Published by: Larry Gage on 9/1/2011 2:41:45 PM
It is with much sadness, mixed with long admiration and gratitude, that I note the passing of Dr. John Sbarbaro, who was the Deputy Director of Denver Health (and its predecessor, the Department of Health and Hospitals) for so many years. More than any other single person, John Sbarbaro was responsible for the creation of NAPH. Many have no doubt heard me tell this story, but perhaps some of you have not.
While still a US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official in the Carter Administration in the late 1970s, I had occasion to “debate” the then-President of the Colorado Hospital Association at the invitation of Colorado Congressman Tim Wirth (then a prominent member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee). The hospital industry was strongly opposed to hospital cost containment legislation that had been developed by my boss, HHS Secretary Joe Califano. At an informal gathering at Tim Wirth’s house after the session, John told me in no uncertain terms that public health and hospital systems like Denver’s already lived with the reality of severe budget constraints and would be pleased to support this legislation. He also pointed out that he and a number of his colleagues had been thinking for several years about starting their own national association. The rest, as they say, is history. John will be sorely missed.
Read the obituary that was published in the Denver Post on Sept. 1.
-------
Larry Gage is the founder and former president of NAPH.