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About the
Healthy Kentucky Initiative

Healthy Kentucky Initiative - About Us

The Healthy Kentucky Initiative fosters UK HealthCare’s vision of one community committed to creating a healthier Kentucky by advancing wellness, health education and prevention efforts across the state. We work across our health system, campus and communities to empower Kentuckians to take charge of their health and achieve their best outcomes. The initiative focuses on addressing health disparities with targeted programs for those most at risk, collaborating with local organizations and community leaders to ensure health resources and programs are accessible and impactful. Our goal is to improve health outcomes across the Commonwealth and encourage a culture of health that benefits all Kentuckians.

Signature programs

Be Healthy Bash is UK HealthCare's annual health festival that focuses on well-being with information and activities around nutrition, fitness and emotional wellness.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. QPR is a one-hour video-based training. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training.

To help improve the health of all Kentuckians, UK Healthcare’s Healthy Kentucky Initiative offers an extensive number of resources tailored to meet the needs of those most at risk for poor health outcomes.

To help our neighbors stay healthy and maintain balance in their lives, we work with community partners to share resources to promote health, nutrition, and physical and emotional wellness. We understand that helping Kentuckians prioritize their self-care is the foundation for good health.

Meet our team

Trudi MatthewsTrudi Matthews
Chief of Value Based Programming & Community Initiatives

Trudi Matthews serves as chief of value-based programs, public policy and community initiatives at UK HealthCare, the health system of the University of Kentucky. Her position oversees three distinct areas. Trudi works with UK HealthCare’s executive team to ensure success in value-based programs for Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurers. Trudi also serves as government affairs and policy lead for UK HealthCare overseeing a team responsible for reviewing and analyzing state and federal government policy. In addition, Trudi is executive director of the Kentucky Regional Extension Center and leads UK HealthCare’s Healthy Kentucky Initiative.

Jenni JinrightJenni Jinright
Manager

Jenni Jinright is the manager of UK HealthCare’s Healthy Kentucky Initiative.  She and her team support community engagement efforts across the health system and develop strategically aligned new initiatives to support the health and well-being of our campus, community and commonwealth.

Lori MadduxLori Maddux
Coordinator

Lori Maddux is a University of Kentucky graduate who loves working for the university that gave her so much. A native Kentuckian, she enjoys being surrounded by the beautiful landscaping and warm personalities on campus. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children, and doing anything creative.

Sydney AdkissonSydney Adkisson
Coordinator

Sydney Adkisson is a native Kentuckian who has a passion for bettering the health of all our residents. She was born and raised in Elizabethtown, Ky., and attended Louisville Collegiate School before coming to the University of Kentucky. At UK she completed a bachelor’s degree in public health and psychology and a master of science in marketing. She grew up coming to UK football and basketball games with her dad! She has a passion for helping other amputees, especially teaching limb different kids to play mainstream sports with their peers through NubAbility Athletics.

 

Gail Kelleher
Administrative Support Associate II

Stephanie King
Grant Writing & Proposal Development Coordinator

Contact us

Email our team at HKI@uky.edu.

UK HealthCare's 2025 strategic plan provides a road map for achieving our vision: One community committed to creating a healthier Kentucky. We are committed to positively impacting our community and our Commonwealth by understanding and responding to health needs through engagement, outreach and collaboration.