KENTUCKY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29 – Keynote Speaker Cameron Mills

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29 – Keynote Speaker Cameron Mills

Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online
Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 29 2026, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

This year’s conference will feature timely sessions on quality initiatives, HIPAA and security updates, hospital promoting interoperability, AI in healthcare, and emerging topics shaping healthcare.

 

Keynote Speaker: CAMERON MILLS, LHC Group, CAMERON MILLS MINISTRIES

TEAMWORK – You can’t do it alone

Kentucky native Cameron Mills lived out a childhood dream by following in his father’s footsteps to play basketball at the University of Kentucky during one of the programs most successful eras. From 1994-1998, he helped lead the Wildcats to three NCAA Final Fours and three NCAA National Championship appearances. The team won two Championships, defeating Syracuse in 1996 and Utah in 1998.

Following his time at UK, Cameron founded Cameron Mills Ministries. He is a sought after speaker at conferences and events, sharing insights on the power of influence. His message focuses on everyday opportunities we have to impact others through actions, not just words.

At the same time, Cameron has also built a career in the health care industry. He has been with LHC Group since 2004, a national leader in home health and hospice services, which serves patients in 38 states. In 2019, he became Vice President and Chief Culture Officer. In this role, he encourages and supports frontline caregivers, individuals he considers heroes long before the Covid-19 pandemic brought them into the spotlight.

Cameron lives in Lexington, KY with his wife, Susan, and their son Alex. Susan is a children’s book author and illustrator. She is known for her series about a world of dinosaurs with special needs.

 

Keynote Speaker: CAMERON MILLS, LHC Group, CAMERON MILLS MINISTRIES

TEAMWORK – You can’t do it alone

Kentucky native Cameron Mills lived out a childhood dream by following in his father’s footsteps to play basketball at the University of Kentucky during one of the programs most successful eras. From 1994-1998, he helped lead the Wildcats to three NCAA Final Fours and three NCAA National Championship appearances. The team won two Championships, defeating Syracuse in 1996 and Utah in 1998.

Following his time at UK, Cameron founded Cameron Mills Ministries. He is a sought after speaker at conferences and events, sharing insights on the power of influence. His message focuses on everyday opportunities we have to impact others through actions, not just words.

At the same time, Cameron has also built a career in the health care industry. He has been with LHC Group since 2004, a national leader in home health and hospice services, which serves patients in 38 states. In 2019, he became Vice President and Chief Culture Officer. In this role, he encourages and supports frontline caregivers, individuals he considers heroes long before the Covid-19 pandemic brought them into the spotlight.

Cameron lives in Lexington, KY with his wife, Susan, and their son Alex. Susan is a children’s book author and illustrator. She is known for her series about a world of dinosaurs with special needs.

Save the Date! Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29!

Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online

Details and Registration Coming Soon!

During our day together we’ll discuss Quality Initiatives, HIPAA, Artificial Intelligence, and more to ensure that clinicians, hospital and ambulatory administrators, and clinic staff are well prepared for the challenges of modern healthcare.

Lexington, Kentucky – Join Us in Person or Online

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 23 2025: Dr Tama Thé – The Promise of AI for Kentucky Healthcare

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 23 2025, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

Trudi Matthews

Dreams of Data—The Promise of AI for Kentucky Healthcare

Speaker: Dr Tama Thé, MD, Assistant Professor – Department of Emergency Medicine, UK HealthCare 

Artificial intelligence is transforming medicine around the world. How can we make sure that Kentucky doesn’t get left behind? This presentation explores how we can harness AI to build a smarter, more connected healthcare system. We’ll look at how AI can improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce documentation burdens, and help address the physician shortage. We will highlight some of the innovative projects underway at UK HealthCare and get a peek of the broader vision driving the next wave of healthcare transformation.

Dr Tama Thé, MD

Tama Thé specializes in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and is an AI Research fellow with the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is leading AI initiatives both in healthcare at UKHC and across the state, as well as on the main campus at UK, and is the founder of the AI Incubator at the UK College of Medicine.

Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 23: HIE-Speed Ahead – Connecting Care Smarter

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 23 2025, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

Trudi Matthews

HIE-Speed Ahead: Connecting Care Smarter

Speaker: Andrew Bledsoe, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services 

Get ready to accelerate into the future of health information technology! Andrew Bledsoe of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services introduces KHIE’s new HIE system and its enhanced capabilities, designed to make data exchange faster, smarter, and more seamless than ever. We’ll explore how these upgrades improve care coordination, strengthen connections, and empower providers with the right information at the right time.

About Andrew Bledsoe, Deputy Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

The intersection of health information technology with quality care delivery has provided Andrew Bledsoe with a unique perspective over his two plus decades in healthcare. Starting his career in a regional hospital, he quickly learned the challenges in healthcare, especially rural medicine, and began investing in the concept of leveraging health information technology to improve outcomes for patients.

