Greeley Hospital President to Retire After Four Decades in Northern Colorado Healthcare
Marilyn Schock, president of UCHealth Greeley Hospital, announced November 5 she will retire in February 2026 after 40 years serving northern Colorado's healthcare community, concluding a career that included leading the design and opening of the region's newest hospital.
Schock joined UCHealth in 2014 as chief operating officer for the Northern Colorado region, overseeing Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland and Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Two years later, she took on the project leadership role for developing UCHealth Greeley Hospital, directing facility design, construction oversight, strategic planning and staff recruitment before the hospital opened in July 2019.
"I often say that northern Colorado has some of the best health care in the country, and it has been an honor to be part of it for all these years," Schock said. "While I will miss working with the phenomenal people at UCHealth and Greeley Hospital and their passion for improving lives, the time feels right to retire and begin discovering my next purpose."
From Occupational Therapist to Hospital Executive
Schock graduated from Colorado State University and began her healthcare career as an occupational therapist in Loveland in 1985. She transitioned to hospital administration during the 1990s and 2000s, eventually becoming chief executive officer at McKee Medical Center in Loveland under Banner Health before joining UCHealth.
Her clinical background in occupational therapy provided in-depth patient care understanding and experience in interdisciplinary teamwork that proved critical in hospital management roles.
Kevin Unger, CEO of UCHealth's Northern Colorado region, described Schock as a well-respected leader known for integrity, putting patients first, commitment to quality improvement and dedication to serving the community.
"Marilyn has built an incredible legacy in northern Colorado," Unger said. "Thanks to her leadership, more people in our region now have access to the high-quality care they need to live healthier lives. She also has fostered a strong, patient-centered culture that supports staff members, physicians and advanced practice providers alike."
Hospital Growth Exceeds Regional Benchmarks
UCHealth Greeley Hospital opened with approximately 400 employees, hundreds of physicians and advanced practice professionals, and 50 licensed beds. The facility has since grown capacity by more than 70 percent to 88 licensed beds through multiple expansion projects.
The hospital added a 12-bed progressive care unit, a 20-bed acute care unit, three intensive care unit beds, and two additional labor, recovery and postpartum beds in the birth center. Additional projects expanded operating rooms, added a second emergency trauma bay, and enlarged the hospital's kitchen and cafeteria.
Staff and providers on the UCHealth Greeley Campus cared for patients during almost 9,000 admissions and observation visits, 43,000 emergency room visits, almost 200,000 outpatient visits and 764 births in fiscal year 2025.
The hospital's emergency room visits doubled from 22,062 in its first year to over 43,000 by 2025, reflecting rapid market acceptance in Weld County, where population exceeded 330,000 residents. Outpatient visit volumes of 200,000 per year exceed typical benchmarks for similar-sized hospitals in Colorado.
The facility also recently launched a construction project that will expand the emergency department by nine exam rooms and three intake rooms by summer 2026.
Preparation for UCHealth's Weld County Entry
UCHealth's entry into Weld County began with years of strategic planning to address growing healthcare needs in the region. Prior to UCHealth Greeley Hospital's opening, major providers included Banner Health's North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley and Sunrise Community Health, with some Weld County residents traveling to Loveland and Fort Collins hospitals for advanced care.
Schock led the comprehensive facility build and community engagement process from 2016 through the hospital's July 3, 2019 opening. The hospital received Joint Commission accreditation on July 22, 2019, a key milestone permitting full insurance program participation.
The hospital opened as a Level III trauma center with ICU, birth center with Level II special care nursery, advanced cardiac and surgical capabilities, and 24-hour pharmacy, lab and radiology services. The adjacent UCHealth Greeley Medical Center opened with 192 exam rooms, consolidating outpatient specialty services including oncology, cardiology and orthopedics.
UCHealth recently completed its affiliation with Estes Park Health on November 1, expanding the health system's mountain community presence. UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies earned its fourth consecutive Magnet designation on October 27 for nursing excellence.
Leadership Transition Underway
"While positive changes will begin to occur at EPH and for our employees and providers with new benefits and other options, our focus remains on our patients," Schock said. "Estes Park is a special place, and I want to commend our staff and providers for their dedication to caring for this community."
UCHealth will soon begin a search for the next president of Greeley Hospital. The organization provided no timeline for naming Schock's successor.