President’s Award
2022
CHARLOTTE LEDONNE
Those in the San Luis Valley will recognize her immediately, as she has been a driving force in the health care needs of this rural area for decades. Charlotte LeDonne is this year’s President Award Recipient. Charlotte has been a friend and advocate of the Colorado Nurses Foundation for at least 20 years, volunteering her time to make sure nurses in the Alamosa area were recognized and honored for their contributions to the health care needs of the community. You will never meet a more optimistic nor passionate advocate for her community or for the medical professionals who meet the health needs of the San Luis Valley. Charlotte retired this year after 40 years as the Nurse Coordinator at the San Luis Valley Area Education Center. Let me share with you some of her nursing activities.
Charlotte’s heart lies with underserved populations. Charlotte was an early advocate for those with HIV/AIDS educating health care providers and community leaders on the disease process and how to care for those affected. This was back in the 1980’s, when no one really understood the disease or the potential impact it would have. She served on the National Rural HIV Health Committee.
She has been on the frontline of the opioid epidemic, addressing the stigma and seeking to provide effective treatment to those with Opioid Use Disorder. She started the SLV Opioid Naloxone Education Empowerment Distribution and opened a safe needle exchange program, thus helping to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C.
For several years, Charlotte has taught a six-week program on Women’s Health Issues at the Community Corrections Facility, supporting incarcerated woman.
She was instrumental in coordinating outreach programs, including Cancer Screenings. She helped develop and present education classes for health care agencies, providers, and the community. She has served as a preceptor for nursing students who experienced the true scope of rural nursing practice. This is a small sampling of her activities.
In her free time, she has worked part-time at the local mental health center.
In 2007, Charlotte received the Nightingale Award, for her extraordinary contributions as a nurse. She was nominated by her peers and her patients.