American Lung Association in Kentucky

08/21/2025

Tami and Whitten are enjoying seeing the incredible work of Intuitive at UofL Health - Medical Center East! Thank you, Local Leadership Board Member, Caleb Zehnder, for including us in this fantastic demonstration!

08/20/2025

We’re excited to share we received a $1,000 Spark Good grant from our local Sam's Club Jeffersontown, KY. This grant will help with research, advocacy, education and awareness of Lung Disease. Kentucky has some of the highest prevalence of lung disease and consistently ranks poorly for new lung cancer cases, survival rates, and early diagnosis. We are proud to spark good in our community! and help to change the outcomes of lung disease in our state.

08/04/2025

We’re excited to share we received a $500 Spark Good local grant from our local Walmart Valley Station Store #1170 Walmart Louisville Dixie Highway. This grant helped the American Lung Association in Kentucky with a Community Connections event raising awareness for Lung Cancer Screening, Biomarker Testing and Treatment of Lung Cancer. We are proud to spark good in our community!

07/31/2025

🌟 Meet the 2025–2026 Kentucky Local Leadership Board! 🌟
We’re thrilled to introduce the extraordinary individuals leading the American Lung Association’s mission across the Commonwealth this year. Representing healthcare, education, media, real estate, business, and advocacy—this team is united by a shared commitment to lung health, clean air, and stronger communities across Kentucky.

👥 Executive Committee
🔹 Dr. Lee Wisdom, Board Chair – Vero Biotech
🔹 Dr. Sonia Vishin Compton, Board Vice Chair – Norton Pulmonary Specialists
🔹 Dr. Kyle Mahan, Board Vice Chair – U of L Health – Mary & Elizabeth Hospital
🔹 Lisa Bellafato, Chair Emeritus – Molina Healthcare
🔹 Michael Brill, Chair Emeritus – University of Louisville

💼 Board Members
• Dr. Samantha Baah – Norton Healthcare
• Jennifer Baileys – WLKY
• Dr. Scott Bickel – Norton Healthcare
• Debbie Burdorf – Semonin Realtors
• Teresa Daniels – Lifepoint Health
• Kyle Hoylman – Protect Environmental
• James Keene – Mercer
• Dr. Sean Muldoon – University of Louisville
• Dr. Timothy Mullett – University of Kentucky
• Nipa Patel – Humana
• Lindsay Thurman – Eastern High School
• Caleb Zehnder – Ion by Intuitive

📸 Check out the image below to see this incredible team!
We’re grateful for their leadership and excited for all we’ll accomplish together in the year ahead. 💙

07/30/2025

👏 Meet Our Board Vice Chair: Dr. Sonia Compton 👏

We are thrilled to announce Dr. Sonia Compton, MD will serve as Vice Chair of our 2025–2026 Local Leadership Board.

Dr. Compton is a pulmonary and critical care physician with a deep commitment to public health and health equity. Her insight and experience as a medical leader bring valuable perspective to our work across Kentucky.

We’re grateful for her service and can’t wait to see her impact in this new leadership role.

👉 Connect with Dr. Compton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-compton-798a0a21/

07/29/2025

💼 Meet Our Board Vice Chair: Dr. Kyle Mahan 💼

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Kyle Mahan, EdD, RRT, FFARC as Vice Chair of the 2025–2026 Local Leadership Board!

Dr. Mahan is a respected leader in respiratory therapy and education with a long history of supporting the American Lung Association. His strategic vision and dedication to advancing lung health are instrumental to our growth and outreach across the state.

Please join us in celebrating his continued leadership.

👉 Connect with Dr. Mahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-mahan-edd-msm-rrt-faarc-3abb83102/

07/28/2025

🌟 Meet Our Board Chair: Dr. Lee Wisdom 🌟

We’re proud to welcome Dr. Lee Wisdom, PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS as our 2025–2026 Board Chair for the American Lung Association in Kentucky!
Dr. Wisdom brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the role, with deep expertise in respiratory care and a passion for community health. His dedication to lung health advocacy and medical education makes him the perfect leader to guide our board into the new fiscal year.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Wisdom and thanking him for his continued commitment to our mission.

