Emily Hagedorn
Community Manager
Community Manager
I am currently a community manager at Yelp.
Previously, I wrote about health for two and a half years while working for The Bakersfield Californian, and during that time, I took part in the California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships. As one of my fellowship projects, I followed a group of overweight to obese young people for close to a year and wrote about the obstacles and successes they faced. I also covered the local hospitals, trends in health care and local health organizations, among many other things, writing for both the news and features desks. In 2008, I moved to Louisville, Ky., and began working for The Louisville Courier-Journal. I write government, crime and general assignment stories about the county south of Louisville, Bullitt County. While I don't write much about health anymore, I try to stay abreast of the latest stories. And in January 2011, I finished a project with a fellow reporter that examined prescription drug abuse deaths and the lack of funds being put toward the problem.
<p>The most powerful moment for me while reporting on a recent project on prescription drug abuse deaths was seeing the Rev. Donnie Coots standing among the ruins of his once thriving drug rehabilitation center.</p>
<p>Treatment centers such as Chad's Hope in Clay County aim to help get prescription drug addicts back on track. This story is part of a series that examines prescription drug abuse in Kentucky.</p>
<p>After a stay at Clay County Detention Center, a father is on the road to recovery and reconnecting with his son. This story is part of a series that examines prescription drug abuse in Kentucky.</p>
<p>Studies say children of drug abusers are at higher risk of suffering from social ailments -- including drug addiction -- than other children. This story is part of a series that examines prescription drug abuse in Kentucky.</p>
<p>Bell County in southeastern Kentucky currently has the eighth worst prescription drug death rate in the nation. Victims are citizens of every economic level, and the effects are hurting innocent people.</p><p>This story is part of a series that examines prescription drug abuse in Kentucky.</p>
<p>A former prescription drug addict shares her story of struggle and recovery. This story is part of a series that examines prescription drug abuse in Kentucky.</p>
<p>As drug-related deaths continue to rise, state funding for patient outreach is on the decline. This story is part of a series that examines prescription drug abuse in Kentucky.</p>