David Steinbruner, M.D.: Serving and Leading

Emergency Medicine Physician, Chief of Staff, UCHealth Memorial Hospital

If you talk with Dr. David Steinbruner about why he’s a doctor, he tells stories about getting to meet a boy years after resuscitating him from choking as an infant—or being able to process an episode of PTSD with a veteran. If you walk through the halls of UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central with Steinbruner, you see him greet nearly every staff member by name. He clearly makes his roles as emergency physician and chief of staff personal. “His selfless approach to leadership allows others to excel and thrive in their care delivery,” says his colleague Dr. George Hertner.

Steinbruner has never been afraid to jump in and get things done. His path to a medical career began in wilderness first aid. And it’s easy to connect the dots from his role as a U.S. Army Emergency Medicine physician in Iraq and Afghanistan to his many current roles. As co-medical director of American Medical Response and the Colorado Springs Fire Department, including working with the Tactical EMS team, he coordinates guidelines, education and improvements with the community’s emergency medical service. “My big focus is on the education piece for medics and EMTs,” Steinbruner says. “I love to teach.”

He also serves on the State Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Advisory Council (SEMTAC) and as medical director for Limon Ambulance and other rural agencies, Steinbruner works with a team to improve emergency care in rural counties. “Ultimately it’s about the patient,” he says. “We’re trying to determine how do you best take care of the patient with a certain condition. How do we get to the right hospital in the right amount of time for the care that they need and are consistent about that across the board?”

“Dr. David Steinbruner works endlessly and tirelessly to educate and lead our prehospital providers so that they have the skills to be heroes in our community,” Hertner says.

Read about more Healthcare Heroes here.

Jeremy Jones
Jeremy Jones
Jeremy Jones is Springs’ co-founder, editorial director and chief outdoor officer. He loves building community by telling stories about all the people, places and culture that make Colorado Springs an amazing place to live. And he’s especially stoked when exploring new places in the Springs, Colorado and beyond. Watch for him hiking, running or mountain biking the local trails with his wife and kids.

Follow Us On Social

RELATED ARTICLES

An Inside Peek at the New St. Francis-Interquest Hospital

If you drive north of Colorado Springs on I-25, you can't miss the new St. Francis-Interquest Hospital just off the highway at Interquest Parkway....

Children’s Hospital Opens a New Era of Pediatric Care

With the opening of Children's Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs, medical treatment for local kids like Jalen Thompson just got a whole lot better.

Healthcare Heroes Celebration 2019

Celebrating our community's Healthcare Heroes at The Pinery at the Hill.