When Karcyn Brummett, MPH, graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Public Health with her Master of Public Health degree in 2024, she was eager to return to Pulaski County, motivated by a strong connection to her Appalachian roots and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in her home region.
During her time at CPH, Brummett completed her practicum with the Lake Cumberland District Health Department, an experience that resulted in the offer of a full-time role. Today, she serves as the department’s Accreditation and Performance Management Coordinator, a position that allows her to help shape internal systems and drive measurable improvements in public health at the local level.
Brummett credits CPH’s MPH program with equipping her with the specific skills needed to achieve her professional goals.
“UK’s program offered not only a solid academic foundation but also real-world applications that prepared me to address the unique challenges faced by rural populations,” she said.
Several courses in the MPH program at CPH left indelible impressions and equipped her with skills that she uses daily in her role. One of the most valuable courses, she recalled, was Disease Mapping and Data Visualization.
“That class taught me how to present data in ways that are both clear and compelling, a skill that is essential when working with diverse stakeholders,” Brummett said. “It also helped me build confidence using various data visualization tools such as Tableau and QGIS and sharpened my proficiency in practical applications like Excel.”
Another course Brummett found particularly beneficial is Understanding and Communicating Environmental Health Risks, which emphasizes tailoring public health communication to different audiences.
“In my role, knowing how to communicate effectively, whether to the public, staff, or partner agencies, is a critical part of ensuring that data and recommendations are actually understood and used,” she said.
Together, these experiences provided her with a strong and flexible foundation, one that supports the wide range of responsibilities she now has at the Lake Cumberland District Health Department.
As Accreditation and Performance Management Coordinator, Brummett plays a behind-the-scenes but essential role in advancing the agency’s mission. Her day-to-day responsibilities focus on strategic planning, cross-team coordination, and data analysis—all key to ensuring that the health department operates efficiently and meets standards of quality.
Brummett’s work is grounded in understanding and responding to the needs of the communities her department serves. Through community surveys, she and her team gather essential insights into local health concerns, barriers to care, and priority issues—information that helps guide planning and decision-making. Her role includes analyzing this data and helping ensure that programs and resources are tailored to each area’s unique needs.
"It also reinforces the importance of listening directly to the voices of our residents when shaping public health strategy and interventions,” she added.
“While my work may not always be visible to the public, it plays a key role in strengthening the health department’s internal systems and, ultimately, our impact in the community,” she said.
A significant part of her work involves maintaining accreditation readiness. Brummett said this includes gathering and organizing documentation, tracking progress on required activities, and coordinating efforts across the different departments within the health department.
One of her main focuses is making sure the health department stays on track with its long-term plans to improve health in the region. She helps gather data, organize it in useful ways, and makes it easier for staff to understand and act on.
“In my role, I help make sure we’re not just collecting data, but using it to actually improve the health of our communities,” she said. “It’s about turning information into action.”
Brummett’s role may not involve front-line service, but the impact of her work is far-reaching. Through coordination, analysis, and careful planning, she strengthens the systems that allow her health department to function effectively and serve communities across the Lake Cumberland region. Her efforts support everything from accreditation to program improvement—quiet, methodical work that shapes meaningful results.
