Katie Twist, MD, has been named the new assistant dean for preclinical education in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Office of Medical Education.

Dr. Twist brings a wealth of experience to this role. Over the last 10 years, she has served as a course director for multiple medical student courses spanning the first, second, third, and fourth years of the curriculum. In addition to these roles, she has served as director of classroom teaching faculty development since 2020 and has been an active member of the medical student curriculum committee since 2017. 

Dr. Twist has received numerous awards for excellence as an educator. She was honored with the College of Medicine’s Academy of Medical Educators Excellence in Medical Education Award within the domains of teaching, innovation, leadership, development, mentoring, and evaluation. She has won multiple teaching awards from students.

In this assistant dean role, Dr. Twist will be responsible for overseeing the effectiveness of our preclinical curriculum for medical students, which is delivered across our campuses in Bowling Green, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky.

“Dr. Twist brings tremendous expertise to this role. Her firsthand experiences within the curriculum and as a leader in faculty development will be an asset to our college. I’m thrilled to have her taking on this role as a curriculum leader,” said John Ragsdale, MD, MS, associate dean for curriculum.

Dr. Twist is a triple alumna of the University of Kentucky for undergraduate training, medical school, and residency. She joined as faculty in 2013 and is an associate professor in the UK College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine. She practices general internal medicine, where she teaches students and residents.

She succeeds Deborah Erickson, MD, professor of urology, who has held this position for nearly eight years. Dr. Erickson will continue to serve in this role until the end of the year. Dr. Twist assumed the role on Nov. 1 to ensure a smooth transition and will fully step into the role in January. 

The College of Medicine thanks Dr. Erickson for her commitment to advancing medical education and the progress she made under her tenure.

For more information about the UK College of Medicine’s medical education curriculum, click here.