Jennifer Elliott of Louisville has been named the associate vice president for health affairs/strategic initiatives and special advisor to the executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Louisville’s Health Sciences Center.

Elliott has been part of the Stites & Harbison, PLCC law firm and was chair of the firm’s health care service group.

“We’re thrilled to add Jenni’s experience, capability and integrity to the UofL leadership team,” said UofL President James Ramsey. “As we continue to tackle the difficult challenges of health care reform, outstanding leaders such as Jenni are the key to our future success.”

“Over the past two years I have had the pleasure of working with Jenni as our outside counsel on a number of issues that impact the Health Sciences Center, including the successful joint operating agreement with KentuckyOne Health,” said Executive Vice President for Health Affairs David L. Dunn, M.D., Ph.D. “Her understanding of health care, her ability to rapidly grasp changes in health care laws and regulation and her strategic thinking will be extremely important during what may be the most significant periods of change in health care provision in history.”

Elliott joined Stites & Harbison in 2001 as an associate and became a partner in 2009. She became chair of the health care service group in March 2012. Some of her other responsibilities included service as the firm’s HIPAA privacy and security officer and chair of the firm’s recruiting committee.

Elliott is a board member for the Kentucky Academy of Hospital Attorneys, having served as president in 2011. She also is a member of the Health Law Section of the Kentucky Bar Association, having served as its secretary and vice president.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Centre College and law degree magna cum laude from St. Louis University School of Law.