For over a decade, Debbie Miller has championed the wellbeing of eastern Kentucky residents as the Public Health Director for the Lawrence County Health Department. With a career spanning more than 30 years in leadership, Debbie is deeply passionate about bridging gaps in rural healthcare through collaborative, community-driven partnerships. Before taking the helm at Lawrence County Health Department in 2014, Debbie directed community relations at King’s Daughters Medical Center. There, she managed the community health improvement plan and led a mobile health program delivering services across 18 counties in eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio.
Today, Debbie’s passion shines through youth empowerment initiatives including a dedicated youth health coalition and the CommUNITY project – an innovative initiative bringing the Icelandic Prevention Model to Lawrence County. An active leader in the public health sector, Debbie currently serves as the vice-president of the Kentucky Health Departments Association (KHDA) and chairs its AmeriCorps Advisory Council. She was recognized as KHDA’s 2025 Director of the Year and previously received the 2017 Governor’s Service Award for emergency planning for vulnerable populations. Debbie also serves as vice-chair for the Lawrence County chapter of the Kentucky Agency on Substance Abuse Policy (KY-ASAP), represents local health departments on the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening and Prevention Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Northeast Kentucky Health and Wellness Alliance.
Debbie holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Marshall University and a Master of Business Administration from Morehead State University.
