Located in Western Montana
107 6th Ave SW, Ronan, MT 59864

Sometimes the most meaningful improvements in healthcare begin with a simple question: How can we do better for our community?

For St. Luke Community Healthcare, the answer was years in the making.

Nearly two decades ago, hospital leaders set aside space during a major renovation for a future MRI suite. They didn’t know exactly when the need would arise or how the project would be funded, but they believed the day would come when local access to advanced imaging would be essential for the people of Lake County.

That day arrived through the experience of one local patient.

In late 2021, John Zarling a donor and supporter of the St. Luke Foundation experienced firsthand the challenges many rural patients face when access to advanced diagnostic imaging is limited. At the time, MRI services were provided through a mobile unit that visited Ronan on a limited schedule, creating delays for patients awaiting important diagnostic information.

The experience prompted Zarling to think beyond his own situation and consider the needs of others in the community.

“Because I felt St. Luke’s patients having to wait six weeks for an MRI was unfair, I chatted with Steve Todd (CEO) about the need to add an MRI as another diagnostic tool to the Imaging Center at our hospital,” Zarling said.

What followed was a powerful example of what can happen when community members, hospital leadership, the Board of Directors, grant partners, and donors unite to raise funds around a common goal. Together, they helped transform a long-held vision into reality.

Today, the permanent MRI at St. Luke serves patients Monday through Friday, providing faster access to answers when they need them most.

MRI Technologist Robbi Leibenguth sees the impact firsthand. Patients are being scheduled more quickly, exams are completed faster, and people can receive care closer to home rather than traveling long distances. The MRI suite was designed with patient comfort in mind, helping create a calmer experience during what is often a stressful time.

The benefits reach far beyond individual patients. Local physicians now have immediate access to the diagnostic information they need to guide treatment decisions. Specialists in Kalispell and Missoula are referring patients to St. Luke because of the quality of the imaging and the ability to be seen promptly. The MRI also supports services such as St. Luke’s Pain Management Clinic, where imaging helps guide treatment plans that improve quality of life.

For Robbi, the MRI also represents something else: opportunity. With advanced training and national certification, she is helping position St. Luke for future growth and expanded services as community needs continue to evolve.

The MRI is more than a piece of equipment. It is a reminder of what is possible when people invest in their community. One conversation sparked by a patient’s experience, combined with years of vision and the generosity of donors, has created a lasting resource that will benefit families throughout our region for generations to come.

Because when a community sees a need and chooses to act, there truly is a way.