Caregiver Feature 
Caregivers at Monument Health are woven into the fabric of our communities. They are neighbors, friends and family – sometimes all three.
In the Black Hills, nearly everyone knows someone who works at Monument Health. For the Stover family, that connection runs deeper. Denise, Brooke, Brad and Julia don’t just share a bond through family, they also share a commitment to serving others through their work in health care.
At many organizations, four immediate family members working at the same company would be rare. However, it’s fairly common at Monument Health, the largest private employer in Western South Dakota. Monument Health employs more than 5,600 people across its five hospitals and over 40 medical clinics and specialty centers.
In the Fall 2023 issue we featured Lito and Lucita Casilang and their daughter Sandra Gruenig, a family originally from the Philippines who all work at Rapid City Hospital. Their passion for patient care rang loudly, and the same can be said for the Stover family.
Denise’s Story
The family’s passion for patient care begins with Denise Stover. Currently the Director of Healthcare Informatics, Denise started her career 35 years ago as a licensed practical nurse in an outpatient clinic.
After 11 years of outpatient care, Denise transitioned to an inpatient role at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, recalling the early years of her husband bringing the kids to the hospital to have dinner with her on her breaks.
Reflecting on her transition from nursing to IT, Denise said, “I would have never guessed that my career would have taken the path that it did. I’ve been at Monument Health this long because I could make changes when I needed to for my family. There has always been a spot for me, and I could always find advancement.”
Following in their Mother’s Footsteps
One of those children brought to the hospital to eat dinner with her mom was Brooke Hochstetter, LPN, the eldest of Denise’s children. Inspired by her mother’s nursing career, Brooke received her licensed practical nursing degree during COVID-19 and currently works in the procedure room and clinic at Heart and Vascular Institute vein clinic. She also recently applied to further her education and become a registered nurse.
With previous experience at a dermatology clinic, Brooke started considering Monument Health as an employer after learning about the tuition reimbursement offered, the overall benefits package and the supportive team environment.
New to her position, Brooke has come to appreciate the teamwork on her floor and the willingness of colleagues to teach her.
Next comes Brad Stover, LPN, younger brother to Brooke and youngest son to Denise. Currently a licensed practical nurse at Orthopedic & Specialty Hospital, Brad was inspired to go into health care through his own lived experiences.
“A competitive bicycle racer in my youth, I was an orthopedic patient all my life, and I was just really fascinated with orthopedics,” said Brad. “I like to see progress with our patients and see them heal and get better.”
Brad also appreciates the opportunities available at Monument Health, saying he feels his skills improve each day while making a difference. He also feels confident that Monument Health will always have a place for him, even when he is ready to move into another type of nursing or position.
“There are very few organizations in the area that offer so much variety,” said Brad. “You can still have your title as a nurse, and you can go to so many different departments and do a different style of nursing.”
A Nurse with a Calling
Finally, we have Julia Stover, RN, the final feature of the Stover Monument Health family unit. Married to Brad, Julia currently works at Cancer Care Institute as an Infusion Registered Nurse.
From Rapid City, Julia went to school in Sioux Falls before starting her career. She chose to move back to Rapid City after meeting Brad, getting a job at the Cancer Care Institute.
“I feel a great sense of purpose with my job,” said Julia. “I see people on the worst days of their lives, and I am proud that I can help make them feel better. I am also excited to be currently enrolled in a nurse practitioner program.”
When Patients Are Family
And just as much as Monument Health caregivers are like family, so are patients—sometimes literally.
When Denise’s mom—Brooke and Brad’s grandmother—had cancer, the family was relieved to know the quality of care she would be receiving at Cancer Care Institute.
“My mom has had three different bouts of cancer, and all three times she has gone to the Cancer Care Institute for care,” said Denise. “To know Julia is a part of that team is amazing. It is a wonderful feeling to see my family take part in bringing that to our community.”
Family, Community and Care
To the Stover family, working at Monument Health means providing care for community members as if they were family.
“At the end of the day, we’re always here for you,” said Denise. “The door is always open. You always have access to high-quality care, close to home, and I think that is such an important part of our community.”