Catholic Charities of Denver has announced the appointment of Jeannine Duffield as the new Respect Life Denver Director. Jeannine’s journey has been defined by her unwavering Catholic faith and an impressive background in healthcare quality, data analytics and strategic planning. Her commitment to the values of Catholic Charities has been evident through her years of dedicated volunteer work at Samaritan House Denver, Marisol Health and Marisol Homes. Her appointment as Director of Respect Life Denver represents a significant milestone in her service to the pro-life community.
“Throughout my years of volunteering, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the exceptional and inspirational culture that defines Catholic Charities,” Duffield said. “Joining this remarkable team is a true honor. I’m excited about the opportunity to apply my professional skills and expertise to serve and uplift the lives of our neighbors across Northern Colorado. As I embark on this journey, I am filled with excitement and a deep sense of gratitude.”
With a career spanning over two decades, Jeannine has established herself as a healthcare industry leader, consistently delivering outstanding results. For the past eight years, she moved through the ranks, ultimately serving as the Executive Director of Client Solutions for MDinteractive, ensuring healthcare providers delivered exceptional patient outcomes. Jeannine held positions at Brookdale Senior Living and Procter & Gamble’s Healthcare division and holds a Master of Public Health degree from UCLA and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UC, San Diego. She is a devoted wife of over 23 years, a mother to three daughters and an active parishioner of St. Thomas More parish in Centennial.
Together with the entire Catholic Charities community outreach team, the Respect Life Denver office will focus on:
Parish Engagement: The team’s goal is to support the amazing work Respect Life offices are accomplishing across the Archdiocese and share best practices and good ideas to improve the culture of life across our state. Jeannine will be working with Mark Hahn to bring Respect Life Representatives together with Parish Ambassadors to coordinate parish-based events, educational programs and spiritual activities supporting the profound respect for life.
Community Partnerships: Collaborations with pro-life leaders, non-profit organizations, healthcare providers and community volunteers will be cultivated to collectively foster a culture of life within the broader Colorado community. A key focus in this area will be to support the work of the Colorado Catholic Conference as the bishops of Colorado serve to uphold the dignity of human life and the common good in public policy.
Alliance within Catholic Charities Ministries: Catholic Charities is filled with ministries that support neighbors at every age and at every stage of life. Marisol Serivces, Samaritan House, St. Raphael Counseling, Catholic Charities Housing, Early Childhood Education, Emergency and Victim’s Assistance, food support and a host of additional ministries make up the comprehensive network of Catholic Charities that serves neighbors across the Archdiocese of Denver. Respect Life is an integral part of that network, and Jeannine will unite and highlight the existing principles of respect for life across every ministry within the organization.
One of the first efforts Jeannine will support will be the launch of Catholic Charities’ newest pregnancy resource center, Marisol Health Northern Colorado. Opening in Spring ‘24, the fully equipped medical center will help women along the northern Front Range make important decisions about their reproductive health in an open and accepting atmosphere.
Jeannine’s focus on connections, collaborations and leadership in the active pro-life space will ultimately benefit all people from conception to natural death and build on the work of her predecessor, Lynn Grandon.
“Lynn Grandon’s Respect Life Denver leadership has been profound for the past decade and her impact will live on for generations,” said Stacy Baum, Vice President of Marketing & Community Engagement for Catholic Charities. “Building on that life-changing work, we are eager to support Jeannine and the entire team as Respect Life Denver advances to a new and exciting chapter.”