Patricia A Gabow

Patricia A. Gabow, MD, is a national healthcare leader who has focused on the care of vulnerable populations and the institutions that serve them. She spent 40 years at Denver Health, a highly integrated healthcare system and Colorado's major safety net institution. The last 20 of those years was as CEO, retiring in 2012.She began her career as an academic clinician and researcher in the area of renal disease. Gabow's healthcare leadership career led from head of the renal service to director...See more

Patricia A. Gabow, MD, is a national healthcare leader who has focused on the care of vulnerable populations and the institutions that serve them. She spent 40 years at Denver Health, a highly integrated healthcare system and Colorado's major safety net institution. The last 20 of those years was as CEO, retiring in 2012.She began her career as an academic clinician and researcher in the area of renal disease. Gabow's healthcare leadership career led from head of the renal service to director of the medical services (chair) to the system's medical director to CEO. While CEO she transformed a struggling public hospital system into a model integrated, high-quality, fiscally stable system.As healthcare and health policy leader, Gabow has served on the Commonwealth Commission on a High Performing Health System, the federal Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), is currently on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Board (2013-2024) and chairs the Lown Institute Board.She has authored over 130 articles, 36 book chapters, and two books, including The Lean Prescription: Powerful Medicine for Our Ailing Healthcare System and TIME'S NOW for Women Healthcare Leaders: A Guide for the Journey.Gabow's numerous awards include the American Medical Association Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Public Service, the Association of Medical College's David E. Rogers Award, the Health Quality Leader Award from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, The National Healthcare Leadership Award, the Gustav O. Lienhard Award from the National Academy of Medicine, and the Ohtli Award from the Mexican government.She was elected to the Association for Manufacturing Hall of Fame and the National Academy for Social Insurance. Gabow has received honorary degrees from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the University of Denver.She graduated from Seton Hill University and the Perlman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. She is Professor Emerita of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a Master of the American College of Physicians. See less