KAN Leadership and Advisory Board
KAN Leadership
Karen Roper, PhD
Karen L. Roper, PhD is the director of KAN. She is an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Family & Community Medicine, and serves as the director of research administration for the research division. She earned her graduate degree in experimental psychology from the University of Kentucky.
Courtney Ortz, MSW, PhD
Courtney L. Ortz, MSW, PhD, is the KAN Coordinator. She has her PhD in gerontology and had been a social work case manager for several years at UK Hospital prior to joining us as the department’s research analyst principal, taking on responsibilities in a resource role central to our research efforts.
KAN Advisory Board
Roberto Cardarelli, DO, MHA, MPH, FAAFP
Roberto Cardarelli, DO, MHA, MPH, FAAFP , is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at St. Joseph Hospital and St. Joseph East. He was previously the director of the Kentucky Ambulatory Network (KAN) and has done extensive research in the area of PBRNs.
Larry Oteham, DO
Larry Oteham, DO, KAN board chair, and is the medical director for Kentucky Accident and Injury Care, PLLC.
Gerry Stover, MS
Gerry Stover, MS, has been the executive vice president of the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians for 18 years.
Jennifer Stephens, MBA
Jennifer Stephens, MBA, is the senior director of physicians and graduate medical education at Lake Cumberland Hospital in Somerset, Ky.
James ( Brandon) Crum, DO
James ( Brandon) Crum, DO, is a diagnostic radiology specialist in Pikeville, Ky. His interests are in black lung disease.
Brent Wright, MD, MMM
Brent Wright, MD, MMM is the associate dean for Rural Health Innovation with the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He has a master's degree from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business focusing on leadership and entrepreneurship. Dr. Wright has been extremely active with multiple stakeholder groups throughout the Commonwealth and has served as president of the Kentucky Rural Health Association, Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians, and Kentucky Medical Association. Most recently he served as chair and immediate past-chair of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. He is a member of the Kentucky Delegation to the AMA House of Delegates and a member of the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst Insights Council.
Amina Shalash, MD
Dr. Amina Shalash is a solo family medicine doctor in a rural health clinic, Winchester Family Practice. She has practiced for 21 years.
Sarah Marks, MD, MA, FAAFP
Sarah Marks, MD, MA, FAAFP is the Associate Residency Program Director and Maternity Care Director at the University of Kentucky’s Department of Family and Community Medicine