Scott Named Director at Kentucky Office of Rural Health
Hazard, Ky. (Nov. 11, 2013) – Ernie Scott has been named director of the Kentucky Office of Rural Health (KORH), at the University of Kentucky (UK) Center of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH).
Scott joined KORH in January 2012 as a rural project manager, and assumed his new post on Nov. 1, following the retirement of former KORH Director Larry Allen, who held the position for more than a decade.
“We are certainly fortunate to have had Larry Allen’s expert leadership and service for the last decade. And, now we are pleased to welcome Ernie Scott to his new position. I am confident his years of experience and passion for rural health will enable him to support many rural communities in their efforts improve quality and access to health care,” said Dr. Fran Feltner, director of the UK CERH.
Prior to his role at KORH, Scott was employed at Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation as the director of planning and special projects. He has more than 15 years of rural healthcare experience - ranging from clinic to hospital to academic settings – and also serves on a number of national, regional, state and local advisory boards and boards of directors.
Scott will oversee all aspects of the KORH, including the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP), The Kentucky State Loan Repayment Program (KSLRP) and the Kentucky Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (FLEX). KORH provides a framework for linking small rural communities with state and federal resources while working toward long-term solutions to rural health issues.
Scott is a graduate of the Hazard Community College Radiologic Technology Program and also holds a bachelor of arts in health care administration from Midway College. He resides in Letcher County with his wife, Tiffany, and their six-year-old daughter.
The UK CERH serves as the federally designated KORH. The mission of the UK CERH is to improve the health of rural Kentuckians. The UK CERH accomplishes this through education, research, service, and community engagement. The KORH mission is to support the health and well-being of Kentuckians by promoting access to rural health services.
Based in Hazard, Ky., a coal mining town of about 6,000 people, the UK CERH employs approximately 180 people across the Commonwealth, including counties in eastern and western Kentucky and along the southern border. With a presence in nearly two-thirds of Kentucky’s 120 counties, including the Delta and Appalachia regions, the Center has a long history of award-winning programs and innovative collaborations between academic, community, and government groups.
For more information on KORH services and resources, please visit www.kyruralhealth.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Beth Bowling, beth.bowling@uky.edu, 606-439-3557