As the Public Health Director for the Pike County Health Department, Tammy Riley serves as a diverse community health advocate and skilled allied health education professional experienced in developing hospital and agency partnerships. With a strong public relations background, Riley promotes community health across private, public, and governmental sectors, providing a variety of public health services to the community served by the department as appointing authority. Riley performs a variety of tasks which include planning and financial management, as well as assessing and analyzing the health status of the county. She has a close working relationship with state agencies which provide technical assistance and support, incorporating Core Public Health Functions and essential public health services into the practice of the agency. Riley oversaw the public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the historic eastern Kentucky flood in 2022 (requesting the implementation of a CASPER, the CDC’s rapid needs assessment), and a recent suicide cluster in Pike County.
Currently, Riley is on the Board of Directors of the Unite Pike Coalition, Big Sandy Diabetes Coalition, the Pike County Domestic Violence Coalition, and American National University. Riley serves on the Kentucky Health Departments Association’s (KHDA) Executive Committee as the President. Riley is also a participant in the Kentucky Department of Public Health’s Local World Changer Project. Riley received the 2022 KHDA Trailbrazer Award for her leadership and innovation in public health service.
In 2021, Riley received community recognition as Citizen of the Year from the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Riley also received the Baird Family Service Award from the University of Pikeville and delivered the convocation address for the Fall 2021 opening ceremony. Riley was the recipient of the Extra Mile Day from the City of Pikeville, has served as President of the Kiwanis Club and was selected Kiwanian of the year in 2013. Riley also served on the Board of Directors for the Appalachian Scholars House, the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and the local YMCA.
A native of Pike County, Riley is a 1992 graduate of the University of Pikeville (then Pikeville College). She earned her Master of Arts degree in Adult and Higher Education from Morehead State University and worked in medical sales for over ten years before becoming the campus director and senior administrator for the Pikeville and Bristol campuses of American National University. She received the Distinguished Service Award in 2010, was selected as Campus Director of the Year in 2013, and oversaw the launch of the Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, and Associate’s Degree in Nursing programs.