👉 Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travelrtlee/

07/24/2025

As we begin the 2025–2026 Fiscal Year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to two remarkable leaders—Lisa Bellafato, Ed.M., CPT and Michael Brill—for their outstanding service as Co-Chairs of our Local Leadership Board.

Their dedication, strategic insight, and passion for lung health helped shape an impactful year for the American Lung Association in Kentucky. We are thrilled that both will continue to serve in a new capacity as Chair Emeritus, offering guidance and support to our incoming Executive Committee.

Lisa Bellafato, Ed.M., CPT of Molina Healthcare has brought powerful leadership rooted in education, wellness, and advocacy—elevating our board’s reach and impact.
🔗 linkedin.com/in/lisabellafato

Michael Brill of University of Louisville has been a driving force behind community engagement and strategic partnerships, helping us grow our mission across Kentucky.
🔗 linkedin.com/in/michael-brill-02a84b83

Thank you, Lisa and Michael, for continuing to champion our mission and support the next generation of board leaders.

07/23/2025

🌟 A warm welcome to Teresa Daniels, MSN, CIC, CPPS, T-CHEST, FAPIC, CPHQ, HACP-CMS, who joins the American Lung Association’s Local Leadership Board in Kentucky!

Teresa currently serves as the Central Kentucky Market Director of Infection Prevention for Lifepoint Health, bringing decades of expertise in improving healthcare quality and patient outcomes.

She is also a proud LUNG FORCE Hero, who has represented Kentucky on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at our Derby Eve Gala earlier this year. Her personal connection to our mission and her tireless advocacy for lung health inspire us all.

We’re honored to have Teresa’s voice, leadership, and dedication on our board as we continue our fight for healthy lungs and clean air for all.

🔗 Connect with Teresa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-daniels-msn-cic-cpps-t-chest-fapic-cphq-hacp-cms-18154774/

07/22/2025

🌟 We’re excited to welcome Caleb Zehnder to the American Lung Association’s Local Leadership Board in Kentucky!

Caleb is currently the Endoluminal Sales Representative at Ion by Intuitive, whose generous sponsorship helped make our first Community Connections event possible. With his business expertise and dedication to advancing lung health through innovation, Caleb is an incredible addition to our leadership team.
Welcome, Caleb — we’re grateful for your partnership and passion for making a difference in Kentucky!

🔗 Connect with Caleb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-zehnder-39abb24a/

07/21/2025

🌳✨ Did you know that access to greenspaces can have a big impact on your health?

We’re proud to share this WLKY news segment featuring research right here in Louisville on the importance of parks and greenspaces for lung and overall health.

Our very own Dr. Scott Bickel, a member of the American Lung Association’s Kentucky Local Leadership Board, was interviewed to share insights from this exciting work. This research was partially funded by the American Lung Association, because we know clean air and healthy environments help everyone breathe easier.

Check out the full story here:
🔗https://www.wlky.com/article/greenspaces-parks-louisville-important-health/65429881

Thank you, Dr. Bickel, and all of the researchers working to make our communities healthier—one park at a time! 🌱

Green spaces in Louisville are becoming vital tools for improving public health. From lowering stress to enhancing mood, the benefits of nature are more significant than they seem.

07/21/2025

🌟 Please join us in welcoming Dr. Samantha Baah, MD, FCCP from Norton Healthcare to the American Lung Association’s Local Leadership Board in Kentucky!

Dr. Baah is a distinguished pulmonologist and critical care physician with a passion for advancing lung health and advocating for patients. Her clinical expertise and dedication to improving respiratory care make her an incredible asset to our board.

We’re thrilled to have her insight and leadership as we continue our mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. Welcome, Dr. Baah — we’re excited to work alongside you!

🔗 Learn more about her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-baah-md-fccp-64a1b6156/