Colorado Rural Health Center awarded David Arnett, MD, with the 2011 Rural Health Excellence Award at the 20th Anniversary Annual Rural Health Conference, August 11-12, 2011. Dr. Arnett was awarded this prestigious honor because of his extensive dedication to providing rural healthcare to underserved Coloradans for over 30 years. Dr. Arnett started a solo family practice in rural Salida, Colorado after graduating from Colorado University Medical School in 1979. Believing in rural outreach and the need to deliver high quality healthcare, he opened community clinics in Saguache, Colorado and Coaldale, Colorado in the 1980’s. He and his partners have traveled 50-100 miles to these clinics, once or twice a week for the past 30 years.

Dr. Arnett offers full family focused healthcare to all patients including pediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics and sports medicine. He volunteers at local schools to improve adolescent healthy behaviors and has sponsored 9Health Fairs for over 10 years. Dr. Arnett serves as a preceptor for CU School of Medicine medical students, hoping to instill rural health concepts into the education of future physicians. CRHC was proud to present Dr. Arnett with this year’s Rural Health Excellence Award as he has truly made a significant and outstanding contribution to the healthcare of rural Colorado residents.