To honor and recognize an exceptional and meritorious achievement in Kentucky’s public health by a business or organization.
Guidelines: Well-recognized contribution to the improvement of public health or innovative/creative approach to addressing Public Health needs within Kentucky by a business, industry or organizations. The award will be selected by nomination and election from the Board of Directors by the March meeting of each year (if awarded).
2024 Recipient: Kentucky Public Health AmeriCorps
Todd Rogers, Program Coordinator
The 2024 Industry Award recipient has served Kentucky communities daily to advance Public Health Transformation. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Kentucky’s overall health and wellness declined, and workforce capacity was heavily impacted. Kentucky experienced a 51.43% decrease in staff at local health departments from 2008 to 2020, meaning vital programs were at risk of falling below pre-pandemic participation and outreach goals. To address this need, the Kentucky Health Department Association (KHDA) and the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) drafted workplans that targeted core public health programs, including WIC, H.A.N.D.S., and Harm Reduction services. Funding was secured to deploy 75 AmeriCorps members throughout the state and serve as community health workers with the goal of improving needed capacity and program support. Kentucky Public Health AmeriCorps program staff have been crucial to addressing poor health outcomes and advancing health equity. As a result of their service, AmeriCorps staff have contributed to the improvement of maternal and child nutritional needs, accessibility to parental support when building parent-child relationships and enhancing ongoing harm reduction programs.
2022 Recipient: Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The KY Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has demonstrated health equity in action throughout the COVID19 pandemic through their participation in the Governor’s COVID19 press conferences, providing important, life-saving information to deaf and hard of hearing Kentuckians.
2021 Recipient: Gravity Diagnostics
Gravity Diagnostics is a state-of-the-art CLIA-Certified CAP-Accredited laboratory licensed in all 50 states providing innovative laboratory testing in the areas of COVID-19, Upper Respiratory, Toxicology, Pharmacogenomics, and Sexually Transmitted Infections. We are an advocate for physicians, patients, and our communities, supporting them with unsurpassed integrity, regulatory compliance, and clinical expertise. We currently service over 1,000 customers from small private practices to universities, to Fortune 500 companies.
2020 Recipient: Kentucky Chamber
They have been sponsoring several events to help employers understand substance use disorders and how to help them, their families and the business. They are involved with the KY Can Heal grant, the largest grant UK has ever been funded! Vocal in their support of bans on smoking and vaping products. They also work a lot with the Tourism department and help promote a lot of outdoor and family friendly activities too.
Past Winners
2019: Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
2018: Kentucky Speedway
2017: Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy and Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy
2016: Humana Vitality
2015: CVS Health