Appalachian Health and Well-Being Forum to be held at extension office in Whitesburg Monday evening, July 25

A July 25 forum in Whitesburg will give residents of southeastern Kentucky a chance to tell four health experts their concerns about health issues and possible solutions, and share success stories and plans for future work.

The Appalachian Health and Well-Being Forum will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Letcher County Cooperative Extension Office at 478 Extension Drive.

Dr. Linda Birnbaum

Dr. Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, will join a panel of local community and health leaders who will highlight model programs and activities, then hear from the audience. The program is sponsored by NIEHS and the University of Kentucky.

Others on the panel will be Mike Caudill, CEO of Mountain Comprehensive Health Corp. in Whitesburg; Dawn Brewer, assistant professor in UK’s Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition; and Fran Feltner, director of UK’s Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard.

The forum will also include a variety of exhibitors who will share information about health-related programs and activities in the area. It is designed in part to connect individuals and groups working in overlapping areas to improve the overall health and well-being of Eastern Kentucky.

“Too often, individuals and organizations work in overlapping areas to promote positive lifestyle behaviors but are not fully aware of each other’s work. This forum will provide an important opportunity to build such awareness across the region, with participants sharing and learning from each other,” said UK professor Lindell Ormsbee, who has received many NIEHS grants. He led a team of community members in Perry and Letcher counties, plus UK faculty and students, in planning the event.