I'm a Pathfinder: Stacy Patrick

March 17, 2026

ASHLAND, Ky. – For Stacy Patrick, her career in healthcare was inspired by deeply personal experiences growing up.

Patrick was raised in Raceland and was a 1994 graduate of Raceland-Worthington High School. 

“I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare from a young age,” Patrick said. “My father was very sick and in out of the hospital. I was always interested in the roles of all the healthcare personnel.”

Those early experiences sparked a lifelong interest in patient care and the people who dedicated their lives to it.

When it came time to pursue higher education, Patrick says she chose Ashland Community and Technical College because it provided exactly what she needed to begin her journey in healthcare.

“It was local and close to home and had the nursing program I desired,” she said.

Patrick enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program and graduated in 1999. 

She says the education and support she received at ACTC laid the foundation for a career that would steadily grow in leadership and impact.

After graduation, Patrick began her career at UK King's Daughters as a registered nurse on the surgical orthopedics unit. Over time, her interests led her to new opportunities and expanded responsibilities.

“I then became interested in cardiac care and transferred to a cardiac unit. Then I usually tell people I just grew up there. I became a manager of our Chest Pain Unit, the Director of Heart and Vascular Services which lead to a CNO role and then to the role I have today,” she says.

Today, Patrick serves as Vice President of Clinical & Procedural Operations, overseeing critical areas of patient care and helping guide the future of healthcare services in the region.

She credits ACTC with playing a pivotal role in helping her achieve her goals and reach milestones that once seemed out of reach.

“I was the first in my family to graduate with a college degree,” she said. “I feel ACTC was an integral part of helping me achieve this. I was surrounded by great instructors and advisors who helped me every step of the way to make sure I was successful.”