Susan D. Lutes, MPH, is the Regional Epidemiologist for Kentucky River District Health Department and the Breathitt County Health Department. Her role is governed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Department for Public Health and the Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning. The Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning is responsible for the control of communicable disease, disease surveillance and investigation, injury prevention and research, vital statistics and health data. She has been serving in this role since February of 2021, prior to that she was the Regional Coordinator for the contact tracing team for the same district.
Susan has been in the field of public health for over 20 years, having served as a Regional Preparedness Coordinator for Kentucky River District, Director of the Student Health Promotion and Administration Program at Eastern Kentucky University and adjunct faculty at EKU as well. Susan has a Master’s Degree in Public Health awarded by Eastern Kentucky University, with an emphasis in Public Administration. She also has a Bachelor’s degree awarded by EKU in Psychology.
Susan has served in a variety of leadership roles within the state and her region, including most recently the Women’s Employee Resource group for State Employees, serving as the secretary elect. Prior to this, she served in the following roles: Lee County School District Wellness Committee Member, Parent Representative for EKU Upward Bound, Beattyville Elementary Site Based Council Member, Substance Abuse Committee Co-Chair-EKU, Domestic Violence Committee Co-Chair-EKU, Faculty Advisor Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority-EKU, Lee, Wolfe, Owsley Area Technology Center Health Sciences Advisory Board Member, Kentucky Teen Pregnancy Coalition Board of Directors, Relay for Life Team Captain and Committee Member, and the Health Occupations Students of America Planning Committee. When she isn’t serving her community in one these roles, Susan is spending her free time with her four children and her amazing support system of friends and loved ones.