Celebrating 45 Years of Surgical Excellence: Dr. Charlie Jones Retires from BCH

After 45 years of caring for patients and shaping the surgical landscape at Boulder Community Health, Dr. Charlie Jones as retired — leaving behind a legacy of skill, compassion and dedication. While Charlie says he will miss the daily camaraderie with physician colleagues and hospital staff, he’s excited to launch a new phase of life more focused on spending time with extended family, especially his six grandchildren.

Charlie was truly destined to be a surgeon. He set that goal when he was five years old, and he never seriously considered any other profession. His journey to a decades-long career at BCH started in 1967. At that point, the Kansas native who grew up in Texas was an undergraduate pre-med student at Texas A&M University. He was on the road to his goal of becoming a general surgeon, having been accepted to medical school in Dallas. He had put down his deposit on an apartment near the school, and his future seemed securely centered on Texas.

Then fate intervened. He and some college friends decided to take a winter break ski trip to Colorado. On the drive back to Texas, Charlie decided to check out the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver. On a Sunday afternoon, still wearing his ski clothes, Charlie wandered the halls until he bumped into a woman who happened to be the Dean of Admissions. They chatted about his plans for medical school in Dallas, and she told him he would probably be accepted at CU if he applied. He filled out that application soon after getting back home.

Goodbye Texas. Hello Colorado.

Medical school and residency exposed Charlie to a wide range of specialties, ultimately confirming his commitment to general surgery. His trauma residency at Denver Health involved complex cases like gunshot wounds and severe gastrointestinal bleeding, with each day presenting new challenges. Rotations at private hospitals, including three months at a small facility in western Kansas where he treated nearly every surgical patient, further deepened his experience.

Charlie joined BCH on July 1, 1980, and it was a perfect fit from the start. He liked our community’s “small town” feel and appreciated the opportunity BCH gave him to do a broad range of surgeries.

Charlie estimates he has performed over 70,000 surgeries in his career, often spending up to 12 hours a day in the OR. He’s delivered a wide range of general, vascular and thoracic care to countless patients in the Boulder community. Clinica Family Health & Wellness recognized him for his outstanding service to low-income and uninsured patients. He also took part in numerous medical missions, including 15 trips to Mante, Mexico with BCH and two to Africa in 2007 and 2013. He was also the team doctor for two expeditions on Mt. Everest in the early 90s!

Charlie’s amazing energy and remarkable expertise have been vital in building BCH’s regional reputation as a destination for first-rate surgical care, and his impact in our community cannot be overestimated. We are honored to thank Dr. Jones for his long and impactful career at BCH and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.