Mindy Rogers, MA
Team Leader, Program Director
mindy.rogers@uky.edu
Mindy supervises the Community Outreach Team, directs the Kentucky Cancer Program at Markey in collaboration with the University of Louisville, and oversees the Research Advocacy Program. She leads partnerships with local, regional and statewide organizations, as well as program planning, evaluation, and resource management to address state and local cancer needs among diverse populations. Mindy provides consultations with Markey researchers regarding community engagement strategies and facilitates new collaborations between researchers and community partners. Mindy has lived and worked in eastern Kentucky for more than 30 years, serving in communication, education, and public health roles to impact the burden of cancer in our state and reduce health disparities. She contributes expertise in cultivating and sustaining community partnerships, culturally-appropriate community engagement strategies, and multi-level strategies for implementing evidence-based practices.
Angela Combs, MSW, LSW
Regional Cancer Control Specialist II
Buffalo Trace and Gateway Districts
admitch@uky.edu
Angela came to work with Kentucky Cancer Program in 2019. Prior to that, she worked with Public Health as a coordinator for the KY HANDS Program and Hospice of Hope as a medical social worker. She also worked with UK Cooperative Extension for 18 years at the county level.
Jeff Russell
Regional Cancer Control Specialist
Cumberland Valley District
jeff.lunsford@uky.edu
Jeff has 29 years of Public Health experience with the Cumberland Valley District Health Department and the Kentucky Department of Public Health. He has been with the Kentucky Cancer Program since 2016. Jeff works to reduce cancer incidence and mortality by promoting cancer education, research, and service programs, as well as providing local leadership for cancer prevention and control planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Amy Oliver-Steinkuhl
Cancer Control Specialist II
Bluegrass West District
amy@uky.edu
Amy has served the counties of her district for more than 20 years. Amy also serves as the Cancer Survivorship Program Coordinator for KCP East. She has been fortunate to work with a wide variety of survivors, community programs, and health care providers to create, direct and implement programs. She has developed and directed weekend retreats for young adults and female survivors, known as New Normal Workshops. She also developed and maintains the Kentucky Cancer Survivor Connection- an informational clearinghouse for all survivors in Kentucky, providing them with monthly updates of new guidelines, research findings, research participation opportunities as well as networking opportunities, resources specific to their journey, opportunities to participate in local, state and national events. It will fill the void that is being created by the dwindling number of support groups across the state.
Wynona Padgett
Regional Cancer Control Specialist
Lake Cumberland District
wynona.padgett@uky.edu
Before joining the Kentucky Cancer Program in September 2017, Wynona spent 31 years in local radio. With training in broadcasting/journalism, she uses her media experience and communications skills to help tell KCP’s story across eastern Kentucky. She is very involved in her community where she serves as president of the Somerset Junior Woman’s Club, Ambassador for the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, and director of Watershed Arts Alliance.
Tonya Pauley
Regional Cancer Control Specialist II
Bluegrass East District
tonya_pauley@uky.edu
Tonya is a native Eastern Kentuckian who strives to serve the diverse communities throughout her district. She earned her undergraduate degree from Berea College and her graduate degree from Eastern KY University. Tonya has worked with the Kentucky Cancer Program since 2004. Previously, she worked as a counselor for Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center, a Head Start Teacher for Kentucky River Foothills, and as a psychiatric assessment and admissions counselor in a hospital setting. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about issues related to addiction, including tobacco addiction and treatment.
Mary Jo Schneider, MA, LPAT
Regional Cancer Control Specialist II
Northern Kentucky District
mary.schneider@uky.edu
Mary joined Kentucky Cancer Program August 2019. Prior to this position, Mary has served Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati as a clinical therapist addressing co-occurring issues with a specialty in medical and grief complexity. She has served clients and families addressing and adjusting to chronic medical issues and loss for over 25 years in outpatient, inpatient, hospitals, grief, and acute treatment centers. Her professional career path continues in advocacy of improving ongoing wellness and holistic health.
Ashley Teague, MBA
Regional Cancer Control Specialist II
Kentucky River District
ateague@uky.edu
Ashley is a native to Eastern Kentucky and joined the Kentucky Cancer Program in 2013. Prior to this position, she worked as a Patient Navigator at the ARH Cancer Center, working with cancer patients and the community to reduce barriers to screening and treatment. Ashley’s work as a Regional Cancer Control Specialist includes a focus on colon cancer education and outreach to communities, as well as healthcare partners to increase colon cancer screening rates.
Terry Keys
Research Advocacy Manager
Terry.Keys@uky.edu
Terry brings a career filled with marketing, public relations, special events and graphic design to another level as he works to integrate the personal experiences of Markey patients, their families and their caregivers into the world of researchers. In 2009, Terry began promoting the latest advances in cancer research through seminars and conferences and facilitating Markey’s Patient Advisory Group, comprised of former Markey patients, family members and caregivers. As of July 2022, as Markey’s new Research Advocacy Manager, Terry works to integrate the worlds of science and community, making science more understandable and bringing the life experiences into the sciences.
Joetta Choate
Administrative Support Associate
Joetta.Choate@uky.edu
Joetta joined the Kentucky Cancer Program in 2021 and is based at KCP’s Somerset office, providing administrative program support for all staff and regional offices. She has more than 20 years of experience in several key functions of office managerial and administrative duties, ranging from human resources, accounting, inventory management, and event planning. Her unique skillset supplies KCP with expert tools for its outreach and engagement activities.
Tammy Gorham
Administrative Support Associate
tammy.gorham@uky.edu
Tammy works from KCP-East’s Lexington office, providing administrative program support for all staff and regional offices. She attended the University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University, where she received her BBA in Healthcare Administration. Before coming to UK, she worked in a variety of healthcare environments over the past 25 years and brings a strong background in customer service, patient care (both administrative and clinical), event planning, sales, and management. Her unique skillset supplies KCP-East with expert tools for its outreach and engagement activities.
Kaitlyne Hackworth
Regional Cancer Control Specialist II
FIVCO, Big Sandy District
Kaitlyne.Hackworth@uky.edu
Kaitlyne is an Eastern Kentucky native who joined the Kentucky Cancer Program in 2023. Prior to that, she worked as a Youth Substance Abuse Coordinator at Mountain Comprehensive Care Center for 5 years. She earned her bachelor's degree from Morehead State University and her master's degree from the University of Pikeville. Kaitlyne works to increase awareness of cancer prevention and risk factors, as well as increase education of cancer screenings and early detection. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about serving her community.
K. Lizeth Barbra
Community Health Worker
lizeth.barba@uky.edu
Lizeth, joined the Kentucky Cancer Program in 2024 and is based at KCP’s Lexington office, Serving as a Bilingual Community Health Worker fluent in English and Spanish, Skilled in cross cultural communication with a focus on building diverse relationships, establishing and maintaining partnerships with community organizations, leaders, and other stakeholders to promote health equity within Hispanic/Latino communities in the Kentucky East region. Lizeth also provides support for KCP outreach and engagement activities across the area working with the community to reduce the barriers to screening and treatment.
