University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics

Brandi Freeman, MD (Assistant Professor, Section of General Pediatrics), has accepted the newly created role of Associate Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This important position will provide strategic vision and leadership for diversity, equity and inclusion within the Department and in partnership with stakeholders across the University, School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the community at-large.

As Associate Vice Chair, Dr. Freeman will lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies that enhance our clinical, educational, and research programs in alignment with our shared institutional mission and hospital goals.

Dr. Freeman received her Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, completed pediatric residency training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and from 2011-2013, was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2014 she received her Master of Science in Health Policy Research from the Perelman School of Medicine. She joined the University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado in 2013 as an attending physician in the Child Health Clinic and has served as the Faculty Liaison for Diversity in Pediatric Resident Education and Recruitment. Since 2018 she has served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Pediatrics.

Dr. Freeman has been a mentor for the Tour for Diversity in Medicine since its inception in 2012. She is currently the Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates of the National Medical Association, Vice President of the Mile High Medical Society (Colorado NMA Local Affiliate) and a founding member of the University of Colorado Organization for Racial and Ethnic Support (UCOLORES) Steering Committee. She has been recognized by our educational community regionally and nationally for dedicated service on behalf of trainees including our 2019 Faculty Recruitment Award presented by the Pediatric Residency Program, the Children’s Hospital Colorado Diversity Champion Award, and the CU of Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Student National Medical Association Diversity Champion Award.

Recent community and national events have challenged us more than ever to understand each other better, to value the all differences that make our communities so diverse, and to address the inequity, disparity and racism that still threaten and marginalize many. This is important, difficult work to undertake. Many faculty and staff in our Department have risen to this challenge, have engaged in conversation, and feel moved to action. We are excited to have Dr. Freeman join the Department’s Faculty Affairs, DOP leadership and section faculty teams in further support of our important work together. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Freeman and welcoming her into this new role.

Sincerely,

Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Pediatrics | University of Colorado School of Medicine
Pediatrician-in-Chief | Children’s Hospital Colorado

Andrew Sirotnak, MD
Professor and Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Director, Child Protection Team | Children's Hospital Colorado| The Kempe Center