The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that recognizes and honors individuals who have overcome daunting odds to expand access to health care and social services to underserved and isolated populations in their communities, has announced the names of its 2005 Community Health Leaders.

Nominated by community leaders and health professionals from around the country, this year's winners represent urban and rural areas of Arizona, California, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington. Each honoree will receive $120,000 — $105,000 to enhance his or her program and $15,000 as a personal award — in recognition of their innovative and effective approach to addressing a specific healthcare challenge.

"All ten of these extraordinary community health leaders are on the front lines providing services and attending to needs that our larger health care system is unable to meet," said program director Catherine Dunham. "They are miracle workers in their communities helping many to navigate a confusing and fragmented health care system in order to receive the services they desperately need, or they are working on the root of the health problem to prevent the need for services in the first place."

For a complete list of this year's winners, see: http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/newsreleasesdetail.jsp?id=10350.