Arthur Yarbrough Presented with Exceptional Board Leadership Award

(Pueblo, CO, Jan. 23, 2024) – On Monday, January 22, 2024, in a virtual awards ceremony, Arthur Yarbrough, a board member of Pueblo Community Health Center (PCHC) was awarded with the Community Health Association of Mountain/Plains States (CHAMPS) “Exceptional Board Leadership Award” for 2023.

For the past three decades, CHAMPS has presented awards to staff and board members of Region VIII Health Centers and related organizations to recognize exceptional contributions to the health center community.

Mr. Yarbrough and his family lacked health coverage in the 1990s when his steel worker union was on strike. After establishing care at PCHC, he shifted careers (social work) and his new employer provided good health insurance. His family valued the care they received at PCHC and have been patients for almost 30 years.

Mr. Yarbrough’s career in social work led him to interface with PCHC’s Health Care for the Homeless clinic/staff. Impressed with his commitment to the patients, PCHC staff recommended him as a PCHC Board representing the homeless population. He served as a consumer board member from 2005-2012 and then rejoined the board in 2014. He will conclude his service in 2024. “Arthur exemplifies the very best of volunteer board service; loyalty, stewardship, and a ceaseless commitment to assuring the long-term viability of PCHC’s mission to provide quality primary care to those in need. He is most deserving of the award he received,” stated Donald Moore, CEO of PCHC.

At a 2015 board retreat, Yarbrough asked “what goal could we have to assure patients will be treated with dignity and respect as we grow?” He continued that “what I value most about being a PCHC patient is the trusting relationship with my caregivers.” With his direction, the board adopted a goal called “Service Culture”, which led to the implementation of PCHC’s Communicate with HEART training program for all staff that continues today.