by , @d_yetter –

Jean West, a longtime Louisville television news personality and health journalist, has been appointed communications director for the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

The cabinet, one of the state’s largest agencies, oversees areas including public health, Medicaid, social services, child protection and aging services.

West will report to cabinet Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson.

West, most recently has served as producer and host of the local show “Jean West’s Medical Daily,” which appears on WBKI-TV as well as a weekly half-hour show, “Jean West’s Medical Digest.” Jean also produced and hosted a weekly program for Norton Healthcare, “Get Healthy,” carried by WLKY-TV in Louisville, according to her blog on FacesWest Productions.

West has more than 25 years experience as an anchor and reporter at WAVE-TV and WHAS-TV in Louisville and has international broadcast experience as a reporter and anchor for the Far East Network in Japan. Her reports have appeared on National Public Radio and ABC’s “Prime Time Live,” according to her blog.

She is a graduate of Southern University and earned a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of California, Davis.

Contact reporter Deborah Yetter at (502)582-4228 or at [email protected].