Executive Director Bob Belknap, MD Shares His Background and PHIDH’s Next Steps

Robert Belknap, MD, is the Executive Director of the Public Health Institute at Denver Health (PHIDH).  Including his residency and fellowship training, Belknap has worked at Denver Health for 26 years. He recently stepped down after 10 years as medical director of the Tuberculosis Clinic at PHIDH, handing over this leadership position to incoming medical director Amy Beeson, MD. Read here about Dr. Belknap’s plans for PHIDH and its mission to promote health and racial equity.

Denver Health: You have worked at Denver Health half your life. What drew you to public health at Denver Health?

Bob Belknap: I was drawn to specialty training in infectious diseases because the work involves caring for underserved populations and often trying to solve mysteries. For research during fellowship, I gravitated to public health and received mentorship from Drs. Randall Reves, Bill Burman and Dave Cohn. They are outstanding clinicians, educators, researchers and leaders who showed me how rewarding a career in public health at Denver Health could be. I was fortunate to be hired here after fellowship and have been trying to live up to the examples they set ever since.

Denver Health: You have served as executive director of the Public Health Institute since August 2023. What are your goals?

Bob Belknap: Having public health embedded in an academic safety net health care system is unique. It has allowed us to develop expertise with integrating high-quality patient care, education, capacity building, technical assistance, and research into public health practice. Post-pandemic, public health is facing short-term and long-term shortages in the workforce. Expanding our ability to attract, train, hire and promote a diverse public health workforce is a high priority for us. Diversity is critical to building and maintaining trust with the community. Our long-term goal is to advance health and racial equity with communities.

Denver Health: There is a lot of uncertainty right now surrounding possible changes that the new administration may make to healthcare and health care policies. What’s your recipe for navigating uncertainty?

Bob Belknap: In uncertainty, the place we can return to is our core values of respect, belonging transparency and accountability. Reiterating these values are more important now than ever.

Denver Health: What keeps you up at night?

Bob Belknap: I worry about the impact that any cuts to funding streams may have on our patients and the community. I also worry that funding cuts could lead to greater health inequities.

Denver Health: Do you have a mantra?

Bob Belknap: “Be curious, not judgmental.” This is attributed to Walt Whitman, and it’s a wonderful way to approach life.