10-year Board Director Carole Rogers is honored as ACHD Trustee of the Year

A highlight of the annual meeting of the Association of California Healthcare Districts this year was the recognition of Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board Director Carole Rogers as state Trustee of the Year.

Rogers, a registered nurse who was first elected to the District & Foundation Board in 2014, received the award Thursday during a reception in Sacramento. The association recognizes an outstanding trustee, district and CEO each year.

Rogers serves on the Board as a representative from Zone 2, which primarily consists of Desert Hot Springs and surrounding unincorporated communities north of Interstate 10. She has been a tireless advocate for the underserved in the Coachella Valley, ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. She has championed affordable housing, provided essential healthcare services to the unhoused and migrant worker populations, and been instrumental in improving mental health resources through the District & Foundation's behavioral health initiatives.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to be named Trustee of the Year," Rogers said. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication of the entire Desert Healthcare District & Foundation team and their unwavering commitment to advancing quality care for our community. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my colleagues, mentors, and all the incredible healthcare professionals who inspire me every day. Together, we will continue to work toward a healthier, stronger future for the Coachella Valley."

Rogers' impact is evident in her leadership roles on the Coachella Valley Association of Governments Homeless Committee and the Lift to Rise Housing Collaborative Action Network, where she secured funding and support for affordable housing projects. She actively volunteers her time, mentoring nursing students and contributing to community programs like the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program, which provides care to over 500 unhoused and migrant workers and their families.

“We are thrilled that Director Rogers received this important recognition from the Association of California Healthcare Districts," said Evett PerezGil, District & Foundation Board president. "Her contributions to our District and the Coachella Valley are invaluable, and we are proud to have her as a Board member.”

Rogers' 50 years of nursing experience and her deep understanding of the healthcare needs of the Coachella Valley have been instrumental in shaping the District & Foundation's behavioral health services and programs.

The association states in a summary of Rogers' contributions: "Mrs. Rogers' passion, expertise, and dedication to the well-being of the valley make her a true healthcare hero and an inspiration to all."