Lexington has a new health department director after 7 months of searching
The Lexington Fayette County Health Department has finally hired a new leader after seven months under an interim director.
Crystal Miller, who has over 20 years of experience in public health, will start as the health commissioner in July. She takes over from interim commissioner Steve Davis, who has been in the acting role since October.
“I was born and raised in Lexington, and graduated from Bryan Station High School. Being given the opportunity to serve my hometown in this capacity is exciting,” Miller said in a news release Monday.
“I look forward to building relationships and forming partnerships that will continue to advance public health in our community.”
Miller currently serves as the director of the WEDCO District Health Department (W.E. Davis Counties), which serves Harrison, Nicholas and Scott Counties in central Kentucky. She has been at the department for almost 18 years.
Prior to that she worked at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health for seven years.
The Board of Health, which approves the health commissioner, is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.
The Lexington Fayette County Health Department has about 170 employees and a $27 million annual budget.
It oversees public health initiatives like restaurant inspections, school nurses, runs programs for new mothers and has a needle exchange program. Most of its funding comes from city taxes, including a local property tax that generates around $9 million annually.
The health department has struggled to retain a leader since 2021.
Dr. Joel McCullough was hired but resigned in July 2022.
After McCullough, Dr. Sheila Owens-Collins was appointed to the position in January 2023. She was fired in April 2023.
The board eventually entered a settlement agreement with Owens-Collins and paid her more than $95,000, documents obtained by the Herald-Leader show.
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 4:00 AM.