The spring semester of 2026 ended with many accomplishments for CHET faculty, staff and trainees - congratulations to all on their numerous accomplishments!
Cohort 6 SPARK alumna Akua Asamoah was selected to participate in the Undergraduate Summer Training in Cardiovascular Research (USTiCR) Program, a 10-week undergraduate research experience supported by the Cardiovascular Research Priority Area (CV RPA). She continues to be mentored by her SPARK mentor and CHET core faculty member Dr. Adebola Adegboyega.
During the Annual Markey Cancer Center Research Day, CHET faculty, staff, and trainees were recognized for their research and mentorship. Tristan Ntego, a CHET trainee mentored by Justin Moore, Ph.D., won second place in the clinical/population sciences category for his poster presentation, “Social Vulnerability and Early- Onset Colorectal Cancer Outcomes in Kentucky and Georgia.”
CHET also celebrates Kennedy Walcott-George, Research and Program Coordinator in the Engaged Aging lab of Elizabeth Rhodus, Ph.D., who earned first place in the Postdocs and Staff Clinical/Population Science category for her poster, “Adaptation of Behavioral Intervention from Dementia to Glioma Cancer Survivors: A Synopsis of Study Design.”
In addition, CHET Primary Faculty Member Laurie McLouth, Ph.D., received the Faculty Research Mentorship Award for Mentorship of junior faculty during the Markey Research Day awards ceremony, recognizing her outstanding commitment to mentorship and research development.
Cohort 7 SPARKler Maiya Bhandari placed second in the College of Health Sciences Poster Competition at the Center for Clinical and Translational Science annual conference on March 31 and third in the Undergraduate Poster competition at the UNITE Research Showcase on April 28 for her poster, “The Impact of a Pilot Family Physical Activity Intervention on Parent Self-Efficacy for Personal & Child Physical Activity.” She was also recognized by the UK Active Girls Healthy Women Program with the Mentor of the Year Award.
Cohort 7 SPARKler Shreya Chandrashekar placed first place in the Poster Award competition, Undergraduate Research category for her project, "Association of Neighborhood Deprivation and Brain Health in Later Life: Results from the UK Alzheimer's Disease Center Cohort" during the Public Health Showcase hosted by the College of Public Health on April 21, 2026.
Tristan Ntego also placed second at the College of Public Health Research Showcase in the Graduate Practice Category.
CHET was well-represented in the annual Department of Behavioral Science Excellence in Engagement Awards, administered by the department's Council on Community, Education, Research, and Training (CONCERT). These awards recognize faculty, staff, and professional or graduate students who demonstrate exemplary leadership and efforts to support and create a welcoming workplace, community, and/or academic environment for all. emphasis is placed on service-related engagement activities, the impact of health engagement and/or social determinants of health, and contributions to the department, college, university, and/or community. The 2026 staff awardee was Maria Rockett, research project manager in the lab of CHET associate director, Carrie Oser, Ph.D., and former CHET graduate research assistant. The student awardee was Fidelis Sesenu, former CHET GRA who supported the SPARK program for 4 years. The faculty awardee was Delvon Mattingly, Ph.D., assistant professor and CHET primary faculty member.
Congratulations to all CHET staff, trainees, and faculty on a successful end to the spring 2026 semester!
