Kentucky Population Health Institute

The Kentucky Population Health Institute (KPHI) is a non-profit organization open to those interested in health, reducing health disparities, and evidence-based health policy. It was incorporated on November 26, 2012 as an emerging institute of the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI). The advisory board includes members from the health practice community, public health, business, insurance, research partners, and academia. KPHI supports the notion that a culture of health be introduced and encouraged including studying and testing new policies that broaden the national portfolio with strategies that target upstream health risks and support delivery of effective prevention practices and programs.

The underlying premise behind KPHI’s overall approach stems from their work in quality improvement, where they know that those closest to the problem have the solutions to the problem. People, given the opportunity to have a voice in their community, can bring positive change and help compensate for existing social determinants of health and health inequity. KPHI’s vision is “optimal health and quality of life for all communities by bridging partnerships and alliances for improved health and equity of life.” 

KPHI services include workforce development sessions on leadership, communication, quality improvement, and management. They also provide facilitation of community health assessments, community health improvement plans, community health needs assessments, and strategic planning. KPHI provides evaluation work to the health and public health workforce. They organize an annual Children’s Envinromental Health Summit focused on protecting children from environmental exposures. KPHI also hosts an Annual Leadership Summit/Reunion for all graduates from their state and national leadership programs.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
  • Policy Analysis
  • Research
  • Evaluation
  • Legislative Education
  • Technical Assistance
  • Meeting Design and Facilitation
  • Grants Management
KEY PARTNERS
  • Kentucky Department for Public Health
  • Kentucky Public Health Association
  • Kentucky Health Directors Association
  • Local Health Departments (District, County, and Independent)
  • University of Kentucky College of Public Health
  • Eastern Kentucky College of Health Sciences
  • Western Kentucky University College of Health and Human Services
  • University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences
  • Kentucky Voices for Health
STAFF

 

Cynthia D. Lamberth, PhDc, MPH, CPH, CLMC

Executive Director
cynthia.lamberth@kypophealth.org

Cynthia serves as Executive Director of the Kentucky Population Health Institute (KPHI) where she conducts leadership training and institutes for governmental and business clients. She is a certified facilitator, life coach, consultant and author on leadership, mentoring, systems change, masterminds, community engagement, and employee recruitment, onboarding, development, and retention. Cynthia is recognized nationally for her knowledge and experience in Community Engagement and Systems Change, and authored the introduction to Leading Systems Change in Public Health (Springer), Community Health Assessment, Planning and Implementation (4th Edition of Principles of Public Health Practice). She is considered a national expert in Population Health Leadership and Action Learning and has more than 40 years of experience in human resources and the health field, including positions in academia, consulting, and high-tech industries.

Cynthia serves on the National Advisory Council for the Public Health Learning Network Navigator, a curated portal of high-quality, peer reviewed online learning. She is also skilled at using research and data to inform programs and policies. She served as a Research to Action (R2A) faculty member for deBeaumont Foundation, using data from the Public Health WINS survey to inform research and policy at the local level focused on recruitment, onboarding, development, and retention of a proficient and prepared workforce.

Cynthia was previously Associate Dean for Workforce Development and Community Engagement at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health. She ranked in the top 50 funded researchers at UK. She also directed the Center of Excellence in Workforce Research and Policy, Kentucky Population Health Leadership Institute, Kentucky and Appalachia Public Health Training Center, and Center on Aging. With family roots in Kentucky, Cynthia has the cultural sensitivity to meet the needs of some of our nation’s most vulnerable residing in the Appalachia and other rural settings. She has also traveled through the world delivering training seminars and consulting with managers on quality, leadership, team dynamics, performance management, strategic planning, Alzheimer’s care, and crisis communication.

 

Janie Cambron, RS, MPH

Chair of the Board
janie.cambron@uky.edu

Janie has worked within local and state public health agencies for more than 17 years. She previously served as the Quality Improvement Coordinator in the Commissioner’s Office at the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). During her 11 year tenure, she had previous roles spanning program management, epidemiology, performance improvement, environmental health, strategic planning, and accreditation. Before joining KDPH, Janie was the Senior Regional Epidemiologist for the Green River District Health Department for four years. She began her career in public health in 2004 as a Health Environmentalist at the Barren River District Health Department and later the Green River District Health Department. Janie maintains her Registered Sanitarian (RS) license.

In March 2020, Janie was one of eight national scholars accepted into the Bloomberg Fellowship DrPH program at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. She has a Masters of Public Health with an Environmental concentration and a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Biology and Agriculture from Western Kentucky University. She was a Kentucky Public Health Leadership Institute Scholar, as well as a mentor and has served as an instructor for the Community Leadership Institute of Kentucky (CLIK). Janie was named the 2008 Young Careerist for both the Northwest Region and Local Owensboro Region from the Organization of Business and Professional Women.

Janie has a core value of service. She has held many leadership positions within the Kentucky Public Health Association (KPHA), including Past President, and currently serves as the Workforce Development Committee co-chair. She is also a member of the KPHA advocacy, legislative, communications, and student engagement committees. Janie is involved in initiatives through the National Association of County and City Health Officials, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, National Network of Public Health Institutes, and the National Public Health Learning Network. She is also a current member of the Region IV Public Health Training Center steering committee.

Janie resides in Frankfort with her husband Jon and their four children. Due to her diversified public health experience, her professional interests are varied and include leadership development, change management, children’s environmental health, workforce capacity, social determinants of health, local public health, disease investigation, student engagement, community partnerships, emergency response, and quality improvement.