Kentucky Public Health Leaders Attend 2026 NACCHO

Kentucky’s health departments attended the 2026 NACCHO conference, held July 13–17 in Louisville, KY. This year’s conference brought together public health professionals from across the nation to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and outstanding achievements in community health.

Kentucky’s health departments shone brightly, receiving well-deserved recognition for their dedication to improving public health. Let’s carry this momentum forward as we continue to inspire the world of public health.

Connie Mendel, Louisville Metro Health Department, presenting at NACCHO
Eric Mills, Martin County Health Department Director, presenting at NACCHO
Tammy Riley, KHDA President and Pike County Health Department Director attending NACCHO 360
Sara Jo Best, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Director, and Dr. Georgia Heise, Three Rivers District Health Department Director. These directors are being awarded the 2026 National Advocate of the Year Award and 2026 Maurice "Mo" Mullet Lifetime of Service Award, respectively
Sara Jo Best, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Director, receiving the 2026 National Advocate of the Year Award, along with staff.
Whitney Reynods, AmeriCorps Program Director, with Krista O'Nan, KHDA Assistant Director, managing the KHDA booth at NACCHO
Scott Lockard, KY River District Health Department Director, along with staff members, JoAnn Fraley and Zack Salazer, with Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Van Ingram, Executive Director of the KY Office of Drug Control Policy presenting at NACCHO
Dr. Margo Riggs, KY Dept for Public Health, and Denise Beach, Hopkins Co Health Department Director, presenting their poster at NACCHO
Twyla Crain and Jennifer Osborne with Lincoln Trail District Health Department, presenting at NACCHO
Scott Lockard, KY River District Health Department Director, along with staff members, JoAnn Fraley and Zack Salazer, with Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Van Ingram, Executive Director of the KY Office of Drug Control Policy presenting at NACCHO
Dr. Georgia Heise, Three Rivers District HD Director, receiving the 2026 Maurice "Mo" Mullet Lifetime of Service Award
Dr. Georgia Heise, Three Rivers District Health Department Director, presenting at NACCHO
Sara Jo Best, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Director, receiving the 2026 National Advocate of the Year Award
North Central District Health Department Director, Roanya Rice, presenting at NACCHO
Ashley Carrol with KY Dept for Public Health, along with Tammy Riley, Pike County Health Department Director, Dr. Billy Pitts, Marshall County Health Department Director, and Roanya Rice, North Central District HD Director presenting at NACCHO
Dr. Crystal Miller, Lexington Fayette County Health Department Commissioner with staff
Sara Jo Best, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Director, with staff at NACCHO 360
2026 Promising Practice Award - Whitley County Health Department, Dr. Marcy Rein Director
Casey Baker-Romans, substance use prevention health educator at Northern Kentucky Health, receiving the NACCHO Model Practice Award for her "Ditch Vapes: A School Vape Disposal Program."
Dr. Haritha Pallam with the Model Practice Award, “From crisis response to lasting solutions: advancing sustainable food access through public health strategy.”
Alyson Humphrey, Haritha Pallam, Adria Neal, NACCHO Exec. Director, Lori Tremmel Freeman receive Promising Practice award: Equity Infrastructure Team, project lead by Adria Neal – “Operationalizing Health Equity Through Workforce Development: Louisville Metro’s Health Equity Training Series.”
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