For Florin Despa, PhD, and Larry Goldstein, MD, the University of Kentucky’s Alliance Research Initiative provided an avenue to collaborate on research they had wanted to pursue together for years in order to help improve the health of Kentuckians.

Our residents and fellows put in the time and effort each and every day. The Gold Humanism Honor Society’s “Thank a Resident Day,” falls on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, providing an opportunity to showcase some of their great work.

Our Office of Graduate Medical Education continuously receives nominations for “Resident of the Month.” For Thank a Resident Day, the office is spotlighting the exceptional work of some of our nominated residents at the UK College of Medicine. 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2021) — An ongoing study led by University of Kentucky researchers is giving school staff, including teachers, a needed outlet to voice their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost 10,000 school staff across Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio have responded to a survey that aims to understand not only what COVID-19 mitigation strategies are being implemented but also how these measures impact staff wellbeing.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 25, 2021) — Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are not only life-threatening at the time of the event, but they can also lead to secondary complications and loss of function in sensory and motor systems. Researchers at the University of Kentucky recently published a unique study focusing on SCIs in eNeuro.

With the goal of improving wellness and reducing burnout during surgical training, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Surgery has adopted a General Surgery Resident Wellness Program. The wellness program curriculum is modeled on pioneering wellness programs around the country, and it addresses the mental, physical, professional, and social well-being of UK’s surgery residents.

Brain metabolism is the process by which the brain converts nutrients into energy and small molecule signals. When there are breakdowns in brain metabolism, this can lead to serious neurological diseases including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. These breakdowns even have been linked to diabetes.  

The UK College of Medicine chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is commemorating Black History Month by curating educational information about the Black community's impact in medicine.

This week, SNMA conducted a Q&A with Black physician-leaders who either currently work or have worked at the UK College of Medicine to learn their perspectives on medicine and how we can continue to improve.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb.

Many major inefficiencies in health care can be credited to two things: the lack of implementation of known beneficial therapies, and, conversely, the use of non-evidenced based care that may offer no benefits at all.

It’s this concept that drove UK College of Medicine researchers to form the Transdisciplinary Implementation Science Alliance (TISA). Supported by the Alliance Research Initiative, TISA brings together clinicians and scientists from across the University of Kentucky and the UK College of Medicine to identify and implement solutions that increase health care value.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 15, 2021) – Charles Hill always considered himself a nearly perfect picture of health and it is something that he worked hard for.

The UK College of Medicine chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is commemorating Black History Month by curating educational information about the Black community's impact in medicine.

This week, SNMA is highlighting four trailblazing Black physicians and health care workers from American history who paved the way for an equitable future.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 11, 2021) — At age 13, Robert Baumann began working at a children’s camp owned by his family, shaping his desire to find a career in which he could help children. “I also thought the brain and neurology were just fascinating. So, it turned out to be the only logical combination.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 9, 2021) — For Massachusetts resident Sherry Irwin, an unexpected bout of breathlessness was the first inkling that something was amiss. A retired primary care physician, she was doing file reviews for the Social Security Disability Insurance program and always liked to park her car at the top of the hill two blocks from her office in order to sneak in a little extra exercise. In late May 2020, she suddenly had to stop and rest halfway through her uphill trek.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 8, 2021) — Dr. Larry Goldstein, chair of the University of Kentucky’s Department of Neurology, defends and elaborates on a recent statement by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF) in an editorial recently published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The USPTF statement reaffirmed its 2014 recommendation against screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in the general adult population.

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.

Peter Morris, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and a pulmonary/critical care faculty member at UK HealthCare, pulls up a map showing the U.S. prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a severe inflammatory lung disease that leads to obstructed airflow and difficulty breathing.

“This is who we serve right here,” he says, pointing to Kentucky on the map. The state’s southeastern region is bright red to signify its high incidence of people with COPD.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 5, 2021) — The early prognosis of high-risk older adults for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), using non-invasive and sensitive neuromarkers, is key for early prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

The University of Kentucky COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Kroger Field began expanding its Saturday hours and increasing vaccination capacity by about 1,000 people a week thanks to volunteers from the University of Kentucky’s health care colleges.

The UK Kroger Field COVID-19 vaccination clinic operates from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Overall, UK HealthCare has vaccinated more than 33,797 people including frontline health care workers, first responders, teachers and school personnel and people over age 70.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is thrilled to announce the addition of Brian Hamilton, MEd, as its new director of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In this newly established role, Hamilton works under the direction of Stephanie White, MD, MS, to advance the mission of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and help execute the college’s strategic plan. This includes implementing new initiatives and increasing engagement to build a more welcoming, inclusive campus while focusing on efforts for recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, staff, and learners.