Sara C. Stice Health Education Award

Sara C. Stice

We are proud to announce this year’s recipient of an award dedicated to recognizing an individual who has made a significant impact in the field of health education across Kentucky.

Named in honor of Sara C. Stice, who served as Kentucky’s Director of Health Education from 1950 to 1973, this accolade celebrates exceptional leadership and meaningful contributions to advancing health knowledge and improving community well-being. This year’s honoree embodies that legacy through unwavering dedication to the people and communities she serves.

Actively engaged in the health sector, she has become a trusted leader and vital resource within her county. Her work in health education, particularly in addressing substance use prevention, has strengthened local capacity, empowered community leaders, and equipped families with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate emerging public health challenges. Through collaboration, connection-building, and a deep understanding of her community’s needs, she has amplified the reach and effectiveness of prevention efforts throughout the region.

Her leadership reflects a genuine commitment to the health, longevity, and future of her community. She is widely respected as both a champion for public health and a steady presence during challenging times, ensuring that accurate information, practical resources, and strong partnerships remain at the forefront of local efforts. Her work not only advances health education but also helps build a safer, stronger environment for future generations. Please join us in celebrating Abbie Conley, recipient of the Sara C. Stice Health Education Award.

Debbie Bell, RD, LD, CDCES, MLDE
Health Education Director
Franklin County Health Department

Debbie Bell is described as representing her health department with not only professionalism, but also grace, distinction, and pride. She has worked in public health for 25 years, demonstrating long-term commitment, innovation and a passion for improving the health of Kentuckians. She is passionate about health education, is a licensed diabetes educator and the lead facilitator of the Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Program at her health department. She partnered with CenterWell Senior Primary Care to increase access by making DSME available via telehealth. She formed a 501c3 for the Franklin Co Diabetes Coalition, which has been recognized for their innovative classes, community events and youth and parent support and education. She is said to be the driving force of the Diabetes Prevention Program as well and “is always willing to help others to live their best life.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led weekly updates on the local TV station by interviewing local leaders, such as the public health director, mayor, county judge executive, school superintendent, to name a few. Through this she became a friendly and trusted face in a time of adversity and, often, misinformation.

She has worked in every program that health education offers from puberty to smoking cession and truly cares for each and every community member. She is held in high regard by her co-workers. As beautifully stated by John C. Maxwell, “a leader is someone who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” She is said to embody these qualities in every aspect of her work and to be an exceptional leader.

Elizabeth Burrows
Health Education Coordinator
Oldham County Health Department

Elizabeth “Liz” Burrows has had an illustrious career in health education spanning over two decades. She has demonstrated unwavering commitment, passion and creativity in promoting health and wellness within her community. Ms. Burrows has a compassionate approach to teaching the smoking cessation program, Freedom from Smoking. Her nomination letter states, “With a listening ear and genuine empathy, she imparts crucial knowledge while providing support to individuals seeking to break free from the grip of smoking. Her ability to connect with participants on a personal level has made a lasting impact on their journeys towards a smoke-free life.”

A remarkable achievement that highlights Ms. Burrows’ impact is the adoption of the smoke-free policy in Oldham County, affectionately known as the "Liz Law". This recognition is a testament to Ms. Burrows’ relentless advocacy and hard work, marking a transformative moment in the community's commitment to a smoke-free environment.

Ms. Burrows is committed to the Oldham County community and to the Oldham County Health Department (OCHD) in multiple ways. In addition to her health education efforts, she has secured more than $500,000 in grants for OCHD over the last three years. She has also secured the Drug Free Communities Grant for Oldham County for the last 10 years.

After examining local survey data that highlighted the need for mental health services, Ms. Burrows recently became a facilitator with the Mental Health First Aid program. Over 100 community members have already completed this training. In conclusion, a letter of support eloquently describes the value of Ms. Burrows to her community by stating, “Liz Burrows is the epitome of what it means to be a community health educator. She uses data to identify a need, identifies means to secure financial support, and then ultimately helps deliver the product using her training abilities.”

Jennifer Robinson, MA

Sherrie Stidham
Health Educator
Kentucky River District Health Department

Tara Vostad
Health Promotion Specialist
Kentucky River District Health Department

The Kentucky River District Health Department, which is comprised of seven counties, has the highest smoking rate in the State of Kentucky, resulting in poor health outcomes, primarily associated with smoking. This area is also a region where the "right to smoke" is seen as a personal freedom that people are resistant to give up.

We all know that the passage of smoke free policies can result in improved health outcomes for our communities. In fact, the only comprehensive smoke free policies in the state that have been passed in the past two years have been passed in KY River District and that is attributed to the hard work and dedication of two individuals.

The 2022 award duo formed the Tobacco Cessation Team at the KY River District Health Department and work tirelessly to promote tobacco cessation efforts in the counties in which they serve. They have not let long held beliefs and attitudes discourage them from their work.

