While completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky, Jonathan Davies, MS, found himself at a crossroads. He had stretched himself too thin with involvement in organizations and programs, and he started suffering burnout. He then missed the window to take his medical school entrance exam junior year.

At first, he felt lost and far behind his peers. But he learned later that this wasn’t a misstep. It was a redirection.

The UK College of Medicine is excited to announce that Sarah Hall, MD, PhD, and Eleftherios Xenos, MD, PhD, have been elected to represent the college on the University Senate.

The University Senate is the faculty voice in the governance of our college and the University and determines broad academic policies of the University. Dr. Hall and Dr. Xenos will serve as College of Medicine representatives for three-year terms beginning in August.

The Department had ten publications listed in PubMed for the months of March and April 2022.

1: Gentry MS, Markussen KH, Donohue KJ. Two Diseases-One Preclinical Treatment Targeting Glycogen Synthesis. Neurotherapeutics. 2022 Apr 22. doi: 10.1007/s13311-022-01240-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35460010.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2022) — The University of Kentucky’s UNited In True racial Equity (UNITE) Research Priority Area will host its inaugural research showcase on Wednesday, May 4. The 2022 UNITE Research Showcase is centered around elevating and promoting the importance of racial equity research at UK, across the Commonwealth and beyond.

In 2020, high-profile murders of Black civilians by police garnered national attention, shining a light on the growing need for social change. Learners at the UK College of Medicine collaborated to compose a letter to their leadership, advocating for solutions to combat systemic racism. The College of Medicine administration engaged with learners to implement strategies and initiatives that would address their concerns.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 2, 2022) — Are you caring for someone with dementia? We invite you to participate in a research study that offers the Harmony at H.O.M.E. (Help Online Modifying the Environment) telehealth program at the University of Kentucky. The program provides training and tools for care partners to assess and modify the home to promote activity engagement and behavior regulation for the person with dementia. This study is led by researchers within UK’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.

Ramon Sun, PhD, is an assistant professor of neuroscience whose lab focuses on interpreting the molecular events connecting complex carbohydrate metabolism to cellular metabolism, signaling, and physiology.

While his primary appointment is in neuroscience, his work also encompasses molecular and cellular biochemistry and is affiliated with Markey Cancer Center, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, and the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center.

You can learn more about Dr. Sun in the following Q&A.

Early in her undergraduate years of college, Elena Shelepak had several career paths in mind. She was good at biology and curious about genetics. During freshman year, she took a few psychology courses. Criminal justice also piqued her interest.

Then Elena stumbled upon the field of forensic science, and it clicked. This would be a career that would allow her to do a little bit of everything.

LEXINGTON, KY. (April 28, 2022) — It started as an idea during the 2021 spring semester. The goal behind the idea being discussed by the student group, Minority Students in Neuroscience (MSN), was to bring together all neuroscience majors, faculty and staff for an event celebrating the study they all love and enjoy.