The Center for Nursing Excellence, will bring together Southwest Health System, Axis Health System, Pagosa Springs Medical Center, Animas Surgical Hospital, and CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital to develop an innovative model of health care leadership development. Instead of internally-focused professional development activities, this model will promote cross-pollination of expertise and skill development that create opportunities for rising health care leaders to pursue leadership positions at a number of health care organizations throughout the region. In doing so, the project—which is funded by LOR—will provide a case study that can help other rural regions consider how to promote and retain capable leaders in the health care sector.