The University of Kentucky College of Medicine's Faculty of Color Network (FCN) is hosting its first gala on Oct. 18. The College is spearheading the event, with the theme, “Undeniable, Uncompromising, Unstoppable: Celebrating Diversity in Medicine and the Community.” The recently established FCN is committed to scholarship and professional development, community engagement and advocacy.

Our Toxicology & Cancer Biology program is interdisciplinary, whose faculty are leaders in their fields and use cutting edge approaches to investigate oxidative stress, genetic instability, metabolism and epigenetics and their relationships to cancer and other human diseases. Students can choose to be trained in areas that have an emphasis on either Toxicology or Cancer Biology, or identify projects that integrate the two areas.
Beth Oates has been selected as the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Young Ambassador to Kentucky. As the Ambassador for Kentucky, Beth is starting an ASM student chapter at the University of Kentucky. With the Chapter, she hopes to connect undergraduate students, graduate students and PhD students that perform research or are interested in microbiology throughout the University. If you are interested in Beth's ASM ambassador initiatives and for information on joining the ASM student chapter, email Beth at alice.oates@uky.edu.

The University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (UK CERH) is accepting proposals for high school student groups to participate in our Healthy WAY research initiative. Healthy WAY encourages student led teams to work collectively on an identified problem, by reviewing local data, trends, and research to develop a strategic plan of action with key stakeholders in their schools and communities. 

The University of Kentucky provides the only Master's of Forensic Toxicology and Analytical Genetics (or degree of comparable nature) in the state, and it is only the fifth such professional master’s degree in the field of forensics in the nation. Students are provided with access to state of the art educational resources, instrumentation and facilities that support advanced professional education in Forensic Chemistry and Forensic DNA analysis.

By Josh Shepherd
The Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF) awarded a University of Kentucky research team in the Division of Plastic Surgery a $10,000 pilot research grant in support of a breast cancer related study investigating a novel therapy for soft tissue repair after radiation treatment and breast reconstruction. The study is but one example of the ways in which Plastic Surgery is having a significant impact on cancer-related research in Kentucky.

By Hilary Brown
Click here for original UKnow article.

When Nick Nolen went to his urologist for a routine follow-up appointment, he mentioned he had a pain in his side. A series of CT scans revealed an unwelcome sight – nodules on his lungs. Both his urologist and his primary care provider didn't think the nodules were cancer, so they advised him to come back in a few months for another scan.

Dr. Caitlin Fiorillo completed her medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She successfully completed her five year Otolaryngology Head and Neck residency here at the University of Kentucky. After residency graduation, Dr. Fiorillo went on to complete a Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She will be the third Pediatric Otolaryngologist, joining Drs. Iverson and Azbell. Dr. Fiorillo is married with two children. UK Otolaryngology is thrilled with the newest addition to the department. Welcome, Dr.

We would like to congratulate CHET Core Faculty member Lovoria Williams, PhD, for being named the Nurse Researcher of the Year by the National Black Nurses Association at the 47th Annual Conference in New Orleans on Saturday, July 27.

The award represents her work to deliver community-based interventions that reduce health disparities among minority and medically underserved populations by increasing tobacco cessation and cancer screening behaviors and reducing obesity and diabetes.

Dr. Williams is an Associate Professor in the University of Kentucky College of Nursing.

4th year MIMG Ph.D. student Gabrielle Keb has been awarded a NIH F31—Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Predoctoral Fellowship. The award from NIAID, entitled “Chlamydia trachomatis Secreted Effector Proteins: Infection Properties and Identification of Host Targets” will directly support her dissertation work and facilitate additional career development. Reviewers were particularly positive about Gabby’s ability and productivity as well as the strong Ph.D. training environment at the UK COM.