On Nov. 18, CU Anschutz welcomed faculty, staff and students to the Elliman Conference Center for the second annual History Day, an event dedicated to honoring the groundbreaking “firsts” that have shaped our campus and its legacy.
Learn more about our campus history and watch a recording of the event.
Guests enjoyed historical displays curated by the Strauss Health Sciences Library team and afternoon tea and refreshments before diving into a program that spotlighted two transformative chapters in our history: the Denver Chromosome Project and the creation of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant (CHA/PA) programs – both national firsts that redefined care and education.
Chancellor Don Elliman opened the event by recognizing veterans and longtime faculty and staff, underscoring the deep roots of service and commitment within our community. He then introduced Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer Terri Carrothers, who served as emcee and reflected on the university’s evolution.
The program featured two dynamic panels:
- Richard Spritz, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics, shared a presentation on innovators in genetics, Ted Puck and Arthur Robinson, and their roles in the birth of cell culture, cytogenetics, the Denver Conference and the human genome. His conversation with Vice Chancellor for Research Tom Flaig, MD, explored the impact of these breakthroughs and CU Anschutz’s role in advancing the field.
When discussing Ted Puck’s contributions to science, Spritz remarked, “He invented this entire field of growing cells, working with the cells, studying the genetics of the cells that we take for granted. It's a piece of history that in Colorado has largely been lost and really deserves attention.”
- Richard Krugman, MD, former dean of the School of Medicine and distinguished professor of pediatrics, led a discussion with alumni Maddie Nichols, BSN, CPNP, Class of 1967, and Cindy Tanner, CHA/PA, Class of 1972, trailblazers in the inaugural Nurse Practitioner and CHA/PA cohorts. They reflected on their experiences entering new professions, the challenges they faced and the importance of never giving up.
When asked how she overcame skepticism in the early years of her career, Cindy Tanner gave a memorable answer: “As a member of the child protection team, when I would go to court, I would get a lot of flack and they would say, 'Well, you're not a doctor, are you?' And I would have to say no. And I finally came up with a response, 'No, I'm not. But I teach doctors.'"
Closing remarks emphasized the importance of preserving and sharing our history as we continue to innovate. Thank you to all speakers, moderators and guests for making History Day 2025 a success – and for helping us carry our proud legacy forward.
Photo at top: from left, Richard Krugman, MD; Richard Spritz, MD; Vice Chancellor for Research Tom Flaig, MD; Cindy Tanner, CHA/PA '72; Maddie Nichols, BSN, CPNP '67; Executive Vice Chancellor Terri Carrothers; and Chancellor Don Elliman
Check out more photos from History Day 2025:
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