Chasing The Cure

Many of Denver’s early pioneer physicians became closely associated with National Jewish Hospital (NJH). Dr. John Elsner, who founded Denver’s first hospital and was a proponent of the founding of National Jewish, became a member of the first NJH Medical Advisory Board, along with his nephew Dr. Robert Levy. They were joined by Dr. Saling Simon, Dr. M. Kleiner and Dr. S.R. Feil.

The first medical director at NJH, Dr. Moses Collins, was followed by Saling Simon who migrated to Denver in search of a cure for his own tuberculosis. Dr. Simon, who served as the medical director of National Jewish from 1917 to 1919, instituted the hospital’s research department and served as a trustee of the hospital for over fifty years. His son Walter Simon later served as president of NJH from 1959 to 1962.  John Elsner, M.D. Collection, B186 and Robert Levy Papers, B372 have additional information on these doctors.