Alice Bridges of Louisville named latest Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion for community health and childhood trauma efforts

Alice O. Bridges

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has named longtime Louisville health-care executive Alice O. Bridges as the latest Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion for her work to address childhood trauma in schools and other systems, and for her efforts to improve community health.

"Alice has been an integral member of the Bounce Coalition in Louisville, a collection of more than 18 area organizations that are collaborating to infuse trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills into the organizational cultures, practices and policies of school staff and out-of-school organizations such as the YMCA," said Allen Montgomery, vice chair of the foundation.

In addition, Bridges was a core member of the Louisville team that won the "Culture of Health" prize, a prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designation.

Bridges is also credited for the Health Connections Initiative, for which she secured a $1.5 million grant, to provide comprehensive, home-based supports to low-income hospital patients with the most complex conditions and the highest risk of readmission.

"Alice Bridges is a connector and a doer," Montgomery said. "She makes things happen in Louisville, and the community is healthier because she brings together and supports efforts to give residents the tools and opportunities they need to be well."

Bridges is principal at AOB Consulting, where she helps organizations collaborate with residents and community partners to improve their health and well-being. Prior to that she served as a vice president at KentuckyOne Health and its legacy organization, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare, beginning in 1986. She has served in an array of roles from marketing and communications to philanthropy, mission integration and community health. From 2016 to 2017, she was president of the Rotary Club of Louisville, the 14th largest Rotary club in the world.

Bridges and other winners of the award are eligible for the Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion of the Year award, which comes with a $5,000 grant to a Kentucky-based nonprofit of the winner's choice. The winner will be announced at the foundation's annual health policy forum Sept. 23 in Lexington.