Washington, DC, August 11, 2026 — The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of the over 3,300 local health departments across the country, has awarded Georgia Heise, DrPH, District Director of the Three Rivers District Health Department in Kentucky, with the Maurice “Mo” Mullet Lifetime of Service Award. The honor was announced during the 2026 NACCHO360 Annual Conference in Louisville, KY.
The Maurice “Mo” Mullet Lifetime of Service Award is presented to local public health leaders who demonstrate exceptional leadership among local health departments, energetic volunteer service to NACCHO, and lasting contributions to the field of local public health practice. Dr. Heise was chosen due to her strong commitment and meaningful effort to shape local public health in Kentucky and nationally.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award from NACCHO,” said Dr. Heise. “Any recognition I receive is truly a reflection of the many colleagues, mentors, community partners, and public health professionals who have worked alongside me throughout my career. Public health is, at its heart, a collective effort. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the communities of Kentucky and to contribute to a profession dedicated to improving lives. This award reinforces the importance of supporting local health departments and ensuring that public health remains a strong and trusted force in every community.”
Over the course of her distinguished career, Dr. Heise has been a dedicated advocate for local public health and a respected leader within Kentucky and the national public health community. In addition to serving as District Director of the Three Rivers District Health Department, which serves a population of 50,000 in the rural Kentucky counties of Carroll, Gallatin, Owen, and Pendleton, Dr. Heise has served as the President of NACCHO’s Board of Directors, as Board Member for the Kentucky Public Health Association, on the Executive Committee for the Kentucky Health Department Association, and as the Executive Director for the Kentucky Association of Local Boards of Health. Her commitment to strengthening local health departments, developing the public health workforce, and advancing innovative approaches to community health has had a lasting impact on the communities she serves and the profession.
“We are honored to present Georgia Heise with the Maurice “Mo” Mullet Lifetime of Service Award,” said Lori Tremmel Freeman, NACCHO’s Chief Executive Officer. “Throughout her career, Georgia has exemplified the leadership, dedication, and spirit of service that this award represents. Her contributions to local public health, commitment to mentoring future leaders, and unwavering support of NACCHO’s mission have strengthened the public health system and improved the health of countless communities. As a past President of the organization, over a decade of her outstanding leadership on the Board helped us to navigate everything from the stand up of public health accreditation to nationwide searches for NACCHO leadership. We are proud to recognize her extraordinary legacy of service.”
The award is named for Maurice “Mo” Mullet, a former NACCHO Board President whose leadership helped shape local public health practice nationwide. The award recognizes local health officials for noteworthy service and for careers that advance public health and reflect the same commitment to service, leadership, and excellence that defined Mullet’s legacy.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit www.naccho.org.
