Senior Staff

Shannon R- Turner, JD Executive Vice President

A native of Harlan, Kentucky, Shannon R. Turner serves as the Executive Vice President of University Health Care, Inc. Ms. Turner brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private health care sectors. Prior to accepting her current position, Ms. Turner served as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Medicaid Services. In her role as Commissioner, she engineered a complete Medicaid transformation plan design and received approval from CMS for the first Deficit Reduction Act reform plan in the country.

Shannon started her career in the commercial health insurance market. Ms. Turner's private health care experience includes corporate compliance, government affairs, HIPAA implementation and oversight of the clinical appeals department. She is a noted public speaker appearing before the National Association of State Medicaid Directors, Medicaid Health Plans of America, National Medicaid Congress and numerous appearances before state legislative and regulatory bodies.

She received her Bachelors of Arts degree from Georgetown College and her law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Ms. Turner was appointed by Governor Patton to the Health Insurance Advisory Council. She serves as Treasurer of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans and has previously held the position of Vice Chair in the organization. Ms. Turner is the recipient of numerous health care awards including the Ronald J. Cutter Professional Services Award by ARC of Kentucky, the 2006 Champion Award by the Kentucky Association of Hospice and Palliative Care, the Furthering Mental Health Practice and Services in Kentucky Award by the Kentucky Mental Health Counselors Association, and the 2006 Kentucky Association of Adult Day Providers Award.

Ms. Turner is active in the community and contributes her support to charitable activities such as the PUSH Celebrity Dinner where she has served as a "celebrity" waitress for the past two years. This program funds day care and Kindergarten programs for children with disabilities. She also actively supports the Boy Scouts of America and serves as assistant den leader. Shannon resides in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky with her husband Michael and their eight year old son, Patrick.