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Passing the torch at Monument Health Custer Hospital Rehabilitation Services

Kevin Sobolik (left) will take the reins of Rehab Services when Jim (right) retires.

Jim Simons, PT, Supervisor of Rehabilitation Services at Monument Health Custer Hospital, has spent a lot of time working in Custer. Actually, that’s a bit of an understatement — he’s been working at the Custer Hospital for over 30 years. “I’ve seen a lot of changes,” he said with a smile. “Monument Health brought a lot of stability to the Custer Hospital, and that was a really good thing.”

It’s clear that Jim is the kind of person people like working with. Whether it’s patients, doctors or caregivers, he greets them with a smile. Interacting with people has been the best part of his job, he said. Now, after a long tenure at Custer Hospital, he’s almost ready for retirement. “I feel like I’m ready to retire as a PT. The hard part is the people. I’m going to miss interacting with the people every day.”

Jim loved working with his team — the physical therapists, support staff, physicians and caregivers that he saw on a daily basis. But he’s particularly going to miss the time spent with patients. “Being a physical therapist, you develop a relationship with your patients, because you spend a lot of time with them,” Jim said. “More so than many other areas of medicine, you see a lot of patients on a recurring basis for months at a time. There’s just an incredible opportunity to develop personal connections in that time.”

Despite feeling ready to retire, Jim is glad that he has the opportunity to work with his replacement, Kevin Sobolik, PT, the new Supervisor of Rehabilitation Services at Monument Health Custer Hospital. “Kevin has worked over 10 years in Rapid City at a private therapy clinic and he’s got a lot of experience as a therapist. We’re so glad to have him on board.” Jim and Kevin have been working in concert for about two weeks, and will spend another two weeks before Jim officially retires.

“I feel really good stepping into this role,” said Kevin. “I know that when Jim leaves I won’t know every nuance, but he’s doing a great job preparing me for taking the lead when he goes.” While he may have a few things to learn, Kevin already has a lot working in his favor. He has over a decade of physical therapy experience in Rapid City and Hill City, and having lived in Hill City for ten years — and coached middle school wrestling there — he’s no stranger to the area and its community members.

Leadership is at the core of Jim’s role in Rehabilitation Services — not only as a supervisor, but also as a coach and mentor. That’s something that Kevin aspires to as well. “I think the greatest leaders teach people to become greater than they are, and it’s obvious to me that Jim has done that with his staff here,” Kevin said. “I hope to follow in his footsteps in that way.”

Jim is grateful for the experience he’s had at Custer Hospital. “If I could say anything, it would be a big thank you to Custer. I’ve enjoyed the whole Custer Market family. It’s a great team to be a part of. The physicians and caregivers are incredible, and the community itself is just wonderful,” Jim said thoughtfully. “There’s nowhere else I would have rather spent my career at than here.”

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