Elizabeth Helgans, PA-C

About Elizabeth Helgans
When growing up, Elizabeth Helgans, PA-C realized she had a knack for medicine by treating animals, mainly her pet cats. She learned how to clean and dress their wounds and occasionally lance abscesses in her family’s modified “vet clinic” aka: their kitchen table. She has since become a physician assistant working with Robert Levine, MD in the Gastroenterology (GI) Department at Boulder Medical Center.
Elizabeth is genuinely interested in her patients: “I love learning about my patients,” she says. “Not just about their particular aliment, but also about what makes them unique and what they like doing in their free time. I feel that if I get to know the patient, I can better help them.”
Her philosophy of care is to educate her patients, which she feels can be very reassuring for those who are facing medical procedures. “There is a lot of fear regarding visiting the gastroenterologist or having a colonoscopy,” she explains. “I like to help calm those fears and believe that the best way to do this is through education.”
With a personal history of colon cancer and Celiac disease, Elizabeth empathizes with patients who have fears around their diagnosis or treatment. “My personal history with these diseases has instilled me with a strong desire to empower my patients by encouraging healthy lifestyle and dietary changes,” she explains. “Celiac is a primary example of how diet alone can heal your gut.”
In addition to working as a physician assistant, Elizabeth is a cowgirl at heart. She loves to hop on her horse in a western saddle and chase cows. She also enjoys spending skiing and camping with her family and spends time reading magazines and testing recipes.
Specialty Areas
Elizabeth Helgans treats a range of Gastroenterology (GI) problems including:
- Liver disease, infectious and autoimmune hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver
- Esophageal disorders
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Gastritis, stomach ulcers
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory bowel diseases and conditions such as: Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis, and hemorrhoids.
Education and Certifications
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Undergraduate — Denison University
Economics and Communications
Granville, OH
1991
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Undergraduate — St John's University
BS - Physician Assistant
Jamaica-Queens, NY
1998
Professional Affiliations
American Academy of Physician Assistants
National Commission of the Certification of Physician Assistants
Colorado Association of Physician Assistants