Mission Statement

To advocate at the local, state and federal government levels on behalf of Denver Health and Hospital Authority in support of strengthening the health care safety net to ensure access to quality services. To provide essential community-wide outreach programs while reinforcing Denver Health’s role as an important and valued member of the Denver community. 

Goals

• Maintain and promote Denver Health programs and health services.
• Maintain an integrated, coordinated and consistent message about Denver Health through internal and external channels.
• Keep all stakeholder groups engaged in Denver Health and its programs through education and financial support.
• Be responsive, accessible, proactive and forthright to stakeholder groups about Denver Health programs and services.
• Identify, analyze and respond to issue inquires quickly, accurately and appropriately.

Elbra Wedgeworth - Chief Government and Community Relations Officer Hon. Elbra Wedgeworth received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology/Anthropology from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California and began her public service career with the City of Denver in 1989.  Elbra has the unique distinction of being the only person, male or female in recent memory who has served in all three branches of city government in Denver: City Council, City Auditor’s Office and Mayor’s Office.  In December 1999, she was elected as the City Council Representative for District #8 then elected as Council President Pro-Tem (2002-2003) and Council President (2003-2005).  Elbra served as the President/Chair of the Board for the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee for the historic Democratic National Convention.  In 2008, she was elected as the President of the Denver Union Station Project Authority Board of Directors.  In 2007, Elbra was hired as the Chief Government and Community Relations Officer for the Denver Health and Hospital Authority where she is responsible for hospital policy matters on the local, state and federal level and also for community outreach initiatives.

Sarah Sills - Manager of Government Relations    Sarah Sills is currently the Manager of Government Relations for Denver Health and Hospital Authority. She is responsible for the organization’s state lobbying efforts as well as assisting with federal and local government relations efforts. Prior to joining Denver Health,  Sarah was a Management and Budget Analyst in Governor Bill Ritter’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting responsible for the following Colorado State department budgets: Agriculture; Health Care Policy and Financing; Human Services; and Transportation.    Sarah completed a fellowship in Economic Development at the Big Horn Center for Public Policy in 2006. She also has earned a Master of Science degree in Technical Communications and a Master of Public Administration degree, with honors from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in 2008.