About Us
Denver's Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) is dedicated to advancing Denver's environmental and public health goals. DDPHE works collaboratively with city, state and community partners to conduct education, community engagement, and enforcement to ensure healthy people, healthy pets, and a healthy environment.
Mission Statement
Empowering Denver’s Communities to Live Better, Longer
We do this by providing people with opportunities that support their well-being and by improving services that enrich our community.
Vision Statement
To be the best public health department in the country
We must address bias, inequity, and access by working together to build the public health system of the future.
Culture Statement
We foster an inclusive culture by respecting the values, customs, and authenticity of everyone, and by implementing equitable public health strategies so Denver communities can thrive.
Management Team
- Karin McGowan - Executive Director
- Alice Nightengale - Deputy Executive Director
- Ann Cecchine-Williams - Deputy Executive Director
- Melanie Sobel - Director, Animal Protection
- Emily Williams - Director, Communications & Marketing
- Tristan Sanders - Director, Community & Behavioral Health Division
- Gregg Thomas - Director, Environmental Quality Division
- James Caruso - Director, Office of the Medical Examiner
- Danica Lee - Director, Public Health Investigations Division
- Meggan Parezo - Director, Shared Services & Business Operations
Published Rules & Regulations
Animal Protection Division
Community & Behavioral Health Division
Environmental Quality Division
Public Health Investigations Division
Our Partners
DDPHE is a resource to our partners in other City of Denver agencies, and throughout the state, and we proactively work together to break down silos on every level. Our diversity of programming and services means we need partnerships to make an even bigger impact on the city we serve. We are proud to partner with regional public health agencies to protect and improve the lives of the people in our community.
Public Health Institute at Denver Health
Denver Department of Public Health & Environment partners with Public Health Institute at Denver Health to provide clinical care and educational opportunities to Denver residents.
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment serves Coloradans by providing public health and environmental protection services that promote healthy people in healthy places. Public health professionals use evidence-based practices in the public health and environmental fields to create the conditions in which residents can be healthy. In addition to maintaining and enhancing our core programs, the department continues to identify and respond to emerging issues affecting Colorado's public and environmental health.
Metro Denver Partnership for Health
DDPHE is a member of the Metro Denver Partnership for Health (MDPH), whose mission is to improve population health regionally with collective action.
MDPH is a a collaboration of regional leaders from the seven-county Denver metro area partnering to achieve their common goals of advancing health equity across the region.
MDPH is led by eight metro Denver public health partners (LPHAs) — Adams County Health Department, Arapahoe County Public Health, Boulder County Public Health, Broomfield Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver Department of Public Health & Environment, Douglas County Health Department, Jefferson County Public Health, and the Public Health Institute at Denver Health — that serve Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties.
MDPH’s work impacts roughly 3 million Coloradans, half of the state’s population, who live in this region.
Big Cities Health Coalition
Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) is a forum for the leaders of America’s largest metropolitan health departments to exchange strategies and jointly address issues to promote and protect the health and safety of the 61 million people they serve. Together, these public health officials directly affect the health and well-being of nearly one in five Americans.
Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials
Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials (CALPHO)is the professional association representing the leadership, staff and partners of Colorado’s local public health agencies. CALPHO supports their vital, community-focused public health activities by encouraging system-level improvements.
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