The West Side’s First Stethoscopes
The West Side’s First Doctors
After pioneers arrived in Salt Lake City in 1847, the west side of the valley—what would later become Granger, Hunter, Kearns, and Magna—remained primarily farmland for the next 100 years. Farmhouses were scattered, often separated by 50 to 150 acres of land.
During those early years, healthcare was virtually nonexistent west of State Street. If someone was injured or became seriously ill, they had to travel into Salt Lake City for help. Babies were almost always delivered at home, often with the help of one of the two midwives serving the area.
But change began in 1952, when Dr. Glenn C. Wilson pioneered a medical practice in Granger—the very first doctor to establish full-time care on the west side. Two years later, in 1954, Dr. L.D. Poulsen joined Dr. Wilson to create the Granger Medical Center.
At the same time, neighboring communities saw progress. In 1954, Dr. Burton F. Brasher opened a practice in Kearns. He was soon joined by Dr. A. Willis Smith, forming the Kearns Medical Center in 1955, followed by Dr. J. Bernard Critchfield in 1956.
The wave of medical growth continued:
In 1956, Dr. Jay O. Brinton opened a practice in Magna.
In 1957, Dr. Kenneth Hill and Dr. Shirl Graff opened the Hunter Medical Center.
In 1960, Dr. J. Robert Poulsen and Dr. Maurice Baker joined the Granger Medical Center.
In 1960, Dr. William W. Barney joined the Kearns Medical Center.
In 1961, the area welcomed its first medical specialist: Dr. Wallace L. Chambers, a surgeon, who joined the Granger Medical Center.
These pioneering doctors laid the foundation for modern healthcare on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley, bringing essential services closer to home for thousands of families.
Granger Medical Center- Market Street
Hunter Medical Office 6000 West
