Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Executive Director, Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, Inc. Resource Development Consultant, Caruso Group, International, Clinical Instructor, University of Colorado School of Nursing, Appointed 2004 to a four-year term, reappointed to a four-year term April, 2008

"If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it."  American motion picture actress and comedy star, Lucille Ball, wasn't just being funny when she said that; she just knew that some people are made to move, and Caring for Colorado Board member, Sue Birch, is one of them.

Birch has more than twenty-five years of nursing care and progressive health care administration experience, primarily in rural and frontier regions of Colorado.  She has had extensive community, regional and national involvement with health care program development in community health services, including public health, home health and hospice care. Her expertise lies in leadership, management, strategic collaboratives and resource development related to rural health care.  She has knowledge and experience in the areas of program design and implementation, staff allocation/development, assessment of community and state-wide health needs, human services resource allocation and legislative affairs.

It is no wonder then that she is sought after for committees, advisory groups, boards and appointments statewide as an expert on issues of community health nursing and rural health. Her vitae includes more than a dozen such appointments, committees and task forces, two fellowships, as well as degrees in both nursing and business administration from the University of Colorado.

For more than 15 years, Birch has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association in both Steamboat and Craig. This community health agency employs nearly 100 caregivers, as has been honored with a variety of health care excellence awards.

Birch is also a resource development consultant and clinical instructor at the University of Colorado School of Nursing.

For all of her time and effort, what does this 30-year Colorado resident hope to leave as her health care legacy? Birch says, "Improved health status and quality of life for the citizens of Northwest Colorado."