EPH unveils new ultrasound with needle biopsy capabilities
Project funded by 2024 Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo campaign
The newest piece of equipment in the Diagnostic Imaging department of Estes Park Health was purchased through the generous fundraising efforts of the 2024 Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo candidates.
The ten candidates for Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo raised a record-breaking amount of money during the 2024 campaign. Altogether, these volunteers gathered $120,000 to fund a brand-new ultrasound needle biopsy machine for the hospital. This technology will – among other things – help with finding cancers and evaluating treatment. Medical professionals can now perform needle biopsies at EPH using this new piece of equipment.
“Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo has done a little bit of magic once again for the Estes Valley,” said Sherry Unruh, Chairperson of the Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo subcommittee of Fund Development for the Estes Park Health Foundation. “This community is blessed to have had ten candidates in the Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo Competition last June and every single one of them contributed no less than $2,000 to this effort. Many went way beyond that. Elana Nedobukh raised the most money was crowned Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo 2024.”
Nedobukh could not have done this all by herself. She had nine other women supporting her and contributing to the health and well-being of Estes Valley patients. The other candidates were Ania Leahy, Breeyan Edwards, Candy Wall, Carissa Streib, Kate Arterburn, Katie Bohlke, Maggie Rothermel, Sarah Fink, and Shari Hightower.
“From garage sales to video bingo to sponsorships from local businesses, the Mrs. Rooftop candidates went over and above any other candidates from years past to raise enough money for this fabulous machine which also spawned a new line of care at Estes Park Health,” Unruh added.
Founded in 2016, the Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo program has raised almost a half million dollars. The group will again be sponsoring the Paint Estes Pink/Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo competition in 2025 with the help and support of the Estes Park Health Foundation. This partnership has been in place since 2017. With the help of Sue Cooper, Chairperson, and her Board as well as the Estes Park Health administration, the program looks to maintain its mission of raising funds to support the care, treatment, and diagnosis of people fighting cancer and other diseases.
Support from EPH Radiologist Dr. John Knudtson has also been a relationship of mutual respect and admiration. His guidance has helped make the diagnostic imaging department at EPH into a state-of-the-art facility.
Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo has contributed to or been the sole fundraiser for the new DEXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) bone scanning machine, a new 3D mammography machine, the outfitting of the wound clinic, a pending make-over of the infusion center, a new MRI machine, new infusion pumps for those taking their cancer treatments at the hospital, and many other services and care necessities.
The Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo competition is held in conjunction with Estes Park’s Rooftop Rodeo the first week of July each year. The town’s support, along with the support of Rooftop Rodeo leadership, has been a major factor in the success this program has enjoyed over the last eight years.
The program’s founder, Linda Moak, and the chairperson, Sherry Unruh, are grateful for the many hours candidates and committee volunteers have put into the program.
“We hope that many Estes Park women will consider becoming candidates for the 2025 Rodeo season and experience the phenomenon that is Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo,” Unruh remarked “The joy of contributing cancer diagnostics, care, and treatment to those fighting the cancer battle is overwhelming. We invite you to accept the challenge to help your friends and neighbors in need. Whether as a candidate or donor, your involvement is essential.”
Capabilities of New Ultrasound Machine
“The 2024 Mrs. Rooftop Rodeo was extremely successful,” said registered sonographer and radiographer Marcy Kimbro. “They always are in raising the money, making people aware in the community, and now we have yet another state-of-the-art, brand new 2024 ultrasound machine.”
This modality uses sound to produce images of the inside of the body. These images help EPH’s onsite radiologist, Dr. John Knudtson, determine if there is an injury or disease process going on.
“We can capture images of fatty liver disease or kidney stones or gall bladder disease,” Kimbro explained. “We can possibly find cancers like bladder cancer or prostate cancer or breast cancer. We can do a carotid ultrasound to find plaque in the vessels. We can look for reproductive issues in the ovaries, uterus, IUD placements, and many more things.”
Ultrasound technologist Debbie Sells said the old ultrasound machine was not new to begin with and was reaching the end of its life.
“Machines become outdated pretty quickly in this day and age,” Sells stated. “The newer functions on this machine will allow us to offer some new services. This piece of equipment will allow us the detail that it takes us to perform needle aspirations and needle biopsies.”
A trainer from the company that makes the new ultrasound needle biopsy machine was at EPH last week training the three sonographers who will be using it. The applications specialist works for Philips, the company that makes the EPIQ Elite Diagnostic Ultrasound system now in use. She brainstormed with the people who use the machine to add capabilities they need and take away those they don’t need.
The machine is vital in keeping Estes Valley patients from having to drive a long way to get a quick diagnostic test. Now that EPH can perform needle biopsies, local patients can get an appointment – and possibly an answer – more quickly.
Sells pointed out that the most enjoyable part of her job performing ultrasounds is the direct patient interaction.
“We can teach the patient about something they may see on the screen,” she noted. “They want to know what it is. We can describe certain basic functions of the machine. It helps to educate the community as well as make them feel comfortable.”
To listen to a podcast about the new ultrasound capabilities at Estes Park Health, go to