Bob House, MD, Board Chair – AllHealth Foundation; Board member – Signal Behavioral Health (provides care for people with substance use disorders) and AllHealth Network; Professor – CU Medical School
Dr. House grew up in a rural farming community of 22,000 in Nebraska, where his father was the town’s orthopedic surgeon. There was no behavioral health care in the city. Today, he is immersed in behavioral health care.
After graduating from DU, he attended medical school at the University of Nebraska and completed his residency training at the University of Colorado. He was a faculty member at the University of Colorado Psychiatry Department and chaired the Denver Health Psychiatry Department. He had a parallel second job as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for 29 years.
He says one positive development in the field of psychiatry today is that community mental health centers now serve individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The biggest challenge, however, is funding services, especially comprehensive services.
Dr. House traces his philanthropic work, including his work with AllHealth, to growing up in Grand Island, Nebraska.
“My parents were raised in very small towns and grew up during the Depression, and their families struggled. After WWII and my dad starting his surgery practice, we became financially well off,” says Dr. House. “However, my parents never forgot their roots. My father often wrote off bills or would be paid with a bushel of corn, a basket of cherries, or a chicken, which I’m sure he didn’t report to the IRS. He also made house calls and sometimes called mom to come over to cook a meal for an elderly patient he was seeing.”
As his career began, Dr. House supported places he loved and began to embrace philanthropy. After retiring, he was invited to join the AllHealth board; they didn’t have a Foundation, so he worked with others to set one up.
Why start a Foundation for AllHealth?
While I was at Denver Health, we built a new child psychiatry unit, and I saw the difference the Foundation made in making this happen. I believe in the work of AllHealth and want to see this kind of impact made for them, so I support the Foundation and encourage others to do so. I have lived in Centennial for many years — this is home. Two of my three daughters are elementary school teachers in this district, and I often hear about the kids who are struggling. So, while the AllHealth providers and staff do the hard work, I want to continue gifting to help support the mission. One team, one mission.”
What inspires you?
I am inspired by the work that everyone provides and contributes in caring for the patients we see. I have long believed in multi-disciplinary care and valued the work/input of providers of all skill sets.
What is something about you that most people don’t know?
During my faculty career, I was a consultant to NASA and would go to Houston twice a year to help select astronauts and mission specialists. Yes, we were selecting people for future space flights to Mars. I also worked as a provider for the Federal Witness Protection Program and met some interesting people.
What is one of your top priorities now?
Advocating for behavioral health and substance use care for all. I am especially interested in caring for kids and teens, as well as those incarcerated in our county jails. In the near future, we need to do more to help our senior citizens, a growing population that is mostly overlooked.
What is your motto?
The Army always had a motto. Ones I liked and tried to live by include “Never leave a buddy behind” and my favorite, “One team, one fight.” As department chair at Denver Health, I modified this to “One team, one mission.” It helped bring the complex team together.
What or who has changed your life?
Several things have, it’s hard to nail down one. Becoming chair of psychiatry at a safety net hospital was one. I had a very specialized practice as the lead psychiatrist for the organ transplant program at the University hospital. To be admitted, a patient had to have one illness, i.e., failure of one organ, a family, a place to live, transportation, a phone, no substance use problem, and health insurance. At Denver Health many patients had no home, no insurance, and no transportation, limited family resources, and had multiple medical issues. Learning leadership in the Army was another. I really got to appreciate the bravery and dedication of those serving the nation.
Click here to join Dr. House in supporting AllHealth Network’s mission!