A Family Atmosphere
Dr. Paul J. Fishman had an innate calling to care for the poor and vulnerable in his community. His vision was to establish medical practice in Denver, Colorado. In 1977, Paul J. Fishman MD, PC opened its door at 34th & King St as a primary care family medicine practice. Believing in a family atmosphere, Dr. E. Sam Fishman joined his brother providing patient care while their mother, Janette Fishman, greeted patients at the front desk. Drs. Paul J. and E Sam Fishman were committed to honest, ethical behavior, and integrity in everything they did in the practice of medicine. They wanted to build a medical practice that promoted kind behavior in not just themselves, but in their colleagues, and patients.
With the development of the Larimer Square area, Dr. Fishman moved his practice to the heart of Denver at 1860 Larimer Street as part of the Downtown Medical Center across from Sekura Square and became known as Geriatric and Family Medicine Associates, PC. It was there that Dr. I. Benjamin Geller joined the group which served pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients. Drs. Fishman and Geller created a medical model well ahead of its time and became Denver’s first multi-specialty urgent care center.
The doctors didn’t just treat patients in clinic, but cared for patients at Beth Israel Hospital & Geriatric Center, Rose Hospital, and St. Anthony Hospital Central, when it was across the street from Sloan Lake. The doctors had a true passion and love for caring for older adults and continued to leave a footprint in the Denver community by caring for residents in local nursing homes and conducting home visits.
The Move to Wheat Ridge
Eventually when the Downtown Medical Center was sold for redevelopment, the doctors transitioned from clinic work and moved to a small location on South Federal Boulevard. This location served as home base for their ever-increasing patient following and medical directorships in various nursing homes, including Little Sisters of the Poor. Eventually they moved to a medical building in Belmar near Wadsworth and Alameda, where they introduced their first nurse practitioner and physician assistant to the team, making Geriatric & Family Medicine a hybrid primary care clinic that included rounding at nearly 50 outlying nursing home facilities.
By 2013, Geriatric & Family Medicine moved to its current location in Wheat Ridge. As medical models changed, Drs. Fishman & Geller’s practice evolved to meet current practice. The thousands of cardboard paper charts began to give way to electronic medical records, and other health information technologies, such as telehealth and virtual care.
Ownership under Dr. Christina Mulkey
Passing the Baton
You would think that the many locations over the years would force patients to find different doctors or other practices, but Drs. Fishman and Geller had a dedicated patient following with every location change. People sought them because of their caring spirit, empathy, and old-fashion bedside manner. They listened to their patients and got to know them – their patients were people who became family. Practicing medicine was not just a job, but a calling. They served multiple generations within families while building and maintaining a diverse staff representing five generations over the course of its existence. (View the Code of Conduct.)
Drs. Fishman and Geller continued to provide patient care until ages of 80 and 76, respectively. In July 2022, they entrusted ownership to a new generation, Dr. Christina Mulkey, where she would carry on the legacy of community, family, and genuity while putting integrity and patient care first. Both Drs. Fishman and Geller are retired where they can spend their time with their families and growing number of grandchildren.
Retirement Party. Connie Brown, Drs. Fishman and Geller’s dedicated nurse.
Retirement Party. From Left to Right: Connie Brown, RN; Dr. I. Benjamin Geller; Dr. Christina Mulkey; Dr. Paul J. Fishman
