At Denver Health, mission-driven healthcare is not just a concept – it is embedded into the culture and daily operations of the organization. For Boettcher Alums Nicholas Breitnauer (2005) and Ashesh Thaker (2000), the choice to work at Denver Health was a natural one, as both Alums possess a commitment to making an impact in their careers.
Dr. Nicholas Breitnauer’s path to medicine began very early on growing up in the small town of Cedaredge, where his father worked as a pharmacist. Breitnauer was always inspired by the intersection of science and human connection, which led him to eventually pursuing medical school at the University of Colorado Anschutz after his undergraduate time at CU. He chose to be a part of the rural track program, enabling him to gain exposure to community-based healthcare. After his medical training in internal medicine and pediatrics, Dr. Breitnauer stayed at Denver Health, where he now serves as a primary care provider in one of its federally qualified health centers in southwest Denver.
For Dr. Breitnauer, that clarity of Denver Health’s purpose made it the ideal place to practice medicine.
“It’s a service-forward mission,” he explains. “You don’t have to comb through a mission statement to figure out what you’re doing. You know that you’re taking care of all types of people from all backgrounds, regardless of their ability to pay.”
Beyond patient care, Dr. Breitnauer plays an active role in medical education, mentoring students and residents who rotate through his clinic.
“Teaching is baked into our culture at Denver Health,” he says. “It keeps you engaged, helps with burnout, and builds relationships that continue long after training.”
Another element of Denver Health’s mission-driven culture that resonates with Breitnauer is the community outreach that extends beyond the clinic walls. From back-to-school backpack drives to holiday events for families, Dr. Breitnauer understands the importance of meeting patients where they are.
“A lot of our patients live in subsidized housing right next to our clinic,” he says. “They see us not just as doctors, but as part of their community.”
Dr. Breitnauer wears multiple hats, serving meaningful roles at Denver Health and for his patients. One example is his role as the medical director for Denver Health’s Adult Down Syndrome Clinic — the only one of its kind in Colorado.
“The work we do at Denver Health has ripple effects across the region. We see that through improving the care of adults with intellectual disability. We see that in quality improvement in their lives,” he says.
Dr. Breitnauer is also involved in providing care for patients recovering from substance use, another area where Denver Health leads the way in comprehensive, evidence-based treatment.
“We’re in an era where, with the right treatments, people can effectively rebuild their lives,” he says. “It’s rewarding to be part of that.”
Expanding Impact Through Leadership: Dr. Ashesh Thaker
For Dr. Ashesh Thaker, the journey to Denver Health was shaped by a passion for neuroscience. Dr. Thaker, originally from Greeley, attended CU Boulder for his undergraduate years and then spent time at various educational and research institutions, including University of California Los Angeles, the National Institutes of Health, the University of Pennsylvania, and University of California San Francisco, honing his craft in neuroradiology.
While Dr. Thaker enjoyed the experiences at multiple high-quality organizations across the country, he always knew that Colorado was home; and, once he had the opportunity, he’d be ready to contribute to Colorado’s top tier medical institutions. In 2016, he returned to join the faculty at CU Anschutz. Seven years later, he was ready for a new challenge that offered both academic rigor and the chance to serve a diverse patient population. That’s when he found Denver Health.
“I realized I could continue training the same residents, engage in research, and provide a much-needed service to a different community,” Dr. Thaker explains.
Now, as chair of radiology at Denver Health, he oversees a team of 20 radiologists, 10 residents, and more than 140 support staff. His role is a blend of clinical work, education, research, and administration, each aspect contributing to the broader mission of equitable healthcare. Dr. Thaker sees Denver Health as a place where medicine is practiced with purpose.
“Everyone here believes in the mission,” he says. “It’s different from other academic institutions where there’s great work being done, but not necessarily a unifying purpose in the same way.”
His impact extends into research, where he leads neuroimaging efforts for the CU Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognition Center. He is also actively working to expand Denver Health’s capabilities in stroke care, aiming to fill a critical gap in Denver’s medical landscape.
“Right now, there’s no comprehensive stroke center in Denver proper,” he notes. “If someone is having a stroke two blocks from our hospital, they’re sent elsewhere. That needs to change.”
Beyond the hospital setting, Dr. Thaker is proud of Denver Health’s community partnerships, including school-based clinics, mental health services, and outreach programs that serve thousands of Denver residents. With the recent passage of a local funding measure, Denver Health is positioned to expand care in emergency medicine, primary care, pediatrics, and substance use treatment.
“Seeing that level of public support reaffirms the work we’re doing,” he says.
Full Circle: A Commitment to Colorado
Dr. Breitnauer and Dr. Thaker are proof that investing in local talent leads to lasting impact.
“The whole purpose of Boettcher is to keep promising young people in the state and doing great work here,” Dr. Thaker said. “After all my training out of state, I’m grateful to be back in Colorado, serving the community that raised me.”
For Dr. Breitnauer, the daily challenges of medicine are balanced by the impact he sees in his patients’ lives.
“It takes years to build trust, to develop those relationships, but when you do, you start to see real progress,” he says. “That’s what makes this work meaningful.”
At Denver Health, these Boettcher Alums are proving that mission-driven medicine goes far beyond just providing care – it’s about creating lasting change in the communities they serve.
That’s the spirit of Boettcher.
