Meet James Sampson, DNP, MSN, BSN — Bilingual HIV Specialist and Nurse Practitioner Joins Colorado Health Network
Some clinicians find their way to medicine in a straight line. James Sampson took a different road, one shaped by philosophy, faith, loss, and an unrelenting drive to serve — and it brought him to exactly where he was always meant to be.
Before he ever sat with a patient, Sampson pursued a Master of Liberal Arts in Biology at Harvard University. In the early 1990s, he watched friends and colleagues succumb to HIV and AIDS and felt called to do something more direct. A trusted friend suggested nursing. He visited programs around the country — Yale, Columbia — searching for a teaching philosophy that matched his own: holistic, rigorous, human-centered. He found it at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
It turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life.
At CWRU, Sampson earned his BSN, MSN, and Nursing Doctorate before later returning for his Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2006. This was on top of a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Loyola University of Chicago and his Harvard master’s degree — a depth of education that speaks to someone who has always refused to stop learning.
He moved to Denver and joined the Denver Health Infectious Disease Clinic in 1996. What followed was a career of remarkable scope. For nearly 30 years, Sampson diagnosed and managed complex cases in HIV/AIDS, opportunistic infections, and general primary care. He served as Clinical Supervisor, leading APPs, RNs, and medical assistants across the clinic. He sat on institutional and external committees shaping quality improvement and policy. In 2018, Denver Health recognized him with the Outstanding Clinician APP Award.
During those same decades, he was also a respected educator. As Adjunct Faculty at the University of Colorado College of Nursing from 1999 to 2011, he taught pathophysiology and pharmacology to BSN and MSN students and earned the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, three Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Awards, and the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Before that, as Assistant Professor at Regis University, he was named Nursing Faculty Member of the Year in 1998.
His fluency in Spanish has made him indispensable in a city whose refugee and immigrant populations have grown substantially. For many patients, he has been not just a clinician, but a trusted voice in their own language during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Now, James Sampson brings all of that — the knowledge, the leadership, the compassion, the clinical precision — to Colorado Health Network.
“James brings a depth of experience in infectious diseases, clinical leadership, and has a longstanding connection to the HIV community. We are fortunate to have him on the team as we work to expand access to care across Colorado, ” said Lili Carrillo, Chief Clinical Officer at Colorado Health Network.
James has spoken openly about what motivates him and why he chose to join the CHN team: “I believe deeply in giving back – to my patients, to my city, to the HIV community that has had an immeasurable impact on my own life,” said Sampson. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to join an organization that has been at the forefront of HIV care for decades and is now leading the national conversation on how folks age with HIV,” he added.
Gratitude translated into action is evident in everything he has done, from his decades of patient care to his years in the classroom to his commitment to the communities most in need.
“We are honored to welcome James to Colorado Health Network,” said Darrell Vigil, Chief Executive Officer. “CHN’s mission calls us to meet the evolving needs of people affected by HIV and other health conditions, and James’s values and clinical experience align perfectly with our mission and the communities CHN serves.”
Among those who know his work best is Dr. Bill Burman, MD, a member of Colorado Health Network’s Board of Directors, who worked alongside Sampson at Denver Health for years.
“James Sampson is an exceptional clinician and a deeply committed advocate for his patients,” said Dr. Bill Burman, MD, board member of Colorado Health Network. “I had the honor of working directly alongside James at Denver Health and can attest to his exceptional clinical skills, leadership, and impact on Denver’s HIV/AIDS and infectious disease community.”
We are proud and grateful to have James Sampson on our team. His patients are in exceptional hands.
To schedule an appointment with James Sampson, DNP, MSN, BSN, NP, please visit https://coloradohealthnetwork.org/health-care-services/medical-clinic/ or call 303-962-5317.