Better Health, Better Kentucky

On this episode of Better Health, Better Kentucky, Jeff and Andrea are joined by environmental health specialists Justin Pittman and Matt Rhodes, who bring years of experience from across the Bluegrass. They break down what it takes to keep Kentuckians safe — from inspections and regulations to emergency response and prevention — offering a clear look at the day-to-day work that protects public spaces, food systems and communities statewide. Better Health, Better Kentucky is a podcast by the Kentucky Health Department Association, highlighting the people and services working behind the scenes to protect and improve public health across the commonwealth.

In this episode of Better Health, Better Kentucky, Sarah Jo Best joins Jeff Vanderbeck and Andrea Viney to take a closer look at the evolving landscape of public health across the commonwealth. The discussion centers on public health transformation, the growing role of advocacy at both the local and state levels, and how health departments are adapting to meet the changing needs of their communities. From policy and funding to real-world impact, the conversation highlights both the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of public health in Kentucky. Better Health, Better Kentucky is a podcast by the Kentucky Health Department Association, focused on educating the public about how local health departments operate and serve communities across the state.

In the inaugural episode of Better Health, Better Kentucky, host Jeff Vanderbeck is joined by Andrea Brown-Viney, Communications Chair for the Kentucky Health Department Association and Public Health Director at the Bourbon County Health Department, along with Tammy Riley, Pike County Public Health Director and KHDA president. Together, they break down what KHDA is, how it supports local health departments across the commonwealth, and why coordinated public health leadership matters in every region of Kentucky. The conversation introduces the structure of local health departments, the services they provide and the day-to-day work happening behind the scenes to protect and improve community health. This episode lays the foundation for the series, offering a clear look at how Kentucky’s public health system functions — and why it plays a critical role in every county.