Alumni News - Rebecca Gillis

Rebecca Gillis is the Director of Public Health Protection and Safety at the Kentucky Department for Public Health.  Ms. Gillis has worked in public health preparedness since 2002 and served as Branch Manager for the Preparedness Program since 2009.  Kentucky is in the top 10 for Presidentially-declared disasters in the nation and her experience includes managing the State Health Operations Center during numerous statewide emergencies and health events such as 2009 swine flu pandemic.  Ms. Gillis oversees six branches in the Division with approximately 140 employees as well as working closely with 61 local health departments and dozens of contractors.  Community health promotion was the focus of her undergraduate training and her background includes service at state and local health departments as well as other non-profit community organizations, boards and agencies in a variety of roles including working in property management, substance abuse prevention, domestic violence initiatives and senior care.  Ms. Gillis holds a Master of Public Health degree with concentration in Chemical Abuse Dependency and Counseling, is a Certified Health Education Specialist and FEMA qualified Master Exercise Practitioner.  Ms. Gillis is a lifelong Kentuckian and grew up in Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky.  She currently lives in Frankfort with her husband of 11 years, two children, and three dogs.  

Published on February 10, 2017