Their work in the school system has raised awareness and educated students. They have worked diligently to educate the community about the dangers of smoking, vaping, and other tobacco products. They have educated retailers on the Trust ID program, offering Tobacco Cessation-Freedom From Smoking, and focusing on efforts to get smoke free policies passed.

They have been successful in getting smoke free policies passed in Hazard, Perry County, Knott County, Owsley County, and the city of Beattyville. Being a Health Educator is more than a job for this duo, they go above and beyond every day.

Leanne Kommer
Health Education Director
Oldham Co Health Department

In “The Hill We Climb”, the nation’s first youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, spoke “while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us”. This year’s recipient of the Sara C. Stice award embodies this statement with each contribution she makes to her community.

Over her 19 years of service, she has left many colleagues amazed by her dedication to health education and policy development. A few of her accomplishments include the establishment of smoke and tobacco-free initiatives within the county/school district, the development of safe recreational parks and walkways within urban areas, creating linkages to food, shelter and housing for vulnerable populations and bringing mental health awareness and action to children through Sources of Strength. Additionally, she serves her community as the preparedness coordinator, ensuring plans are in place to ensure resiliency in the event of an emergency.

Throughout the COVID pandemic, she has also assumed many other vital roles. At the height of contact tracing, she accepted the role of director of health education as well as overseeing the COVID response team. In this role, she onboarded 20 new contact tracers and educated each individual on the nuanced details associated with every COVID-19 case. As many experienced over the course of the year, guidance changed regularly, but she never faltered and continued to lead and educate her team.

Letters of support describe her as trusted, instrumental, an advocate, a great partner and this statement was made, “Her steadfast dedication to her organization’s mission, along with genuine compassion for our citizens, sets her apart from other people.”

Tracy Aaron, CHES
Director of Health Policy and Promotion
Lake Cumberland District Health Department

Nearly 26 years ago this year’s awardee began working at her local health department as an intern, was hired as a health educator following that internship and has been with her local health department for over 25 years now. Early in her career she was promoted to the Health Education Director (now Health Policy and Promotion).

During her career, a few of her accomplishments include the establishment of smoking cessation programs in all the district’s counties, leading 69% of the district’s schools to become tobacco-free campuses (work prior to HB11 in 2019), establishing and/or expanding health coalitions in every county in the district; procuring over 2.5 million grant dollars for innovative ideas around teen health issues.

Additionally, she established a partnership with the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Bounce Coalition to provide training and education district-wide on Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma-informed approaches. She also has the desire to improve health education beyond her district and serves on the Kentucky Preventive Health Block Grant Committee and serves on the KPHA Board of Directors.

These accomplishments, and many others, were recorded in numerous letters of support, which came not only from public health colleagues, but also from others she has worked on various initiatives with…a mayor, school superintendent, the Kentucky Department of Education, and a licensed psychologist.

In her current capacity she is responsible for direct and indirect reports and nearly $700,000 of the annual budget. Her director stated, “she excels at capacity development…is composed under pressure and welcomes new opportunities to improve health.” She is often heard saying, ‘Change is good.’

When asked her greatest career achievement, she responds that she thrives on changing community norms through coalition work. She has created multiple opportunities for community partners to work together on environmental and policy changes.

This year’s Sara C. Stice award recipient is Tracy Aaron, Director of Health Education, Lake Cumberland District HD.

• 2019: Phyllis Bryden
• 2018: Shana M. Peterson, MS
• 2017: Greg Corby-Lee
• 2016: Andrea Brown
• 2015: Stephanie Vogel
• 2014: Grace Lartey
• 2013: Judy Mattingly
• 2012: Michelyn Bhandari
• 2011: Dr. Cecilia Watkins
• 2010: Sheri Erwin
• 2009: Elizabeth Crigler
• 2008: Carolyn Jane Bond
• 2007: Peggy Seither
• 2006: Sister Leanne Herder
• 2005: Not Awarded
• 2004: Ova Pittman, MS, RS
• 2003: Richard Wilson
• 2002: Cynthia Brown
• 2001: Rebecca “Becky” Bruce
• 2000: Phyllis A. Skonicki
• 1999: Kathy Garvin
• 1998: Ellen J. Hahn, PhD
• 1997: Viola Keys
• 1996: Rosemary Weathers
• 1995: Lucille Harris, RN
• 1994: J. David Dunn, DSc
• 1993: Claude Tiller, MPH
• 1992: Grace Eddison, MD
• 1991: Rebecca Bruce, MS, CHES
• 1990: Pat Petot, RN, ARNP
• 1989: Carol Bryant, PhD
• 1988: Karen Thompson
• 1987: Alma Jones, RN
• 1986: Sue Garmon
• 1985: Martha Blair RN
• 1984: Don Calitri, EdD
• 1983: Ellen Van Nagell
• 1982: Ray P. Biggerstaff, Jr. EdD
• 1981: John Stoner
• 1980: Loma Taylor
• 1979: Joe F. Sills, PhD
• 1978: Helen Hunt, MPH
• 1977: Mildred Rucker