CRHC CEO Michelle Mills Honored with Trio of Awards for Rural Healthcare Leadership

In a significant recognition of rural healthcare leadership, Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) CEO Michelle Mills received three prestigious awards during the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Rural Health Policy Institute in Washington, DC from February 10-12, 2026. The awards celebrated her dedicated service as 2025 NRHA Board President, her exemplary commitment to advancing rural health leadership through the National Rural Health Foundation, and her overall contributions to the field over many years. NRHA CEO Alan Morgan MPA praised Mills' impactful leadership, stating her influence on the organization's progress "cannot be understated" and expressing gratitude for her service on the National Rural Health Foundation board of directors. Mills herself expressed humility at the recognition from what she called "an exemplary leader in the field," noting that rural healthcare is undergoing substantial transformations and emphasizing the critical importance of NRHA's partnership with CRHC and other organizations in ensuring rural American voices are heard in policy discussions.

The awards presentation occurred during the NRHA's annual Rural Health Policy Institute, a key event that connects rural healthcare representatives with federal legislators to discuss the future of rural healthcare delivery. Mills led the Colorado delegation in five important meetings on Capitol Hill, engaging directly with Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper along with Representatives Lauren Boebert, Brittany Pettersen, and Yadira Caraveo. This advocacy work demonstrates the practical application of Mills' leadership beyond ceremonial recognition, directly influencing policy discussions that affect healthcare access for rural communities. The Colorado team assembled for these crucial meetings included a diverse group of rural health advocates from across the state, including Kelly Erb Zager from CRHC, representatives from multiple rural hospitals like Melissa Memorial Hospital and Rio Grande Hospital, and professionals from organizations including the Colorado School of Public Health and LOR Foundation, showcasing the collaborative network Mills helps coordinate.

The National Rural Health Association, which presented the awards, is a national nonprofit membership organization that brings together thousands of members across the United States to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rural Health Center, which Mills leads, serves dual roles as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association, working since 1991 to enhance healthcare services by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health challenges. CRHC's vision focuses on ensuring all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high-quality healthcare, with more information available at www.coruralhealth.org, a resource for those seeking to understand or engage with rural health initiatives in Colorado. This recognition of Mills' leadership comes at a critical time when rural healthcare systems face numerous challenges, making effective advocacy and collaboration more important than ever for maintaining and improving healthcare access in underserved communities.