Vernal, Utah (October 15, 2025) – Ashley Regional Medical Center announced today that two community members have been selected to serve on the hospital’s Board of Trustees, and Lori Haslem has moved into the role of chairman. 

Lori Haslem has served on the Ashley Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees since 2023. She has recently transitioned from community member to chairman. Lori currently serves with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, the Center for Rural Development. She has experience serving on many Boards including Uintah Basin Association of Governments, Uintah County Economic Development, Vernal Downtown Revitalization and more. Lori is passionate about serving the community. She has in-depth knowledge of community growth and business development. 

“We are excited to welcome Kirk Benge and Robin McClellen to our Board,” said Lori Haslem, chairman of the board at Ashley Regional Medical Center. “Both have unique perspectives and knowledge of our community and will be great assets to our leadership team, employees and medical staff as we work toward the hospital’s mission of making communities healthier.”

Kirk has more than twenty years of experience in public health. He is currently the Health Officer and Director with TriCounty Health Department. Kirk is passionate about improving public health practice and population health outcomes. 

“Healthcare is vital to a healthy community,” said Kirk. “I am proud to serve on Ashley Regional Medical Center’s Board, and I look forward to collaborating with the hospital leadership and other board members to enhance our community’s health.” 

Robin spent 25 years teaching high school in Bountiful and Uintah schools. Robin’s zeal for the arts is strong – she has served as an award-winning dance team coach and has choreographed for drill teams, regional musicals and melodramas. In addition to her work in education and the arts, Robin is deeply involved in civic leadership.   

“I am proud to call the Uintah Basin home,” Robin stated. “I’m committed to strengthening our community and excited to contribute to the Ashley Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees.” 

Kirk assumed his role in May and Robin assumed her role in September. Ashley Regional Medical Center’s Board of Trustees meets monthly and is charged with oversight of the hospital’s role in making our community healthier. To learn more, visit AshleyRegional.com. 

About Ashley Regional Medical Center

Through its 39-bed, Joint Commission-accredited acute care facility and physician practices, Ashley Regional Medical Center provides inpatient and outpatient services to the populations of Uintah, Duchesne and Daggett counties in Utah and Rio Blanco County in Colorado. Ashley Regional has been serving the Basin for more than 80 years and is a designated Level IV trauma center, an Accredited Chest Pain Center and has been designated as a Stroke Receiving Facility by the Utah State Department of Health. The healthcare workers provide safe, high-quality patient care across labor and delivery, surgery, imaging, outpatient care, the 24/7/365 emergency room and many other specialties. Ashley Regional has been recognized for excellence in quality indicators and measures, including being named a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital for nine consecutive years by Chartis Center for Rural Health and a 100 Top Hospital by Fortune/PINC AI for two consecutive years. Ashley Regional also received back-to-back Leapfrog ‘A’ grades for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.

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