Benji Kitagawa, DO

Benji Kitagawa, DO, FACEP, has joined the SLV Health Conejos County Hospital Emergency Department team. Dr. Kitagawa has been actively providing a full range of Emergency Medicine, Trauma Care, and EMS medical direction at several Emergency departments in Bismarck, ND level II Trauma centers, Great Plains Health in North Platte, NE, North Colorado Medical Center Level II Trauma Center in Greeley, and Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs.

He started his career working at the Yuma District Hospital and clinic in eastern Colorado as a family physician, delivering babies, covering the ER, hospital, and nursing home.

He is not a stranger to the San Luis Valley. His uncle is the late, Tom Mizokami of Blanca. As a boy growing up, he visited the valley during the summer months and learned how to fish spending time on the Rio Grande River.

Now residing in Gardner on a ranch, he and his wife spend time with their horses and dogs when they aren’t working or visiting family.

After graduating with his Bachelor of Science from Creighton University in Omaha, he earned his Doctor of Osteopathy from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri. His internship was part of a Rural Training Track in Tulsa, and Family Medicine Residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. After 10 years practicing family medicine, he went on to complete his Residency in Emergency Medicine at Denver Health Medical Center and is board certified in Emergency Medicine.

Our patients, staff, and visitors to Conejos County Hospital will benefit from his wide range of emergency medicine experience, and also his friendly demeanor, professionalism, and love of animals, people, and culture.