Jeff Bontrager

Director of Research and Evaluation

I Do This Work Because

Our health is everything. Without health we do not thrive. Informing policy with evidence is key to ensuring all Coloradans live to their healthiest potential.


Favorite Places in Colorado

Steamboat Springs, Denver Center for the Performing Arts


Favorite Quote

"Blessed are they who give without remembering and take without forgetting." 
Elizabeth Bibesco


Favorite Activities

Acting, hiking, volunteering, attending concerts, baking, reading, designing crazy ties, traveling

Jeff Bontrager is Director of Research and Evaluation at the Colorado Health Institute. He joined CHI in 2005. Jeff oversees CHI’s evaluation portfolio and coordinates many of CHI’s survey research efforts and analyses related to care, health coverage, health equity, and safety net systems.

Jeff serves as principal investigator on the biennial Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS) and led the multi-year evaluation of the Colorado Health Access Fund of The Denver Foundation. He also helped launch CHI's climate change and health initiative, Acclimate Colorado. Jeff develops publications, makes presentations, and provides leadership, facilitation, and management on a variety of projects and initiatives at CHI.

Before arriving at CHI, Jeff supported state and national research efforts at the University of Colorado’s Division of Health Care Policy and Research.

Jeff earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Goshen College.

Jeff serves on the board of Project Angel Heart and as chair of its Board Development Committee. In his free time, Jeff enjoys playwriting, volunteering, biking, hiking, acting, baking, organizing silent disco fundraisers, designing neckwear; attending music festivals, putting together IKEA furniture, exploring new cities with his partner, and pampering their 10-lb Shih Tzu, Walter. He chairs the Outreach Team at Glennon Heights Mennonite Church.

Sample Projects:

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Jeff Bontrager on stage at Hot Issues in Health.
Jeff Bontrager welcomes participants to the 2022 Hot Issues in Health conference.

Skills: Quantitative and qualitative research, program evaluation, facilitation, public speaking, writing, convening

Focus Areas:

  • Health equity
  • Medicaid Insurance coverage
  • Policy Health care safety net
  • Social determinants of health

Contact Jeff