His current appointment as the Deputy Inspector General for the Office of the Inspector General within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services primarily focuses on implementing the KHIE Strategic and Operational Plan, promoting the statewide exchange of patient health information, spearheading a number of new services designed to improve care coordination, and offer new avenues to reduce reporting burdens and foster inter-agency collaboration.

Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 23: Elevating Quality & Value

 

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 23 2025, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

Trudi Matthews
Trudi Matthews

Elevating Quality and Value: Leading Teams into the Next Generation of Care

Speakers: Katie Carozza and Jessica Elliott,  Kentucky REC

The shift to value-based care is accelerating, driven by evolving payment models, rising patient expectations, and the increasing demand for data-driven, personalized care. We will discuss key challenges faced by today’s healthcare leaders and how vital steps taken now can pave the way to a successful future. Some of the elements required to transform healthcare include: forward-thinking leaders; organizations built on the foundations of high-reliability healthcare principles; strategic investment in technology; standardized processes; and empowered teams leading a culture of continuous improvement. This session will equip healthcare leaders with actionable strategies for sustainable success while maintaining our commitments to healthcare’s Quintuple Aim.

About KATIE CAROZZA

Katie Carozza is a seasoned public health and quality improvement expert with 10+ years of experience. A proud alumnus of Binghamton University, her career is dedicated to enhancing health promotion strategies and advancing quality in healthcare. Katie’s extensive background includes serving as a Clinical Program Manager at UK Healthcare and, most recently, as a Quality Improvement Advisor and Value-Based Programs Manager at the Kentucky Regional Extension Center. She is passionate about making a lasting impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

About JESSICA ELLIOTT

Jessica Elliott is the Lead Practice Transformation & Quality Improvement Advisor at the Kentucky Regional Extension Center. Jessica is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPPS) and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS). She has over 19 years of healthcare experience, including expertise in quality improvement implementation science and regulatory policy analysis. Ms. Elliott partners with clinicians and healthcare organizations to design and implement strategies enhancing patient outcomes, optimizing care processes, and maximizing efficiencies in the transition to value-based care. Jessica also leads projects including HEDIS measure optimization and chronic disease grant initiatives focused on patient activation and linkages to community resources.

Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.

Elevating Quality and Value: Leading Teams into the Next Generation of Care

Speakers: Katie Carozza and Jessica Elliott,  Kentucky REC

The shift to value-based care is accelerating, driven by evolving payment models, rising patient expectations, and the increasing demand for data-driven, personalized care. We will discuss key challenges faced by today’s healthcare leaders and how vital steps taken now can pave the way to a successful future. Some of the elements required to transform healthcare include: forward-thinking leaders; organizations built on the foundations of high-reliability healthcare principles; strategic investment in technology; standardized processes; and empowered teams leading a culture of continuous improvement. This session will equip healthcare leaders with actionable strategies for sustainable success while maintaining our commitments to healthcare’s Quintuple Aim.

About KATIE CAROZZA

Katie Carozza is a seasoned public health and quality improvement expert with 10+ years of experience. A proud alumnus of Binghamton University, her career is dedicated to enhancing health promotion strategies and advancing quality in healthcare. Katie’s extensive background includes serving as a Clinical Program Manager at UK Healthcare and, most recently, as a Quality Improvement Advisor and Value-Based Programs Manager at the Kentucky Regional Extension Center. She is passionate about making a lasting impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

About JESSICA ELLIOTT

Jessica Elliott is the Lead Practice Transformation & Quality Improvement Advisor at the Kentucky Regional Extension Center. Jessica is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPPS) and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS). She has over 19 years of healthcare experience, including expertise in quality improvement implementation science and regulatory policy analysis. Ms. Elliott partners with clinicians and healthcare organizations to design and implement strategies enhancing patient outcomes, optimizing care processes, and maximizing efficiencies in the transition to value-based care. Jessica also leads projects including HEDIS measure optimization and chronic disease grant initiatives focused on patient activation and linkages to community resources.

Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 23: Changes to HIPAA Security Rule – The Latest Updates

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 23 2025, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

Trudi Matthews

Changes to HIPAA Security Rule – The Latest Updates

Speaker: Amy Daley,  Kentucky REC

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Electronic Protected Health Information (NPRM) on Jan 6, 2025.

These proposed changes bring about new requirements such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, patch management, network segmentation, data backup testing, multi-factor authentication, security incident planning and testing, HIPAA compliance audits, business associate delegation and guidelines for ongoing maintenance.

Amy will provide an overview of the proposed changes, expected timelines for regulated entities to meet compliance, and any updates provided by HHS since publishing the proposed rule.

About Amy Daley

Amy Daley, CHPS, has been a Health IT Advisor for Kentucky Regional Extension Center since 2014 and is the HIPAA Team Lead. She specializes in HIPAA Security guidance for healthcare organizations across the state of Kentucky. Amy obtained her B.S. in Computer Information Systems from the University of Louisville. Amy has been a guest speaker at various conferences in Kentucky presenting on topics related to HIPAA Security and Promoting Interoperability. Her background includes expertise in the areas of implementation, training and management of EHR systems.

Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.