Keep reading to meet four compassionate providers who share why they chose to work at Norton West Louisville Hospital.

Published: October 15, 2024

For much of the care team joining Norton West Louisville Hospital, working in West Louisville wasn’t just a choice; it was more of a calling.

The hospital, located at 28th Street and West Broadway, will offer comprehensive services, from primary care and surgery to social support, with a diverse team of providers dedicated to meeting the needs of patients.

Keep reading to meet four compassionate providers who share why they chose to work at Norton West Louisville Hospital and their excitement for making a positive impact on the community.

Kalyn Churchill, APRN: Commitment to community health

Kalyn Churchill, APRN, a primary care nurse practitioner who will work with adult patients, feels a strong connection to West Louisville, where her two children attend elementary school.

“I honestly feel called to be in this position,” she said. “There’s no other community that I’d rather serve.”

Kalyn’s husband and his family are West Louisville natives, and she is passionate about supporting patients who have historically faced barriers to accessing quality health care.

“For the years that I’ve been here, I’ve been deeply connected to this community,” she said.

Kalyn enjoys educating patients, helping them meet their health care goals and understanding the importance of taking preventive measures to live longer, healthier lives. She values getting to know her patients and their families on a more personalized level. With a focus on building trust and relationships in her practice, she hopes to create a welcoming environment where people feel comfortable seeking medical care.

Kaylyn says traditionally underserved areas often lack access to health care.

“I believe Norton West Louisville Hospital is here to make that change,” she said.

Melinda C. Ruberg, M.D.: Making health care accessible for all

Melinda C. “Mel” Ruberg, M.D., medical director of Norton West Louisville Hospital, values inclusivity in health care, putting patients at the center of her work.

“We want everyone who walks through the doors of this hospital to feel like they belong,” she said.

Dr. Ruberg will be a family medicine provider, interacting with patients of all ages, and looks forward to creating a compassionate and welcoming environment for all West Louisville families.

“I like putting family in the center of medicine, so if patients want to come in with 11 family members and we go through the entire family medical history at the same time, I’m all in,” she said.

As a lifelong Kentuckian, Dr. Ruberg believes Norton West Louisville Hospital will provide an opportunity for equitable health care access across Louisville. It is the first hospital to be built west of Ninth Street in the past 150 years. She looks forward to helping build up the community, after understanding barriers that have historically existed.

“I had a roommate in medical school who was from the West End, [and] that helped to really take my blinders off, and I attribute a lot of what I know about the West End to him,” she said.

Stephen J. Kelty, M.D.: Bringing surgical expertise to the community

As chief of surgery, Stephen J. Kelty, M.D., brings over 33 years of experience to Norton West Louisville Hospital, with a passion for providing surgical care to those who need it most.

“This opportunity coincided with my interest in medical mission work overseas,” he said.

Dr. Kelty, a Louisville native, is excited about the range of surgical services the hospital will provide, including general surgery and advanced abdominal and esophageal endoscopies.

He looks forward to performing a variety of surgical procedures for patients, including abdominal, breast, thyroid, hernia and gall bladder operations, plus colonoscopy screenings and more.

“The equipment, materials and technology at the hospital are all top-of-the-line,” he said. “Patients can be very assured that they are going to get really good care here.”

Aisha Rucker, LCSW: Addressing social determinants of health

With 20 years of experience, licensed clinical social worker Aisha Rucker, LCSW, has a passion for people.

“There is something in our DNA; once you’re called to serve, you want to go serve,” she said.

Aisha will be the hospital’s manager of social work and care continuum, which is a role dedicated to addressing the social factors that impact the overall health of patients in West Louisville.

According to recent Louisville health equity reports, the life expectancy of residents in West Louisville is more than 10 years less than those living in other areas of town. Disproportionate health outcomes in the Black community also were apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, which added fuel to Aisha’s passion to serve her community.

“Most of my formative years were here in West Louisville, so it’s kind of personal,” she said. “The West End has more diversity than just the Black community, but the majority of West Louisville is Black people, people who look like me,” Aisha said. “I wanted to serve the people who look like me, and hopefully we can close the health disparity gaps we’ve seen throughout history.”

Aisha’s team will support patients by identifying social determinants of health, so the patients continue to have support after they leave the hospital — whether that is via connecting patients with necessary medical equipment or providing other resources for basic needs. The team will work with patients to detect disparities, such as transportation, housing and food insecurity. Patients will have access to a food pantry inside the hospital.

Social workers also can provide therapeutic support for people navigating life transitions or a new diagnosis.

“This hospital is a place of healing,” said Aisha, who believes that hospital leadership and staff share this common mission. “I think people are going to experience that [healing] when they come to Norton West Louisville Hospital.”

Looking ahead to opening day

Norton West Louisville Hospital’s team of experienced health care professionals is excited to serve the West Louisville community. The new hospital will begin welcoming patients on Nov. 11, 2024.