Sara Schmitt

President & CEO

Sara Schmitt headshot

I Do This Work Because

Every one of us has had an experience related to health that has changed our lives, or the lives of those around us. I work to inform and advance sound health policy so that I may stay connected with those experiences and shape the ones yet to come.

Favorite Quote

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." – Gandalf, Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Favorite Place in Colorado

Pikes Peak summit

Favorite Activities

Reading, cooking, biking to work, running.

Sara Schmitt took over as President and CEO of the Colorado Health Institute in June 2023, after serving as interim since July 2022 and holding progressive leadership roles with the organization over the past decade. She oversees overall strategy and operations of the $6 million consultancy and directs the work of approximately 30 directors, program managers, and analysts.

In her role as Managing Director of Research, Evaluation, and Consulting, Sara supported the development and execution of all the work we do at CHI. She provided strategic support and facilitation for the Metro Denver Partnership for Health (MDPH), a multisector collaboration to advance health in the metro Denver area. She also led CHI’s work on the Colorado Health Observation Regional Data Service (CHORDS), a network of health and public health partners working together to use electronic health record data to support public health monitoring and evaluation. She facilitated CHORDS governance activities and oversaw network development and expansion.

In 2021, Sara led CHI's work with the Office of eHealth Innovation and the eHealth Commission to update the Colorado Health Information Technology (IT) Roadmap.

Before joining CHI, Sara was a policy analyst at the Colorado Rural Health Center, the state office of rural health, and recruited physicians and other medical professionals for clinics and hospitals in Colorado’s rural and underserved regions. She spent several years in managed care and program development at the University of Chicago Medical Center. She also has worked in policy advocacy and provided supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Sara earned a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and a master’s degree in health administration and policy from the University of Chicago.

Sara Schmitt interviews Gov. Jared Polis on stage at the Hot Issues in Health conference.
Sara Schmitt interviews Gov. Jared Polis onstage during CHI's 2022 Hot Issues in Health conference.

Sample Projects:

Skills: Facilitation and convening, evaluation, data and information governance, needs assessment.

Focus Areas:

  • Multisector collaboration
  • Public health and prevention
  • Health information technology

Contact Sara