The Kentucky Senate passed a special resolution honoring Patrick McGrath, MD, professor emeritus of surgical oncology, on the Senate floor in celebration of the surgeon’s 38 years of dedicated care to the people of the Commonwealth at UK HealthCare. Following a reading of the resolution, the entire Senate gave Dr. McGrath a much-deserved standing ovation.
The resolution was introduced by Kentucky Senator Reginald Thomas(D) who invited Dr. McGrath to attend the regular legislative session on Thursday afternoon, March 14. Dr. McGrath was accompanied by his wife and family members, friends, former patients, and colleagues from the UK HealthCare Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center.
The resolution, entered into the legislative record, was an overview of Dr. McGrath’s distinguished medical career.
Among other accomplishments, the resolution noted that Dr. McGrath was one of only two surgical oncologists serving patients in the new Markey Cancer Center when he started his UK HealthCare practice in 1988. He collaborated with Dr. Edward Romond to establish the UK Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, which was the first of its kind in the nation. He also served as its director.
In addition to his record of excellent care of cancer patients, Dr. McGrath accepted several leadership roles, including the Ward O. Griffen Endowed Chair and chief of general surgery, chief of surgical oncology, and briefly as interim director of Markey Cancer Center. In those roles, he helped recruit over 40 surgical faculty to UK HealthCare and, as a surgical educator, trained numerous residents, fellows, and medical students over his career.
The same resolution will be introduced in the Kentucky House of Representatives by Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson(D) before the regular state legislative session concludes in April.
