On April 28, 2025, members of Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky (SPARK) cohorts 5 and 6 (SPARKlers) journeyed from Lexington to eastern Kentucky to see health disparities research in action. Led by Ariel Arthur, Center for Health, Engagement, and Transformation manager, and Fidelis Sesenu, SPARK graduate research assistant, the group made stops in Benham, Hazard, and Beattyville to meet with professionals and community members committed to reducing health disparities and improving community well-being.
Their first stop was in Benham, Ky., at the study headquarters for the Make Better Choices 2 (MBC2) research study, led by CHET director and SPARK founder, Nancy Schoenberg, PhD. MBC2 employs technology to help individuals eat better, sleep better, reduce stress, and get more exercise. Participants in this innovative study use the Fitbit health app, and health coaching to make changes. The goal of the study is to test whether MBC2 promotes healthy changes in people in eastern Kentucky. SPARKlers met with the study's project director, Deanna Sherman, who leads study recruitment efforts, supervises health coaches, and maintains communication with each researcher and partner involved in the study.
After stopping for some selfies at the Falcon Overlook in Whitesburg, SPARKlers continued to Hazard to meet with staff in the Center for Excellence in Rural Health (CERH). The visit was coordinated by Beth Bowling, RN, CERH , rural project manager, and mom of Cohort 1 SPARKler, Hannah Bowling. SPARKlers enjoyed a warm welcome and a working lunch as they learned about the Kentucky Office of Rural Health, Kentucky Homeplace, a unique model that combines research, service, and rural health workforce development, and is heavily focused on addressing social determinants of health. A tour of the building included a stop at the Appalachian Center for Assistive Technology (ACAT), the Assistive Technology Resource Center serving eastern Kentucky. ACAT provides assistive technology (AT) demonstrations and consultation, a short-term AT loan locker, maker space, workforce training, and refurbishing through Project CARAT (Coordinating and Assisting the Reuse of Assistive Technology), CARAT-TOP (Coordinating and Assisting the Reuse of Assistive Technology: Together One Priority), and Toys with a Purpose. ACAT staff Keisha Wells and Crystal Hignite showcased toys available through the lending library and cutting-edge technology such as a 3-D printer and a braille embosser, one of only a few available in Kentucky. SPARKler Akua Asamoah demonstrated the use of a track chair.
The next stop on the itinerary was at The Hub in Beattyville, KY. The Hub’s mission is simple yet impactful: meeting individuals where they are, but not leaving them there. They provide holistic, person-centered care to those in need by offering a broad range of services that address addiction, hunger, homelessness, mental health, employment, and housing. SPARKlers met with key staff and volunteers and toured the facility. They learned about the syringe exchange program, services, and support provided to clients, and the overall person-centered approach to supporting members of the community struggling with substance use and associated social determinants of health. The Hub's non-coercive approach allows participants to access harm reduction services without the pressure to change immediately. After touring The Hub, SPARKlers crossed the street to meet with leaders of the Lee County Health Department, part of the Kentucky River District Health Department. Harm Reduction Program Coordinator JoAnn Vanzant and Chief Operations Officer Melissa Slone, DSW, CSW, described the overall mission of the health department and how they incorporate research into public health practice. The students engaged in a Q&A session that covered data collection methods, academic partnerships, community buy-in for policy change, and the future public health workforce.
SPARK leadership is grateful for the opportunity for students in our program to witness population health research in action. We appreciate the hospitality and coordination of Deanna Sherman, Beth Bowling, and Melissa Slone as they welcomed our students into their workspaces, as well as the continued support of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) and Aetna Better Health of Kentucky.
You may view more photos of the visit here.
