CEO & Health Officer, Cabell-Huntington Health Department
By Michelle Lantz-Barb
Michael E. Kilkenny, M.D., M.S., CEO and health officer of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, moved to West Virginia from Whitehall, Ohio, to attend Marshall University. While at Marshall, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in education, Doctorate of Medicine and Master of Science in community health. The rich tapestry of Appalachian culture, dialects, cuisine, outlooks and genuine camaraderie among West Virginia people captivated him.
“I don’t just like being here,” he says. “I belong here, and when I’m not here, I want to get back.”
Completing his residency at Marshall, Kilkenny became board-certified in family medicine, gaining invaluable experience in both rural and urban settings. He worked in private practice and served as medical director of an extensive, federally qualified health center system before his current role.
“I’m in my dream job in a great community with a fantastic staff,” he says. “On the national level, as immediate past president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, I’m kept aware of changing policies at all levels. I have provided input for projects ranging from helping improve the treatment of hepatitis locally to what will make local health departments thrive in the future.”
Kilkenny’s dedication has been recognized with numerous accolades, including favorite teacher and outstanding resident honors. He also had an influential presidency for the County Medical Society. Most recently, he was honored with the prestigious Hall of Fame Award from the West Virginia Public Health Association in recognition of his commitment to rural primary care and numerous outstanding contributions.
Influential mentors in Kilkenny’s life include Bob Walker, Jack Woodrum, Dr. Kevin Yingling and Dr. William Neal, former CEO and health officer of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, where Kilkenny now works.
“I wanted to be like him but never thought I’d run his health department,” he says “Well, here I am.”
Reflecting on his personal growth, he admits to being a lifelong learner, though he humorously acknowledges his wife’s view of his persistence as bordering on stubbornness.
Kilkenny describes his career path in a way many West Virginians can associate with.
“It’s been like a long drive through West Virginia’s twists and turns, uphill and down, crawling through the snow in the mountains to sailing down a six-lane interstate,” he says. “Whether I’ve been in an exam room with one person for an hour or immunizing 1,000 people in a day during the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m here to serve and always do the best I can.”
Kilkenny believes his greatest accomplishment has not yet been achieved because he hasn’t become the best version of himself. He has witnessed the onset of managed care coming between the physician and the patient, the introduction of electronic medical records and the shift from physician employer to the physician employee. In public health, he has battled community opioid use, infectious outbreaks and a global pandemic. With these challenges, he has had opportunities to use his skills, build strength and improve himself.
He identifies his connection to the Mountain State as rooted in its culture and community and attributes his success to the people of West Virginia, who have assisted him along his journey.
“I appreciate the investment the state has made in me, and I hope I’ve returned a dividend to it.”
National Association of County and City Health Officials
Michael E. Kilkenny, M.D., M.S., CEO and health officer of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, attended his first National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in 2015.
NACCHO, with members from more than 3,300 health departments nationwide, focuses on improving community health with resources, advocating for local public health needs, promoting health equity and supporting the public health system and practices. Kilkenny was elected to the NACCHO Board of Directors in 2018, where he worked alongside health officers from diverse backgrounds, across counties and cities of varying sizes and with different perspectives.
This group of health officers discussed and created action plans to improve public health and left Kilkenny never feeling alone again. He later ran for vice president of NACCHO, was elected, progressed through the officer development strategy and in July 2024, in Washington, D.C., was named president of its board of directors for the 2024-2025 term. He began his role on July 1, 2024, and as of July 1, 2025, became NACCHO’s board immediate past president.
CEO of NACCHO Lori Tremmel Freeman identified Kilkenny as consistently demonstrating a strong commitment to the public health field and believes his experience and visionary approach represented progress for NACCHO and its board. NACCHO is governed by a 22-member board comprised of local and tribal health officials elected by their peers, along with partner organizations. The board of directors sets the strategic direction and initiatives and annual legislative agenda, approves policy statements, ensures goals are met, provides financial insight and represents members in policy, public health practice and collaboration with health partners in both the public and private sectors.
