Centennial Area Health Education Center presented Plains Medical Center President Morgan Honea with its annual Hero award during the Engaging Communities in Education and Research Conference in Vail in the fall.

Citing many collaborations between the community health center in Limon and CAHEC, a non-profit which addresses health workforce shortages on the Eastern Plains, executive director Sally Henry stated that the health center was rapidly expanding services. In order to do so, health professionals from many disciplines need to be recruited and trained, a significant challenge in rural areas. CAHEC and PMC partner on a variety of programs including training medical, nursing, PA and dental students in PMC's clinics; a school-based oral health prevention program funded by Caring for Colorado Foundation; two workforce development programs funded by the federal government and the Plains Partnership for Health funded by The Colorado Trust.

This is the second year for Centennial AHEC's Hero Award. Rural Communities Resource Center in Yuma was the inaugural awardee.