Community

Denver’s estimated population was over 716,000 in 2020. The city’s population is about 27.9 % Latino/Hispanic (predominately Mexican American) and 10% Black/African American; 24.4% of the population speaks a language other than English at home.

Denver’s diversity continues to grow alongside its population. Around the city, you will find neighborhoods as disparate as the Highlands with its hipster breweries and luxury condominiums; Athmar Park where you can get an authentic Vietnamese Bahn Mi; Five Points, a historically African American neighborhood; and Montbello, home to one of Denver’s several predominantly Spanish-speaking communities. In addition, Denver is home to thousands of refugees from around the world, boasts a vibrant LGBTQ community, and, as the state capitol, is the state’s center of political discourse and activism.

Denver is also home to many of our residents and attendings, who live in a wide variety of diverse neighborhoods. With 300 days of sunshine each year, our residents are often found hiking and rock climbing in one of the many nearby state parks, attending concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheater, cheering at Rockies baseball games, skiing in Breckenridge, or enjoying one of Denver’s many breweries. 

Residents also enjoy Denver’s arts and culture, including the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and a blossoming food scene. With unbeatable metropolitan amenities nestled in a striking Western landscape, the Mile High City certainly has something for everyone.

Aurora is not only the Denver metro’s largest suburb; its estimated 2023 population of 395,00 makes it Colorado’s third largest city, behind only Denver and Colorado Springs. Geographically, the city of Aurora is larger than Denver. Known for its diversity, Aurora’s population is about 30% Hispanic/Latino and 16% Black/African American, and it houses refugees and immigrants from many countries. 

The Anschutz Medical Campus is Aurora’s second largest public employer (behind Buckley Airforce base) and Children’s Hospital Colorado is its largest private employer. It’s also home to many of our residents and faculty, who appreciate the somewhat more affordable housing, diverse neighborhoods and cuisine, easy access to our clinics and hospitals, and easy access to the outdoors and cultural activities.  

Our residents have many opportunities to engage with and learn from our communities during their training. Our longitudinal Population Health and Community Engagement (PHACE) curriculum provides residents with the opportunity to: 

• Identify health inequities and take steps towards mitigation.

• Identify and address the social determinants of health that affect patients and populations.

• Engage with community groups and public health entities to promote the wellness of individuals and communities served.

• Advocate for policy changes to improve the health of the people served.

Taught through lectures, field trips, hands-on experiences, projects, and workshops; we partner with community-based organizations and public health professionals, policymakers, lobbyists, and a local elementary school. 

Throughout their training, residents’ knowledge and skills to care for the diverse populations of Denver and Aurora increase, as do their ability to apply these skills to serve different communities in their future practices.

• A.F. William’s Community Engagement Committee
  
  
• Our resident/faculty-led working groups, including:
  
  
  • Community Advocacy Journal Club
    
    
  • Social Justice Work Group
    
    
• A variety of resident- and faculty-initiated research and quality improvement projects designed to address health inequities and understand population health.

We are committed to training the next generation of family physicians whose varied backgrounds empower them to provide more equitable health care for their patients.

We strive to provide an inclusive environment for all residents. As one of the nation’s top institutions for Family Medicine training, our program is proud to attract competitive applicants from across the country with unique paths to family medicine.

Our residents are privileged to serve a diverse patient population that includes refugees, immigrants, public school teachers, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and even other healthcare providers.  

We believe diverse perspectives strengthen the collective educational experience for our entire program, and we support residents and faculty who use their unique personal experiences to contribute to a thoughtful and welcoming community.

We believe that our diversity in thought, people, and experiences will make us better able to meet the health needs of future generations.

Learn more about the CU Department of Family Medicine's mission commitment to bridging the gap in health outcomes.

The University of Colorado School of Medicine is also working on these issues at all levels of the graduate and post-graduate education spectrum!