Lake Cumberland District Health Department - About Us | History of LCDHD

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The Lake Cumberland District Health Department (LCDHD) was formed in 1972 and became the first district health department in the state. It was comprised of Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Pulaski and Wayne Counties. In 1982 the counties of Adair, Casey, Green, Russell and Taylor joined the district bringing the total member counties to 10. The area covered by the LCDHD is around 3,613 square miles with a population of approximately 200,000. Somerset is the largest city in the 10 county area with a population of approximately 11,400 (2000 Census).


The LCDHD is governed by a 30-member board of directors with representation from each county’s local board of health. The board is comprised of county judge executives, physicians, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, engineers, optometrists and citizen members. The board employs an executive director and medical director to manage the day-to-day operations of the department. Approximately 270 staff members are employed in the 10 county health centers, 50+ school sites and administrative offices located in Somerset.


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(pictured right to left: Patrick Bell, Shawn Crabtree, and David Upchurch).



Patrick Bell was the Lake Cumberland District Health Department (LCDHD) Director from 1982 until his retirement in 1994.  During this time, the Lake Cumberland Health District expanded from five to ten member counties.  He has also served as the Executive Director of the Lake Cumberland Area Development District, and the McCreary County School Board’s Superintendent.  He graduated with a bachelors degree from Eastern Kentucky University with a major in Commerce and later achieved a Masters in Administration.


David Upchurch was the LCDHD Director from 1995 until his retirement in 2000.  Mr. Upchurch began his employment with LCDHD in 1974 as the Adair County Sanitarian (Environmentalist).  In 1978, he took on the additional duties of Administrator for the Adair County Health Department including supervision of the employees and program plans.  He achieved a bachelors degree from the University of Kentucky where he majored in Business Administration and Economics.  He also served in the U. S. Army for 4 years.


Shawn Crabtree became the LCDHD Director in 2001 and continues in that capacity today.  He has also served as a counselor, County Manager and Quality Improvement Director for the ADANTA Group.  He graduated with a bachalors from Western Kentucky University where he majored in Social Work and Psychology.  He later achieved a Masters of Social Work from the University of Louisville and a Masters in Public Administration from Eastern Kentucky University.