KHA hosted its 97th Annual Convention this week in Louisville. Thank you to all the members who attended or spoke at the event and all the sponsors who make these events possible.
The highlight of the event was the KHA Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, which was capped off by the installation of the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the next two years, Donnald H. Lloyd, II, CEO of UK St. Claire in Morehead. He will assume his duties as Chair on July 1.
Pictured (left to right): Incoming Chair of the KHA Board and UK St. Claire CEO Donald H. Lloyd, II and Current KHA Board Chair and Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman, Ph.D.
Current KHA Board Chair and Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman, Ph.D., also recognized notable members of Kentucky’s health care community during the luncheon.
The Distinguished Service Award, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional and untiring service to their communities, the commonwealth and Kentucky’s health care system, was received by two prominent health care leaders this year – Sheila Schuster, Ph.D. and Richard “Dick” Bartlett.
Dr. Schuster has dedicated more than four decades to improving access to health care and advancing services for individuals living with mental illness, addiction and disabilities across Kentucky. As a clinical psychologist, she spent more than 25 years in practice before transitioning to full-time advocacy, where she became a leading voice in shaping health policy and expanding access to care statewide.
Pictured (left to right): KHA Interim CEO/Senior Vice President Melanie Landrum, Sheila Schuster, Ph.D., and KHA Board Chair and Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman, Ph.D.
Bartlett has played a leading role in strengthening Kentucky’s trauma and emergency preparedness systems for decades. He currently serves as Kentucky Trauma Program director and statewide trauma care system coordinator for the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the Kentucky Hospital Association, where he advises state leaders on trauma care, emergency response, and health care preparedness initiatives. Throughout his career, Bartlett has helped shape emergency medical and disaster response systems at the local, regional, and state levels.
Pictured (left to right): KHA Interim CEO/Senior Vice President Melanie Landrum, KHA Trauma Coordinator Richard “Dick” Bartlett, and KHA Board Chair and Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman, Ph.D.
The Health Care Governance Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who have made a positive and lasting impact on the quality of care in their communities through their service as hospital trustees, was presented to Bige W. Towery, Jr.
Pictured (left to right): KHA Interim CEO/Senior Vice President Melanie Landrum, Bill Towery, who accepted the KHA Governance Award on behalf of his father Bige Towery, and KHA Board Chair and Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman, Ph.D.
For 42 years, Towery has served on Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center’s Board of Directors, providing remarkable stability, continuity, and institutional knowledge during periods of significant change and growth. As board secretary throughout his tenure, Towery has consistently championed quality improvement, organizational performance, and workforce development while promoting a culture of continuous learning and innovation to support the hospital’s long-term success.
