April 7, 2023
DENVER – Denver Health and Denver’s Department of Public Safety (DOS) have announced that Shea Gilliam, MD, is the new Public Safety Medical Director to lead the clinical performance of Public Safety’s emergency medical response services, including the Denver Fire Department emergency medical technicians and Denver 9-1-1.
Gilliam is a board certified emergency medicine and emergency medical services (EMS) physician, and comes with a wealth of experience in prehospital technical rescue and in medical direction for multiple EMS and fire rescue entities. He was born and raised in the Denver area, attending the University of Colorado Boulder and completed medical school at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. In addition to training with Denver Health as a Chief Emergency Medicine Resident and EMS Fellow, Dr. Gilliam has also served as an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
“Dr. Gilliam brings great expertise to this new role,” said Donna Lynne, DrPH, Denver Health Chief Executive Officer. “This position is a reflection of our commitment to public safety and strengthens our partnership with the City and County of Denver. We are looking forward to seeing the impact the new public safety medical director will have on our continued cooperation and service to the health and safety of our community.”
The Public Safety Medical Director is jointly overseen by the Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief Medical Officer of Denver Health.
“The city and Denver Health have a long-standing commitment to accountability, transparency and collaboration that ensures anyone in need of these services, no matter where they are, when they call in for help, they will continue to receive the best possible medical care we both can provide,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “This new Medical Director will enhance our mandate to protect the health and safety of all our residents and, most importantly, to save lives, and we’re proud to welcome Dr. Gilliam to this important emergency response work.”
This is a new position resulting from the 2023 operating agreement between the City and County of Denver and DHHA. The Public Safety Medical Director is an employee of Denver Health and is required to hold a faculty appointment with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. This position will work closely with the Medical Director of the Denver Health Paramedic Division to ensure EMS administrative, operational, and clinical components are cohesive and complementary to each other.
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