Kelcey Rutledge

Instilling a Culture of Wellness in Rural Kentucky

Kelcey Rutledge directs the Baptist Health School Wellness Initiative, funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to serve all 131 schools in the 20 rural Mississippi Delta region counties in far western Kentucky. Kelcey and his team involve school administration, staff, students, parents, and community organizations. They establish sustainable school wellness leadership infrastructure while providing classroom physical activity programming, healthy lifestyle presentations, and wellness policy review.

Kelcey has dedicated his career to improving community health, including 19 years working with the Delta Rural Network Center at Baptist Health Madisonville, Inc. – part of the Louisville, KY-headquartered Baptist Health Systems, Inc. – where the mission is to demonstrate the love of Christ by providing and coordinating care and improving health in the communities it serves.