50 years of keeping Colorado healthy
With a radically simple idea that everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy life, Henry J. Kaiser and Dr. Sidney Garfield partnered to revolutionize health care and launch Kaiser Permanente in 1945. The Kaiser Permanente difference – care and coverage offered together – quickly caught on, pushing Kaiser Permanente to the Rocky Mountains.
On July 1, 1969, we opened our doors in Denver. Today, Kaiser Permanente Colorado is made up of more than 640,000 members, 1,200 physicians, 6,700 employees and 31 medical offices. Our unwavering commitment to keeping Colorado healthy remains.

We believe that health isn’t an industry. It’s our mission. And together with partners across the state, we’re living out our mission to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve.
Colorado is a great place to work and an even better place to live. Kaiser Permanente is here to stay. We’re proud of where we’ve been and excited about where we’re headed – keeping Colorado healthy for another 50 years.
50 years of memories
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Former Kaiser Permanente Colorado President Donna Lynne and former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper celebrate the launch of Denver B-cycle, the first large-scale citywide bike sharing program in the U.S.
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This Kaiser Permanente Find Your Words mental health mural in Colorado Springs was commissioned in 2017.
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Kaiser Permanente physicians are recognized as Top Docs by their peers year after year.
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We’re proud to be the lead sponsor of the Colfax Marathon, Denver’s signature race.
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Rosie Sarvine was recognized as the Kaiser Permanente East Employee of the Season in 1986.
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We love interacting with Colorado kids in programs offered through our Educational Theatre Program and Thriving Schools campaign.
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Kaiser Permanente pediatrician, Megan Lederer, M.D., followed in her father’s footsteps when she decided to go into medicine. Dr. Robert Lederer practiced with Kaiser Permanente for more than 40 years.
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Actors with the Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater Program have been strengthening the health of Colorado communities through the arts for more than 35 years. Here, a group of Colorado kids are engaged in a performance of Health Team 4.
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With six physicians and 712 members, we leased two floors of our Franklin medical office upon opening in 1969.
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Kaiser Permanente stands strong in our commitment to equity and inclusion for all. Diversity, inclusion, acceptance and equity are our top priorities for our employees, patients and the communities we serve.
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This Find Your Words mural appears along Broadway St. in downtown Denver.
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Less than 10 years after expanding to Colorado, we celebrate our 50,000th member in 1978.
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Our early physicians were instrumental in Kaiser Permanente’s rapid success and growth in Colorado.
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Chris P. Broccoli helps educate Coloradans on the importance of eating your veggies and filling up on healthy foods!
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A team of local artists and children assist in the creation of our Pueblo Find Your Words mural.
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As the state’s largest nonprofit health plan, Kaiser Permanente has invested in Colorado communities since 1969, including more than $1 billion in the last 10 years alone.
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We’ve been committed to the health and well-being of our members since day one.
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Dozens of health-focused nonprofits and state and county programs joined us for an expo at the University of Denver’s Cable Center commemorating the premiere of HBO Documentary Films’ Weight of the Nation in 2012.
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Our medical offices feature more than 900 pieces from 700 Colorado artists. In 2014, we commissioned a five-story display from Lyons artist John King for our Lone Tree Medical Offices.
Have your own memory of Kaiser Permanente? We’d love to see it! Post the photo or video on social media with the hashtag #KPCO50Years.
50 years of remarkable stories


Denver Mayor Hancock helps Kaiser Permanente Celebrate 50 Years in Colorado
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Christine Benero with Mile High United Way helps Kaiser Permanente Celebrate 50 Years in Colorado
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Kelly Brough with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce helps Kaiser Permanente Celebrate 50 Years in Colorado
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Kathy Nesbitt, Vice President of Administration, University of Colorado discusses the benefits of Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care model and the diversity of its workforce.
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Lynne Telford, CEO of Care and Share Food Bank discusses how Kaiser Permanente has been involved with the organization since 2004.
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