During State of the State Address, Gov. Jared Polis recognizes two Banner Health doctors for their work during the pandemic

By Kelly Ragan

Gregory Golden, a critical care and pulmonology specialist with Banner Health, has worked the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since it began. He’s pulled long shifts, and he’s refused to lose hope or let his high standards slip. 

On Wednesday, Gov. Jared Polis recognized his work in the State of the State Address. Golden attended on the governor’s invitation.

Dr. David Cowden, left, and Dr. Gregory Golden pose for a photo Wednesday at the State of the State Address. Photo courtesy of Banner Health.

“Of course, day after day, our brave healthcare workers put their own lives on hold and made incredible sacrifices to save so many souls,” Polis said. “…Dr. Greg Golden, the son of a Colorado nurse and Army vet, father of three beautiful children, who not only spent many hours helping COVID patients in the intensive care unit at Banner Health in Greeley and Fort Collins, but when Colorado cases started going down, he went to Arizona and Wyoming to help patients in our neighboring states.” 

Polis praised Golden and  his colleague, David Cowden, a critical care specialist and pulmonologist with Banner Health, for their roles in caring for COVID patients. 

Golden said setting up a consistent care process was one of the most rewarding things he’s done professionally.

That’s really the only reward Golden expects or quite frankly wants. He was only doing his job, he said in an interview. 

“I’m not a recognition guy,” he said and chuckled. 

In the early days of the pandemic, Golden and his team had to work to create a process to ensure consistent patient care. That groundwork can still be seen in how hospitals across the Banner network, including in Arizona, manage COVID patient care. 

“Northern Colorado was among the first places in the country to get busy,” Golden said. “A lot of that stemmed from outbreaks in meatpacking plants.” 

In August, Golden spent a week working in Phoenix, Arizona helping out as COVID-19 surged there. 

While he was away, Golden said, his father-in-law was admitted to North Colorado Medical Center with the virus. Golden knew he wouldn’t have been able to tend to his father-in-law anyway, but he still felt bad not being there. But his father-in-law recovered, and Golden said he knew all along he was in good hands. 

The hardest part of the last year has been the slog, Golden said. At first, adrenaline helped fuel his energy and his team’s energy. They were determined to make it work. 

“And you make it happen because your moral sense of responsibility says you have to do something, I won’t back down, Golden said. “But it just keeps coming.”

It’s been nice though, he said, to have so much community support. Local businesses and churches have provided a steady stream of free food and gift cards. Golden said that has been much appreciated. 

But there is something else people can do to say thank you, he said. 

“If you want to thank the teams that worked extra hours and put themselves and their loved ones under extreme physical and emotional stress, get vaccinated,” he said. 

Golden said he hopes the recognition from the governor means something to his team, even if he thinks having the spotlight on him is weird. 

He hopes it means something to his wife, too. He’s worked early mornings, long shifts, and even left for Arizona in the middle of a raging pandemic. He said he hopes she knows it was worth something – enough for the governor to give him a shout out. 

“But for me, I don’t need any of this stuff,” he said.