Category Archives: Local or community-based Ruth Ann Shepherd,
MD, division director for maternal and child health in the
Kentucky Department for Public Health, was an early pioneer in
recognizing the critical public health problem of preterm births
in Kentucky, and that the troubling trend was common to most
states in the country. Dr. Shepherd’s research revealed that
babies born at 37 or 38 weeks had far worse health outcomes than
babies born at 39 or 40 weeks. With support from the leadership
at the Kentucky Department of Health, and many other
organizations who have since taken up the cause of helping to
create conditions for healthier babies, many states are
beginning to make strides in preventing early births. Last week,
Dr. David Lakey acknowledged her leadership in preventing
preterm birth and infant mortality by awarding her the
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
Presidential Meritorious Service Award. Charles Kendell, MPA,
chief of staff at the Kentucky Health Department,