Announcing Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives, 9-2-20

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Borgelt, PharmD, MBA, as Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, effective September 14. In this new role, Dr. Borgelt will lead planning efforts that build on the strengths of our university and position us for even greater impact and visibility in the years to come.

Dr. Borgelt will report to me and serve on the Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet. She will work closely with the senior leadership team to implement a strategic visioning process, and to design and execute key campus-level initiatives. Among her first priorities will be leading the development of a new strategic plan for CU Anschutz, as our current plan ends in 2020. Dr. Borgelt will also provide direction for our campuswide digital education activities, as well as support partnerships and collaborations that strengthen each of our mission areas.

For 20 years, Dr. Borgelt has served the CU Anschutz Medical Campus as an educator, clinician, scholar and administrator, most recently as Associate Dean of Administration and Operations and Professor at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She has held critical roles in developing and implementing strategic planning efforts for the pharmacy school, our campus, the university, state and national governments, and professional organizations. Highlights include developing our interprofessional education program when it was in its infancy, chairing Faculty Council, and initiating efforts in university strategic planning for healthcare. Her breadth of experience will be an asset for ensuring a collaborative, inclusive environment for our strategic initiatives going forward.

An innovator in her field, Dr. Borgelt was integral to the recent development of online academic degree offerings in cannabis science and medicine that launched this summer, helping to fill a national educational void and making CU Pharmacy the first in Colorado to offer graduate studies in this emerging area. A prolific researcher and board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist, she is regularly called upon for her expertise in areas spanning women’s health and patient safety, cannabis science and medicine, and curricular development and faculty peer assessment.

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Borgelt has taught nearly 4,000 students and residents, and over 100,000 healthcare professionals from pharmacy, medicine, nursing, dental medicine and physical therapy. As a clinician at UCHealth A.F. Williams Family Medicine Clinic, her role in helping providers find cost-effective treatment regimens has helped thousands of patients. Dr. Borgelt has been recognized for excellence with numerous awards for teaching and mentorship, the University of Colorado Elizabeth D. Gee Memorial Lectureship Award, and selection for the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program. 

It is a privilege to have someone as accomplished and forward-thinking as Dr. Borgelt stepping into this essential position. The leadership team and I are excited to work closely with her, and the broader campus community, to chart our course for the future.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Borgelt to this new role.