Timothy Jenkel MD

09/13/2026

The Harlan County Community Impact Challenge officially opens 9/14/26!

Please share this with local students, parents, teachers, counselors, and youth leaders!

I’m inviting local high school, home school 9-12th grade, college, university, technical-school, and trade-school students to identify a real need in Harlan County—and develop a practical idea to address it.

Awards include:
First Place: $5,000 project grant and $1,000 educational scholarship
Second Place: $2500 project grant and $500 educational scholarship
A Community Choice Award with up to $1,000 in project support

Entries require a written proposal of no more than five pages, along with the completed entry forms and required consent forms.

A select group of Finalists will be invited to present their ideas to a panel of judges and the First and Second Place winners will be chosen from these.

Submission deadline: January 31, 2027, at 5:00 PM

Submit entries to: [email protected]

The complete eligibility requirements, judging criteria, submission instructions, and official rules are included with this post. Please read them carefully before entering.

Follow my page so you don’t miss competition updates, important reminders, finalist announcements, and Community Choice voting!

07/30/2026

ARH NEWS RELEASE –A Surgeon Invested in Harlan’s Future

Harlan, KY – When Dr. Tim Jenkel gives a patient his personal cell phone number, it’s more than an act of accessibility — it’s a reflection of the trust he believes should exist between a surgeon and the people he serves.

“If you trust me to perform your procedure, I trust you to have my cell phone number,” he said.

In just a short time since arriving at Harlan ARH Hospital, Dr. Jenkel has done more than build a busy surgical practice. He has expanded access to care, earned a reputation for putting patients first and become deeply invested in the future of the community he now calls home.

“Dr. Jenkel practices medicine the way it was meant to be, especially in a smaller community. He sees his patients as neighbors,” said Joseph Horton, CEO of Harlan ARH Hospital. “He didn’t have to come to Harlan County. He chose to, and he is choosing to become part of the community. We are fortunate to have him.”

Dr. Jenkel brings advanced surgical training and a wide range of services to Harlan, including emergency and trauma surgery, hernia repairs, gallbladder removal, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, colorectal surgery, endoscopy and dialysis access, helping local patients receive care closer to home.

His arrival has expanded access to specialized general surgery services, allowing more patients to receive advanced surgical care close to home instead of traveling outside the region.

Read the full article at https://www.arh.org/newsfeed/a-surgeon-invested-in-harlans-future

06/07/2026

I am excited to announce a new opportunity for the students of Harlan County.

Beginning this summer, I will be launching a Community Impact Challenge designed to encourage students to develop ideas that can make a positive difference in our community.

The challenge will ask students to identify a local problem, need, or opportunity and create a plan on how we can improve it here in Harlan County. This Challenge will help students learn how to take an idea from concept to reality and hopefully encourage a broader sense of investment back into Harlan County.

The future of this area depends on investing in the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers. I have not been in this area long so I will be asking a panel of local community leaders to judge. There will also be a community choice award voted on through this page. My role in this is simply to guarantee the funds and help organize the process.

I hope students, parents, educators, and community members will help spread the word and encourage participation.

If you know a student who may be interested, please share this post. Follow this page to stay informed and receive updates as additional details are announced.

06/06/2026

Thank you to the HC Dance team for the recognition. Supporting young people in our community is important to me because every opportunity we provide can help them grow, build confidence, and discover what they are capable of. Activities like dance, sports, and other extracurricular programs teach our young people teamwork, leadership, and dedication, all while creating friendships, a sense of pride in their local community, and a safe outlet.

A huge thank you to Dr. Jenkel for your generous $500 donation to our high school dance team! Your support helps provide opportunities for our dancers and allows us to continue doing what we love. We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and investment in our team and community. Thank you for making a difference! ❤️🖤

06/04/2026

Proud to support HC Cheer. Thank you to the coaches, parents, and community that supports these young women both on and off the mat.

📣❤️ A huge THANK YOU to Dr. Jenkel for his generous $500 donation to support HC Cheer! ❤️📣

We are incredibly grateful for your support and investment in our cheerleaders. Thank you for believing in HC Cheer! 🐻📣❤️🖤

05/28/2026

Truly believe the Harlan community grows stronger when we invest in our young people.

A huge THANK YOU to Dr. Jenkel for his generous $500 donation to support our Cawood Elementary 8th Grade Trip to Sevierville!

Because of the support of our community, our 8th graders were able to make memories and enjoy a special experience together before heading to high school.

Thank you, Dr. Jenkel, and everyone who helped make this trip happen for our students! ☄️❤️

05/10/2026

Will be offering late clinic hours this Thursday 5 - 9 PM for anyone that needs to see a surgeon but can’t make it during normal business hours.

05/06/2026

Thankful for the opportunity to support the 8th grade students at Evarts Elementary School.

Some of my best memories as a student came from school field trips and experiences outside the classroom. I’m proud to help these students make memories of their own and invest in the future of our community.

A huge THANK YOU to Dr. Jenkel for his generous donation to support our Evarts Elementary 8th Grade Trip to Kings Island!

Because of community members like him, our students are getting the opportunity to experience a trip many of them may not otherwise have. His generosity helps create lasting memories and gives our students something exciting to celebrate after all of their hard work this school year.

We truly appreciate his kindness and willingness to invest in the students of Evarts Elementary. Thank you, Dr. Jenkel, for helping make this trip possible!