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New SPARKlers standing for photo

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 6, 2024) – The University of Kentucky SPARK (Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky) Program has named its 2024 cohort.

Drs. Shyanika Rose and Delvon Mattingly

The University of Kentucky recently received a $19 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) to fund a new center on tobacco research.

Dr. Delvon Mattingly Photo

CHET primary faculty member, Dr. Delvon Mattingly, will serve as a panelist for the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco’s Health Equity Trainee Showcase. Dr. Mattingly, along with the other panel members, will provide an overview of his research and address questions from the audience.

Collage of photos from CHET's celebration

On Friday, October 13th, CHET celebrated five years of fostering innovative, transdisciplinary, and impactful health equity research in the Commonwealth. There was a terrific turnout, with nearly 100 attendees enjoying a variety of health equity speakers, refreshments, and musical performances.

Health equity speakers included:

GME winners

The following individuals were honored at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Awards Convocation on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Winners included those in Bowling Green, Lexington, Morehead, and Northern Kentucky.

Biomedical Education

Outstanding Graduate Student Award:
Jamila Tucker, MS

Laurie McLouth

The inaugural cohort of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Scholars includes University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researcher Laurie McLouth, Ph.D.

From left to right: Dr. Rachel Wilson, Lisa Williams, Renee Gallagher, and LeAnn Barber

Burnout is a problem in any profession, but it is rampant in health care. This national problem has been evident recently as the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many learners, practitioners, faculty, and staff to the limit.

CHET’s 2023 Health Equity Pilot Grants were awarded to Jessica L. Burris, PhD, (left) and Yuqing Zheng, PhD, (right).

The University of Kentucky’s Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) and the Food as Health Alliance (FAHA) awarded pilot funding to support two faculty members’ research projects to identify, reduce and eliminate health disparities.

Image of CHET Report Cover Page

CHET recently developed a report covering the progress and achievements of the first five years of the Center, titled “Transforming Health in the Commonwealth: The First Five Years of the Center for Health Equity Transformation.” The report includes comprehensive coverage of the health equity research conducted at CHET, as well as an overview of the training programs and health equity programmi

2023 SPARK Webinar Flyer

A recording of CHET's Aug. 29, 2023 SPARK Applicant Webinar is available below. We are grateful to those who attended and engaged with us.

group photo of researchers

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Behavioral Science and Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) are excited to welcome four exemplary researchers to campus.

SPARKler Collage

CHET is pleased to announce recruitment for the fifth cohort of the Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky (SPARK) program.

LaTrice Montgomery, PhD and Cannabis Center logo

The University of Kentucky Cannabis Center is sponsoring a series of seminars featuring national and international experts on cannabis science.

Abigail Latimer, Laurie McLouth, Elizabeth Rhodus, and Jim Ballard

Asked how she copes with the emotional side of her role in palliative care, Abigail Latimer, PhD, MSW, LCSW, puts it simply. “I want to be there for people on some of their hardest days.”

Stock photo of woman on computer

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is excited to announce that faculty, staff, learners, and trainees will have free access to a leading online resource for medical Spanish proficiency.

CanopyLearn, a Spanish language training program for health care professionals, will be available to the UK College of Medicine community starting Aug. 1.

Headshot of Dr. Na'Tasha Evans

Na’Tasha Evans, PhD, MEd, is a researcher, published author, champion for female empowerment, and our new vice dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Learn more about her goals, her past work, and more in the following Q&A.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in research? 

Dr. Na'Tasha Evans

Following an extensive national search and interviews with highly qualified individuals, the College of Medicine is excited to welcome Na’Tasha Evans, PhD, MEd, as the new vice dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and associate professor in the department of behavioral science.

Flyer for Just-in-Time Funding Opportunity

Eligible investigators may apply for up to $2,000 annually from CHET. If you have received pilot or other award funding from CHET in the fiscal year, you will not be eligible for CHET JIT funding. The Just-in-Time funding must be spent within the fiscal year awarded. Awards are made on a rolling basis and will continue until funds have been expended.

Dr. Mairead Moloney

Congratulations to Mairead Moloney, PhD, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences, for receiving a CHET Just-in-Time award for her project “Too tired to sleep: A social-ecological exploration of insomnia in Appalachian women.”