About the Board of Health

Heidi Margulis was elected Chair of the LMPHW Board of Health in 2020. As a government policy strategist and long-time corporate executive, she provides technical guidance on corporate, non-profit and public sector-related strategies and policy to profit, non-profit, government, foundation and academic entities. Recently retired from her position as chief corporate affairs officer at Humana Inc., Heidi led Humana’s strategy development and execution for state and federal government relations, advocacy, public policy initiatives and strategic alliances across the company’s national footprint for many years. As well, she directed the company's community engagement and corporate social responsibility initiatives, including overseeing the strategy and administration of the Humana Foundation.

Dr. Patricia Bautista-Cervera MD, MPH, was elected LMPHW Board of Health Vice Chair in July 2023. Born in Mexico City, Mexico, Dr. Bautista-Cervera received her medical degree from the National Autonomous University (UNAM) School of Medicine in Mexico. She was trained as a Pediatrician and a Pediatric Allergist at the National Institute of Pediatrics (INP) in Mexico City. After moving to the United States, she spent time rotating with the allergists at Kentuckiana Allergy and Clinical Immunology. In 2018, Dr. Bautista-Cervera earned a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion from the University of Louisville. In 2019, she started working with La Casita Center, a unique organization in Kentucky that enhances the well being of Louisville’s Latinx community through education, empowerment, advocacy and wellness. Her role as a Health Empowerment Coordinator at La Casita Center includes health promotion and disease prevention activities through presentations, creating informational videos, one-on-one listening

Margaret Handmaker serves as the President of Ellico, which provides consulting and leadership services to Bloomberg Philanthropies and partner organizations.  Previously, Ms. Handmaker was the Chief of Economic Development for Louisville, KY and led the city’s innovation team, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Prior to joining Louisville Metro Government, she spent almost 30 years in management consulting, first at Booz Allen Hamilton and then at Mercer, Inc. where she was a Worldwide Partner with responsibility for North America. She took a leave of absence from Mercer for two years to serve as Secretary of Revenue for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Governor’s Executive Cabinet. Immediately after leaving Mercer, Margaret stepped off the Board of the Downtown Development Corporation to serve as its interim Executive Director 

Dr. Dwayne Compton the Associate Dean for Diversity Initiatives in the Office of Community Engagement & Diversity, Chief Diversity Officer, and Assistant Professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.  He is responsible for establishing, implementing, and assessing diversity and inclusion programs throughout the school and local community. In addition, Dr. Compton is task with serving as an advocate and resource for all populations at the School of Medicine with particular focus on issues that impact: women, members of minoritized ethnic/racial groups, members of the LGBT community, and members of underserved populations specific to medicine in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Dr. Paula Grisanti, DMD, MBA is CEO and a founding member of the National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF), headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. NSCF funds adult stem cell and regenerative medicine research, covers co-pays and deductibles for children of limited means from around the U.S. participating in clinical trials for rare diseases in the Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy program at Duke University, and underwrites the National STEM Scholar Program for middle school teachers inspiring the next generation of researchers and STEM pioneers nationwide. She currently leads a multi-year collaboration between bicoastal research teams conducting a first-in-man study of neurodegeneration on the International Space Station. Dr. Grisanti holds a D.M.D. and MBA from the University of Louisville and has been actively involved in entrepreneurial activities for most of her career. She has served on multiple community and advisory boards in Kentucky and is currently an officer of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) Kentucky Chapter, a member of the Executive Women’s Advisory Board to the Business School at the University of Louisville, the Louisville Metro Board of Health, and the Jewish Family and Career Services Advisory Committee. She also serves as a mentor for Women in Advanced Therapies, an initiative of biotech member network Phacilitate. Dr. Grisanti has been an invited speaker, lecturer and panelist for organizations, universities, corporations, and student groups, and is a quoted resource for regional and national news organizations. She and her husband Michael have three grown sons.

Dr. Edward Miller was born and raised in Southern California and attended New York University where he received a B.A. in Anthropology. He obtained his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. It was during his time at Wake Forest that he fell in love with the field of Maternal Fetal Medicine and decided that caring for mothers and their families was his mission. He enrolled in Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington DC where he served as House Staff President and received the prestigious resident of the year award. He returned to California to complete Maternal Fetal Medicine training at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) where he received training in ultrasound and the management of high risk pregnancies from leading experts in the field. During his time at UCSF, he authored numerous publications and presentations and developed his passion for leadership in the realm of Diversity and Inclusion as well as medical education. In his final year of fellowship Dr. Miller was nominated and received the UCSF Innovation award for excellence in Graduate Medical Education. He currently serves as the division director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of Louisville and has a joint appointment as the Chief Diversity Officer for the University of Louisville Health system.

Dr. Emerald Echols is a clinical specialist at MedImpact Health Systems. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (PharmD) from Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Upon graduation, Emerald completed a post graduate Managed Care Pharmacy Residency with Sullivan University in partnership with the Medicaid Center of Excellence at Passport Health Plan. Prior to becoming a pharmacist, Emerald obtained her Master’s degree in Bioethics and Medical Humanities from the University of Louisville where she served as a post-graduate fellow with a focus on health equity, population health and prenatal care. She currently serves as co-chair of the Immunizations Advocacy Committee of the Metro Louisville Board of Health. Emerald is very passionate about using her role as a pharmacist to improve population health and health literacy within the community.

Karyn Hascal, BA, CADC has more than 40 years working in the field of substance abuse treatment. She currently serves as President/CEO of The Healing Place. Prior to joining The Healing Place in 2009, she worked as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy in Kentucky, following service to KY as the Director of the Division of Substance Abuse in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Karyn also developed addiction treatment programs in private correctional facilities in several states. Karyn has been a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor since 1982 and currently serves on the Alcohol and Drug Counselor’s Board. She also serves the Board of Governors of the Greater Louisville Medical Society and the Board of the Kentucky Physician’s Health Foundation.