Dr. Haydee Kort

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Get to know Psychiatrist Dr. Haydee Kort, who served patients in Pueblo, Colorado.

Dr. Kort is a retired psychiatrist from the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo. Making history, she became the first, and still the only, woman superintendent of the Colorado State Hospital and honored as one of the top hospital administrators in the nation. 

Back in the early days of her academic career, Dr. Kort graduated with her medical degree from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of La Plata in Argentina in 1957. She and her husband, Dr. Gregorio Kort, came to America uncertain of the future, and ended up making history in the field of mental health.

Newly married, with little but $200 and their medical diplomas in hand, they left Argentina in 1957 to gain experience as resident physicians in the United States. Their first jobs exposed them to the shocking and inhumane conditions in state mental hospitals, and also to a pair of charismatic bosses committed to reform. Excited by the opportunity to bring the treatment of mental illness out of the cruel practices of the 19th century, the Korts became psychiatrists and leaders in the field of mental health. 

In December of 2018, a book was published portraying their amazing journey and extensive expertise – “ Doctor H. and Doctor G.: How a husband-and-wife team of psychiatrists came to Colorado and helped transform the field of mental health”, as told by talented writer, Jean Torkelson. It tells a story of how “Dr. H and Dr. G” turned the Colorado State Mental Hospital in Pueblo, Colorado into a nationally recognized model for re-form known for its compassionate, individualized care of the mentally ill. It is also the story of “Goyo and Beba,” two young people, deeply in love, who took on the challenges of a new country and learned to work together professionally, while never forgetting the value of family and the rule “Home by Five.” 

Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behavior, cognition, and perceptions. Psychiatrists evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They conduct thorough psychiatric evaluations, develop treatment plans, prescribe medication, and evaluate treatment results.

Honoring her expertise, Dr. Kort received the Gil Sanchez Mission Award in 2012.

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