the trusting relationships he built with patients. Throughout his career, Holt strove to remember that it’s not just about providing expert care – it’s about being caring.
“I was motivated by the desire to help people and give the care that I would want,” Holt said.
Holt graduated with an associate degree in nursing from Weber State College in 1981, and he said that laid the foundation for success in the industry.
His first job as a registered nurse was in Utah Valley Hospital’s intensive care unit. He then moved to Kansas City to pursue graduate nursing opportunities at the University of Missouri, where he became a certified registered nurse anesthetist and earned a master’s in physiology.
“Weber State gave me the tools I needed from day one,” Holt said. He credits this preparedness for helping him confidently enter the field.
The Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing at Weber State produces more nurses than any other institution in Utah. Now celebrating its 70th anniversary, the School of Nursing still focuses on providing the training needed to seamlessly transition from student to professional and meet increasing industry demand.
Since Holt graduated, the School of Nursing has grown to about 950 students, 59 faculty, 10 staff members and offers multiple degree options.
Today’s nurses are entering the nation’s largest healthcare profession, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And thousands of nurses – like Holt and many others – have graduated from WSU and found lifelong careers in a field where they can serve their communities.
Now, Holt is retired in Preston, Idaho, and he’s experiencing another side of healthcare. He was diagnosed with cancer this summer and began receiving regular treatments for small tumors, called neuroendocrine tumors, found spreading throughout his body.
Between doctor appointments and monthly injections, Holt said his attentive providers and supportive wife Shelly help keep his spirits up.
“I would describe it as a grateful journey,” Holt said. “Because I’ve felt the love and the good work of a lot of nurses and doctors.”
Holt said he remains open to future humanitarian work, and he’ll always be grateful for the career that allowed him to help others while providing for his family.
“Nursing offers so many opportunities to expand,” Holt said. “And the more you get involved, the more opportunities there are to serve others. To anyone considering entering the healthcare field, I say, ‘Go for it.’”
Rachel Badali, news coordinator
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
Rachel Badali, news coordinator
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu