Joel Schwartzkopf, a physician assistant with the CSU Health Network, has been named one of Northern Colorado’s “40 Under Forty” community leaders by BizWest.
The program recognizes 40 up-and-coming business leaders under 40 years of age who are making their mark on their communities through success in their professions and volunteer activities outside of work.
Schwartzkopf was selected out of a field of 70 nominations and will take his place on stage during the annual event at the Lincoln Center on Nov. 2 at 5:30 p.m.
“It’s an honor to be a recipient of this award, as I know so many great leaders in our community have received it in the past, and they have left some big shoes to fill,” Schwartzkopf said. “I’m proud to be representing CSU among an impressive class of other young professionals. It’s a joy to be a part of this community and to run into my patients around campus and see the positive impacts that we make in their lives. I’m looking forward to helping the Health Network grow as we settle in to our new building, and I’m thankful for the opportunity that they’ve given me to finish my MBA studies and pursue non-clinical leadership opportunities as well.”
Schwartzkopf works in the Health Network Medical Services acute care clinic, where students can seek care without an appointment for conditions that demand immediate attention, such as accident, injury, or the sudden onset of severe illness.
According to BizWest, when Schwartzkopf started in early 2016, the acute care clinic was staffed by other providers who volunteered for half-day shifts. He proposed a new staffing model that mirrored the urgent-care and emergency-room workflows he used in the past.
“As a result, we now staff longer shifts and have a more regular schedule that maximizes efficiency and allows providers to better use their time,” Schwartzkopf told BizWest.
Schwartzkopf is currently developing a narcotic-prescribing policy that will help improve treatment of acute pain and ensure that the Health Network is doing its part to help combat the opioid-abuse crisis, according to the BizWest award citation. He’s also studying for his master’s in business administration at CSU and plans to graduate in 2019.
Schwartzkopf is a member of the local Elks Club, through which he sponsors a scholarship. He and his wife sponsor a scholarship at the University of Wyoming in memory of his mother, who was an alumna and faculty member there. He also works in a mentorship program for youths at his church.
