Eight Kentuckians receive awards for their efforts to improve the health of the Commonwealth
Louisville, KY (Sep 5, 2024) – The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky announces its 2024 Healthy Kentucky Champions. The award recognizes individuals for their dedication to improving the health and well-being of their communities and/or the state. Eight Kentuckians received the award this year. They are chosen by a committee made up of the Foundation’s Community Advisory Council members.
The 2024 Healthy Kentucky Champions are:
Renee Basham (Hope’s Embrace)
Renee Basham, of Lexington, is the founder and executive director of Hope’s Embrace. Basham is dedicated to improving access to maternal health services across the state, especially in marginalized communities. Along with leading Hope’s Embrace, she networks throughout the state to raise awareness and foster support for lower socioeconomic individuals navigating the complexities of birth and postpartum care. Basham also fights for changes in policy to better Kentucky's maternal healthcare landscape by engaging in legislative advocacy with the Kentucky Birth Coalition.
Suzanne Craig (Green River District Health Department)
Suzanne Craig, of Daviess County, is the public health supervisor at the Green River District Health Department where she oversees the Community Access Project that serves people in five counties. Some of her most notable projects include establishing a nonprofit dental clinic and helping vulnerable populations get prescription assistance. Craig also served on the frontlines during the pandemic to give her staff breaks and keep them as safe as possible.
Crystal Fox (Mayfield Minority Enrichment Corp)
Crystal Fox, of Mayfield, is a founder and the executive director of Mayfield Minority Enrichment Center where she is dedicated to bridging gaps in health disparities. She helps low-income, elderly, and BIPOC communities access food and housing, both of which have a large impact on people’s health. Fox also leads her organization to educate the community on the importance of overall mental health services, dental health services, and food security, all of which are needs that were amplified by the 2021 tornado.
Kyle May (Open Doors Counseling Center)
Kyle May grew up in Pikeville, but now lives in Lexington. He started the nonprofit organization called the Big Sandy LGBT+ Safe Zone. It provides a safe community for people that identify as LGBTQ+ and allies in Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, and Martin counties in Eastern Kentucky. He opened his own counseling practice called Open Doors Counseling Center with offices in Lexington and Pikeville. May provides low-to-no cost mental health care including telehealth to people who struggle with access to these services.
Dr. Elizabeth Ottman (Ohio County Healthcare)
Elizabeth Ottman, MD, of Ohio County, has dedicated her more than 30-year career as an OB/GYN to improving access to care in western Kentucky. She is a trailblazer in Perinatal Mental Health. Among many other accomplishments, Dr. Ottman worked with Ohio County Healthcare to launch an innovative program to treat women with Post Partum Depression (PPD). In 2023, she was a strong advocate for a bill that became law that increased education and coverage for PPD treatment services in Kentucky.
Taylor Ryan (Change Today, Change Tomorrow)
Taylor Ryan is from Paducah and currently lives in Louisville. Ryan is the founder and executive director of Change Today, Change Tomorrow where she is deeply engaged in fighting against food injustice and public health disparities. She has developed innovative programs that aim to reduce food insecurity in Louisville’s west end. As part of her efforts to promote systemic changes and health equity in Kentucky, Ryan advocates for policies that support public health and nutrition.
Tamarra Wieder (Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates)
Tamarra Wieder, of Louisville, is Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocate’s (PPAA) Kentucky State Director. She oversees programs, research, and policy advocacy to improve reproductive health outcomes in Kentucky. During the 2024 legislative session in Kentucky, Wieder was one of the champions for the omnibus maternal health bill that was passed. Wieder is also focused on promoting LGTBQ+ equality, increasing health equity for underserved and minority populations, and dismantling systemic barriers to care.
Dr. Alex Wright (Wright Medical, PLLC)
Alex Wright, MD has lived in Paducah since 2016 where he served the community as a primary care and hospice care provider. In 2022, he began volunteering with the Four Rivers nonprofit foundation to do free physical exams and care for the medically underserved and poverty-stricken populations. Dr. Wright has been doing this work full-time for the last year and provides care to approximately 5,000 students and staff across seven school districts. He is currently working to make Wright Medical a nonprofit healthcare entity to increase his capacity to provide for the underserved.
“We are incredibly proud to recognize these outstanding individuals who are making a tangible difference in the health and well-being of Kentuckians,” said Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “Their dedication and innovative approaches inspire us all to continue striving for a healthier Kentucky. These awards are a testament to their hard work and the lasting impact they are creating in our communities."
Gil Friedell Memorial Health Policy Champion Award
Each year, the Gil Friedell Memorial Health Policy Champion Award is given to one of the Healthy Kentucky Champions. The Friedell Award is named after Dr. Gil Friedell, a passionate advocate for access to health care, the first director of the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky, and cofounder of the Kentucky Cancer Registry. The Friedell Award comes with a $5,000 grant from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky to a Kentucky based nonprofit of the winner’s choice. The 2024 Friedell Award winner will be announced at this year’s Bost Forum. To learn more about the annual event hosted by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, click here.