WASHINGTON, DC, February 20, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) CEO Michelle Mills was presented with a trio of awards last week recognizing her commitment to the rural healthcare delivery system both in Colorado and nationwide. Mills was in Washington DC February 10-12 as part of the annual National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Rural Health Policy Institute where she was honored with awards "In appreciation for her service on the NRHA board of Trustees as 2025 President", "For exemplary commitment and contributions advancing rural health leadership - National Rural Health Foundation" and "For her leadership and exemplary contributions made throughout the years."

"Michelle Mills deserves tremendous recognition for her time on the National Rural Health Foundation board of directors. Her impact on the organization and our progress over the last year cannot be understated. We were happy to present Michelle with an award to celebrate her time on the board and will miss having her in our meetings!" said NRHA CEO Alan Morgan MPA. "The National Rural Health Foundation and its supporters are grateful for Michelle's leadership during her time with us."

"It was an honor to serve NRHA as Board President in 2025 and I am humbled to receive recognition from NRHA, an exemplary leader in the field. Rural Healthcare is undergoing huge changes right now and the leadership of NRHA, and its partnership with CRHC and countless others nationally, is making sure that the voices of rural Americans are heard," said Mills. Michelle served as NRHA Board President from January thru December 2025.

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Rural Health Policy Institute is an annual event pairing rural healthcare representatives with their federal senators and representatives for meetings and discussion on the future of rural healthcare. Mills lead the Colorado delegation in 5 meetings on the hill, sitting with Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and Representatives Boebert, Pettersen, and Hurd.

CRHC's assembled team of rural health advocates included both Mills and Kelly Erb Zager (Director of Policy and Advocacy) from CRHC, Michael Hassell and Jimmie Bailey (Melissa Memorial Hospital), DeeAnn Sierra (Rio Grande Hospital), Kevin Stansbury (Lincoln Health Community Hospital), Joe Theine (Southwest Health System), Dannon Cox (Colorado School of Public Health), Bill Jaeger (LOR Foundation), Tommy Barnhart (Ten Mile Enterprises, LLC), and Kenneth Blake, MD (Provider One Solutions).

About the National Rural Health Association
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a national nonprofit membership organization that brings together thousands of members across the United States. The association's mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research.

About The Colorado Rural Health Center
The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association. The organization's mission is to enhance healthcare services in the state by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health issues. CRHC's vision is to improve healthcare services available in rural communities to ensure that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare. For more information visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493, or call toll free 800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.

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