The Park City Museum’s latest history column revisits how the Sisters of the Holy Cross and two medical professionals cared for Utah patients during the early AIDS epidemic.

Published Oct. 14, “The Sisters’ Finest Hour” is the final installment of a five-part series by David Nicholas and Stuart Stanek examining the Sisters’ work in Utah and Park City.

The account describes how Dr. Kristen Ries, physician assistant Maggie Snyder and colleagues at Salt Lake City’s Holy Cross Hospital provided care during a period of widespread fear and discrimination.

A University of Utah historical account identifies Ries and Snyder as pioneering providers who treated people with HIV and AIDS when other doctors turned patients away. Ries’ private practice was based at Holy Cross Hospital with support from the Sisters.

The museum describes patients who had lost employment, insurance and family support. The hospital cared for them regardless of their ability to pay.

“Holy Cross Hospital was the only hospital that responded to the AIDS epidemic,” Holy Cross Ministries CEO Emmie Gardner told the Park Record in October.

Connections to Park City

The Sisters founded Holy Cross Hospital in 1875. Their work later extended to Park City, where they opened a clinic staffed by physician assistant Mike Anderson and Dr. Thomas Schwenk, according to the museum.

The hospital also took over the area’s ambulance service and purchased a new $30,000 vehicle. It committed $5 million toward a proposed hospital at Kimball Junction on eight donated acres, but those hospital plans were not completed.

The Sisters sold their Utah health system in 1994, according to the congregation’s history. That same year, they established Holy Cross Ministries to continue serving underserved communities.

Ries also joined University of Utah Health Care in 1994, where she directed infectious disease and HIV clinics, the university’s account states.

Gardner told the Park Record that the Sisters supported a mobile clinic and later loaned money to help establish People’s Health Clinic.

Ries and Snyder’s work is chronicled in the 2018 documentary “Quiet Heroes,” directed by Jenny Mackenzie with co-directors Jared Ruga and Amanda Stoddard.

The two were among the announced honorees for Holy Cross Ministries’ Oct. 8 Autumn Harvest Benefit at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Park City.

People’s Health Clinic continues to provide health care for uninsured residents in the area.