Dr. John Langefeld is a physician executive and transformational health leader with more than three decades of experience spanning clinical care, Medicaid policy, managed care, and healthcare analytics. On July 1, 2025, Dr. Langefeld was appointed Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, bringing deep expertise in leading innovative, data- driven strategies to improve the health and well-being of all Kentuckians. He previously served as Medical Director for Health Insights & Innovation, and led the development of KENTUCKY HEALTHforward, a collaborative, data-driven approach to improving population health and aligning efforts across Kentucky’s health ecosystem partners.
Dr. Langefeld’s leadership has guided major transformation efforts at the state and national level, including strategic roles with Vizient Southern States, Gainwell Technologies, and as Chief Medical Officer for Kentucky Medicaid. He also founded Insights4Health, a consulting initiative focused on system integration, health data infrastructure, and policy modernization across several states.
Throughout his career, he has championed the transition from fragmented systems to true health ecosystems, emphasizing shared accountability, actionable data, and equity-centered innovation. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine and in 2015 was honored as Citizen Doctor of the Year by the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Langefeld earned his medical degree from the University of Louisville, completed his residency at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, and holds a B.A. in Biology from Berea College.
