LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, the associate medical director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, died suddenly. She was 36. 

What You Need To Know

  • Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, the associate medical director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, has died

  • Dr. Hartlage was 36 at the time of her passing

  • While she was the associate medical director at LMPHW, Dr. Hartlage oversaw multiple programs

  • In lieu of flowers, the family asks anyone wishing to honor Dr. Hartlage to please contribute to a charity that she created

Mayor Greg Fischer released a statement about Hartlage's unexpected passing.  He said, "The Louisville Metro Government team and our city's health community are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage. Dr. Hartlage will be remembered in our community as a deeply compassionate, inspirational leader who made a switch to public health in the middle of a historic public health crisis, and took command of an amazing team of city workers and volunteers to vaccinate tens of thousands of people in a previously unthinkably short amount of time, while also working to ensure vaccines are being distributed equitably throughout the community and communicating facts about their safety in relatable ways to non-medical professionals. LouVax and our community's wider vaccine efforts have saved countless lives and will long be celebrated as one of the city's signature achievements, and with it Dr. Hartlage's central role and leadership. Our thoughts are with her family and the colleagues and volunteers who worked so closely with her." 

Dr. Sarah Moyer, the director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, also spoke about Dr. Hartlage's death.

“We are stunned and deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage. Our hearts and prayers are with her family as well as the many employees, partners and volunteers who have worked closely with her over the past two years. We are so grateful for the opportunity to have known and worked with her. As a result of her leadership, knowledge and planning, thousands of our Louisville residents received life-saving COVID-19 vaccines,” Dr. Moyer said.

According to her biography at the LMPHW website, Dr. Hartlage earned her master's degree at Tulane University and also studied at the University of South Alabama.  Hartlage than came to the University of Louisville where she completed her residency in anesthesiology.  While at UofL, she was named Chief Resident by her peers and the faculty.  After her residency she joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology.  

According to her LinkedIn profle, Hartlage joined Louisville Metro in September 2020. While at LMPHW, Dr. Hartlage oversaw programs like epidemiologic monitoring of communicable disease, clinics for specialty care and maternal/child health and development initiatives. 

Hartlage is survived by her husband and their daughter. In lieu of flowers, the family asks anyone wishing to honor Dr. Hartlage to please contribute to a charity that she created called “I Heart Camille” which honors their daughter and raises funds and advocates for Children’s Hospital Foundation.

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