National Rural Health Day
Celebrate the Power of Rural
About National Rural Health Day
Since 2011, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has set aside the third Thursday of November to celebrate the “Power of Rural” on National Rural Health Day. National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to bring attention to and honor the incredible efforts of rural healthcare providers, communities, organizations, State Offices of Rural Health (SORH), and other stakeholders dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of rural America.
Learn more about National Rural Health Day
National Rural Health Day 2025
November 20th, 2025
This year for National Rural Health Day, the Colorado Rural Health Center traveled to Cortez, CO to honor the team at Southwest Memorial Hospital for their incredible commitment to quality improvement, patient care, and service to their community and beyond. CRHC provided a lunch for Southwest Health System’s staff, board, and members of the community, with a proclamation read by Lisa Gates, the Southwest Health System’s CNO.
Read more about the celebration in the press release here.
Power of Rural Colorado Photo Contest
To celebrate the Nation Rural Health Day this year, we are hosted the first ever Power of Rural Colorado Photo Contest as an opportunity for you to show us Colorado through your eyes.
As a celebration of the people, places, and stories that define Colorado’s rural communities, there were three categories to this contest: Rural People, Rural Landscapes, and Rural Life and Infrastructure.
Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and shared a little piece of your Power of Rural with us.
Congratulations to all three of our winners! These photos were selected based on their creativity, quality, and of course, relevance to the theme of rural healthcare.
Keep scrolling to see the photos and read the stories behind our contest winners.
Grand Prize & Rural People Category Winner
“This photo was taken at a patient’s property in Rifle, CO. From one of our patient testimonies, Dick Morgan looks out at one of his pastures at his working ranch while talking about his experience with one of our orthopaedic surgeons. Dick has expressed deep gratitude for the incredible care he received while having a major surgery on an injury that prevented him from tending his pastures and livestock which are crucial to him and his family. Ranching and agriculture are a way of life in our community, and it is our mission to ensure the health and well-being of all who make that work possible. Our farmers, ranchers, and agricultural families are the backbone of this valley, and we’re honored to provide the care, resources, and support they deserve as they care for our land and our people.”
Ashlie Bramley
Grand River Health District
Rural Landscapes Category Winner
Rural Life & Infrastructure Category Winner
“This aerial view of Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center and Veterans Community Living Center in Walsenburg, Colorado, tells a story of hope and healing in the heart of rural America. Framed by the majestic Spanish Peaks and the endless skies of southern Colorado in Huerfano County, it reflects the strength of a community that cares deeply for its neighbors and honors its veterans. Here, healthcare is more than a service—it’s a promise to nurture life where the land is vast, the mountains stand tall, and the spirit of resilience runs deep. This image captures the true Power of Rural: a place where compassion and commitment thrive far from the bustle, proving that quality care knows no boundaries.”
Stacy Cristelli
Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center
Celebrate the Power of Rural!
Until National Rural Health Day
