In honor of Women’s History Month and the Chamber’s Women’s Forum, the Colorado Chamber is recognizing women business leaders, executives and job creators who are core to our local Colorado communities. Each of the women featured in the month of March are panelists for the Colorado Chamber’s Women’s Forum happening on March 26.
Today’s feature is Donna Lynne with Denver Health
Donna Lynne is the chief executive officer of Denver Health, Colorado’s primary safety-net health system serving patients and communities across the state for more than 165 years. A lifelong public servant, Lynne has built her career in both government and health care with a consistent focus on improving the lives and well-being of others.
She has spent the entirety of her career in public service in New York and Colorado. From serving as executive vice president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. to becoming Colorado’s lieutenant governor and chief operating officer, the first person to hold both roles concurrently, her path has been anything but linear. Nearly evenly split between health care and government, her career reflects a conscious decision to work on the inside to have the greatest possible impact.
Lynne joined Denver Health in fall 2022 after four years in New York City during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. There, she led pandemic relief efforts for 23,000 employees at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and approximately 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Eager to return to Colorado and the active lifestyle she values, she stepped into leadership at Denver Health and quickly gained an even deeper appreciation for the organization’s reach and impact.
Denver Health serves 62 of Colorado’s 64 counties and cares for more than 200,000 patients each year. The system operates 19 school-based health centers that provide medical, dental and behavioral health care to more than 15,000 Denver Public Schools students and their siblings annually. It also runs the ambulance system for the City and County of Denver. In February, Denver Health unveiled a “Most Trusted” banner highlighting its vision of being the most trusted health care provider in Colorado and recognizing the more than 8,700 employees who serve patients, families and communities every day.
Lynne’ advice to aspiring female leaders is to take risks, seek mentorship and remain open to change.
“Take risks. This is especially important for women business owners and leaders. I am also a big believer in mentorship. Seek mentorship and be a mentor to others. You never know where those mentorships might lead. Finally, be open to change because change is a given,” said Lynne.
Through decades of leadership in both public office and health care, Donna Lynne continues to lead with purpose and a deep commitment to building healthier communities across Colorado.
Learn more about Denver Health by visiting their website at https://www.denverhealth.org.
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