Vivian Lasley-Bibbs Obituary: Kentucky, Director at ASPPH died

Vivian Lasley-Bibbs Obituary: Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, MPH, Director of Disease Intervention Initiatives at ASPPH Center passed away. Vivian was a dedicated public health professional with over 30 years of experience.

Vivian holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kentucky State University and a master’s degree in Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

She is also a graduate of the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Kentucky’s College of Health Sciences. She continued to expand her knowledge base by taking doctorate-level courses in Public Health with an Epidemiology concentration at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health.

Her professional affiliations included national, regional, and state public health organizations, as well as civic, and community-based organizations.

Since her hiring in July 2023, Vivian had been responsible for ASPPH’s disease intervention workforce initiatives, which include activities that support the recruitment, training, and retention to prepare the path for the Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) field. In her role, she worked collaboratively with ASPPH members, stakeholders, academic and practice partner organizations, and institutions, to provide pathways for professional development to ensure a competent and certified public health workforce.

“Vivian joined ASPPH after 12 years as the Acting Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Kentucky Department for Public Health and brought with her invaluable experience and insight that informed and inspired our vision for the ASPPH Center for Public Health Workforce Development and the work that we do every day. We will miss her calming presence and thoughtful guidance,” said Emily M. Burke, EdD, MPH, CPH, Senior Director of Workforce Development and Applied Practice, ASPPH.

Vivian had over 30 years of strategic leadership, engagement, and collaborative partnerships with federal, state, and local entities. She presented as a subject matter expert at numerous state, local, and national conferences in the form of workshops, panels, and posters to address health disparities and inequities related to the social determinants of health and the root causes driving health disparities. Her expertise allowed her to publish in peer-reviewed journals and sit on regional and national committees, state and local advisory boards, commissions, and workgroups.

Her cumulative work in teaching, community-based participatory research, and applied practice using a health equity lens allowed her to study the barriers and challenges in addressing the root causes, and drivers of the inequities that manifest as disparity gaps in the most vulnerable, marginalized, and minority populations.