Kentucky opioid epidemic is focus of McConnell Center talk

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky’s opioid epidemic will be the focus of a March 26 talk by Jonathan Ballard, director of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning.

The free, public event begins at 6 p.m. in the Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, and is part of the McConnell Center’s Future of Health Policy in the Commonwealth public lecture series.

In his presentation, “Opioids in Kentucky: How Data and Organizational Learning Could Solve an Epidemic,” Ballard will give an overview of the state’s response to the issue and provide insight on additional preventive strategies.

As head of the Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning, Ballard’s responsibilities include control of communicable disease, disease surveillance and investigation, injury prevention and research, vital statistics and health data.

Ballard is an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a medical degree from the University of Louisville, where he graduated as a McConnell Scholar.

He also holds a master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of Cambridge, a master’s of public health degree from Dartmouth College and is a double board-certified physician in family medicine and preventative medicine.

For more information, contact GlyptusAnn Grider Jones, 502-852-1473, or see the McConnell Center website.

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