Elizabeth Rhodus

As an occupational therapist, Elizabeth Rhodus, PhD, has worked closely with older Kentuckians facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). She also has witnessed firsthand how poor health, limited resources, and high poverty rates have served as barriers to proper prevention and treatment.

Common Read Initiative

As a faculty preceptor for the Introduction to Clinical Medicine course, Hilary Surratt, PhD, associate professor of behavioral science, has witnessed learners engage in thoughtful dialogue around biases. However, she said they sometimes struggle in understanding how bias impacts clinical care.

Nancy Schoenberg has been a leader in medical anthropology for the past 25 years at the University of Kentucky. Mark Cornelison | UK Photo.

UKNow is highlighting the University of Kentucky’s 2022-23 University Research Professors. Established by the Board of Trustees in 1976, the professorship program recognizes excellence across the full spectrum of research, scholarship and creative endeavors at UK.

Dr. Sharon Walsh, Professor of Behavioral Science

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is excited to announce that Sharon Walsh, PhD, tenured professor of behavioral science and director of the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, has been selected as a UK Alumni Professor.

The 2022 Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentor Award winner Michael Wesley with student Caroline Sumner.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 8, 2022) — Four University of Kentucky faculty members received the 2022 Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentor Award for their exceptional leadership and support of student researchers.

Behavioral Science Awards White Coats for Black Lives Fellowships

UK College of Medicine students Rashmi Bharadwaj, Maya Cleveland, Lillian Maxwell, Darayon Moore and Maggie Stull have been awarded Department of Behavioral Science White Coats for Black Lives Fellowships.

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The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is pleased to announce the faculty, staff, and learner winners of the inaugural Mission, Vision, Pillar, and Enabler Awards.

The best solutions begin when you listen to the people whose problems you’re trying to solve. That community-based focus — the crux of what Nancy Schoenberg, Ph.D., says is her approach as a medical anthropologist — has been a guiding value through her 25 years at the University of Kentucky. In this “Research Made Possible” podcast, Schoenberg shares what drives her work on diabetes and cancer in rural communities across Kentucky.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 23, 2022) — University of Kentucky College of Medicinestudents Rashmi Bharadwaj, Maya Cleveland, Lillian Maxwell, Darayon Moore and Maggie Stull have been awarded Department of Behavioral Science White Coats for Black Lives Fellowships.

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When Elizabeth Rhodus, PhD, was 16 years old, she suffered a near-fatal car accident, which left her with significant injuries that included fractures around her eye socket. Dr. Rhodus had already struggled with eye muscle problems that this accident only exacerbated.

The rural Kentucky native was admitted to UK HealthCare and along her journey, was treated by an ophthalmologist who not only provided her with exceptional care, but who also became an influential figure in her own path to a career in academic medicine.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 19, 2021) — A new training program at the University of Kentucky will help develop the next generation of scientists needed to reduce Kentucky’s burden of high cancer incidence and mortality rates.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2021) — A recent University of Kentucky College of Medicine study found that young adults from vulnerable communities are more likely to be exposed to tobacco marketing in their daily lives than are young adults outside these communities.

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The University of Kentucky College of Medicine has received the 2021 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 11, 2021) — New pilot grants at the University of Kentucky are supporting innovative research to further understand causes and treatments of substance use disorders.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 3, 2021) — University of Kentucky College of Medicine students Thailandria Daniels and Megan Stewart were recently awarded inaugural Department of Behavioral Science White Coats for Black Lives Fellowships.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 21, 2021) – A new University of Kentucky College of Medicine study will examine how policies that restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes impact health disparities among vulnerable populations. 

A five-year, $2.8 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will support the study on how local policies impact at-risk groups – including communities of color, low-income populations and youth – that are more likely to use flavored tobacco products.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 24, 2021) — It's a question that is critical to families and communities across the Commonwealth — how do we tackle the opioid epidemic?

The University of Kentucky is helping to organize and host the second annual Edward Kremers Seminar in the History of Pharmacy & Drugs in hopes of continuing the conversation surrounding addiction and recovery.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 11, 2021) — Dr. Jay Avasarala, professor of neurology and director of the University of Kentucky’s Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, and co-authors, conducted a retrospective study in which they evaluated approximately 96.5 million enrollees in a database. More than 200,000 of the enrollees had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The research focused on looking at the effect of TNF-alpha inhibitors, biologic agents, used in IBD treatment on the probability of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

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The University of Kentucky College of Medicine congratulates William Stoops, PhD, professor in the departments of behavioral science and psychiatry, who has been awarded a 2020 Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association (APA).

According to a news release from APA, Dr. Stoops received this honor for his “brilliant research, multidimensional leadership” and his “positive, enthusiastic demeanor.” He was presented this award by 2020 APA president Sandra L. Shullman.

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The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is committed to enhancing its medical school curriculum and ensuring students are introduced to a variety of important topics as they pursue their medical education. It is with these goals in mind that the UK College of Medicine is excited to announce a new curricular initiative.