Jonathan Barko, MD, did not follow a conventional path to medicine. Before becoming a physician, he was a music educator, performing professionally and teaching in public schools after earning his degree in music education.

We are deeply saddened to share that Melinda Wilson, PhD, professor of physiology, passed away on June 19, 2025. The UK College of Medicine is grateful for her many contributions to research and education, as well as the legacy of warmth and collegiality she leaves behind.

University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researcher Weisi Yan, MD, PhD, recently shared his work on radiation therapy at a major international conference, showcasing how new techniques could better protect patients’ immune systems while fighting cancer.

Before donning a lab coat at the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Ryan Shahidehpour, PhD, was lacing up boxing gloves and facing off in competitive lacrosse matches. With more than 250 fights under his belt, Shahidehpour built a reputation for discipline, focus and resilience—qualities that now serve him just as well at the lab bench as they once did in the ring.

For Reagan Stafford, MD, the decision to become a physician was shaped by her early experiences growing up in West Virginia.  

“Growing up in a small community with limited access to health care inspired me to become a physician,” she said. “I saw the difference the town physicians made and the respect they garnered.” 

Three University of Kentucky College of Medicine students recently took their passion for Alzheimer’s advocacy to the nation’s capital, meeting with lawmakers to champion research, education, and access to care for those impacted by dementia. The trio traveled to Washington, D.C., as volunteer advocates with the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum. 

For Garrett Oberst, MD, practicing medicine wasn’t always the plan.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine Office of Strategic Communications has been nationally recognized by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the foremost professional organization for communication practitioners. 

The University of Kentucky is well-represented on a list of the most-cited researchers in the world. In a database compiled by Stanford University in a partnership with Elsevier, 136 current UK scientists and scholars appear among the top 2% of the most-cited researchers across 22 disciplines.

Four students from the Math, Science, and Technology Center (MSTC) program at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington have earned top honors at the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio.

A casual scroll through Instagram turned into something much bigger for Alicia Fields, a rising fourth-year medical student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine–Bowling Green Campus. After discovering an advocacy event organized by dermatology trainees in Indiana, she began to wonder why Kentucky didn’t have something similar.

In the early 1970s, Elizabethtown, Ky., was a growing community, but its medical infrastructure was still catching up. With only about 30 physicians in town, including just three surgeons and a single anesthesiologist, access to specialized care was limited.

For most medical students, Match Day and graduation signify the culmination of years of rigorous study, personal sacrifice, and unwavering determination. But for Drs. Abigail and Jason Hurt, this milestone season marked something even more profound: the beginning of their life as a family.

Pierluigi Porcu, MD, has been selected to serve as division chief for hematology and blood and marrow transplantation (Hem BMT) in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine.

A prominent cardiovascular health researcher at the University of Kentucky, whose work is internationally recognized in the field of vascular biology, has been honored for her groundbreaking work by the American Heart Association (AHA). 

As part of a monthly education series, local emergency medical services (EMS), nurses and physicians were invited to the UK HealthCare Simulation Center for a hands-on lecture by the UK Emergency Medicine Department.

In late April, the UK College of Medicine hosted its first-ever Staff Well-Being Day, an all-day event designed to celebrate and support the vital contributions of staff. Organized by the Staff Well-Being Committee and led by the Office for Organizational Well-Being, the event offered thoughtfully curated programming meant to foster reflection, connection, and appreciation.

In the heart of southeastern Kentucky, the Huffman family has established a legacy of exceptional eye care, deeply rooted in their education at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Recently, teams from the heart transplant program at UK HealthCare’s Transplant Center and Gill Heart & Vascular Institute performed their 600th heart transplant, marking a significant milestone in the program’s commitment to advanced cardiac care and long-term patient outcomes. 

Read the Magazine

Participating in brain-stimulating activities is essential to those dealing with Alzheimer's disease, but due to a lack of nearby resources and potential ambulatory issues, many Kentuckians in need of memory care do not have access to the help they need.