Children’s Colorado Leaders Receive Denver Business Journal Awards

This year, three of our leaders were honored by the Denver Business Journal. They have championed innovations, fostered community connections, and consistently elevated the standard of care delivered at Children’s Colorado.

Outstanding Women in Business award winner, Pat Givens

Pat Givens, chief nursing executive and senior vice president of patient care services, has proven her mettle as a leader at Children’s Colorado time and again. Each year, the Denver Business Journal recognizes outstanding women in business who are innovators, leaders and game-changers.

Under Pat’s leadership, the hospital has achieved Magnet designation for the fourth consecutive time. Additionally, Children's Colorado has increased youth mental health service capacity by more than 50% across the entire system of care in less than a year. Pat’s top priority is to retain and recruit top nursing talent and has worked with her team to develop several innovative programs, which have increased retention, recruiting and satisfaction among staff. She serves as a commissioner of the American Nurses Credentialing Center on Magnet Recognition and on the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence board.  

Trailblazer award winner, Michelle Lucero

Michelle Lucero, chief administrative officer, leads the risk management, compliance, accreditation, legal and cybersecurity teams at Children’s Colorado. Trailblazer Award Nominees were judged on their leadership, contributions and innovations within their organization, and their community involvement.

Michelle’s leadership style is empowering and supportive. When she isn’t supporting her team, Michelle is busy in the community, serving on several boards, including Vectra Bank Colorado, Boettcher Foundation, and U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper's Judicial Advisory Selection Committee.

C-Suite award winner, Raphe Schwartz

Raphe Schwartz, chief strategy officer, was honored with the Denver Business Journal’s C-Suite Award, which recognizes executives who demonstrate vital leadership and business savvy to guide their companies to success. Raphe oversees Children’s Colorado’s strategy, business development, partnerships, physician relations, clinically integrated network and 10 nationally leading service lines. Raphe also leads local and national partnerships with 15 hospitals across the region and has doubled the number of partnerships during the past five years.

Raphe also led the Precision Medicine program strategy and advanced services to bring genomics, rapid diagnosis and personalized treatments to our hospital. Thanks largely to Raphe’s strategic vision and planning, Children’s Colorado will be a leader in pediatric precision medicine.