At 85 pounds, Carmine is one of the smallest visitors to the University of Kentucky Gill Heart Institute’s inpatient unit. But his heart is mighty, and he shares that strength with everyone on the floor. Carmine is a therapy dog. And while he also does what dogs do best – make people happy – he is not just any therapy dog. He is one of the few unit-specific therapy dogs in the United States.
Fran Feltner, director of the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) in Hazard, has received the 2016 Paul Mason Memorial Award during the 68th Annual Conference of the Kentucky Public Health Association (KPHA) held in Owensboro on April 12-14. Feltner, a native of Leslie County, has worked for more than 30 years in rural health care, from serving as a nurse in clinical and hospital settings to her current role. The award is named for Paul Mason who served as a state representative for Kentucky’s 91st District for more than a decade and was a tireless advocate f

In addition to those completing their chief year this June, several Department of Surgery staff members are celebrating the completion of their academic endeavors this year, and some the beginning of a program. The Department of Surgery offers its well wishes to the following:

Most high school students are exposed to history, biology and algebra classes, but a fortunate group of students from Lexington's Bryan Station High School (BSHS) had the unique opportunity during the past year to examine gross specimens in a pathology lab, tour hospital testing laboratories, attend medical lectures and even take part in an intensive care unit (ICU) simulation training, among other activities that are part of the curriculum for University of Kentucky medical students.

Entering the last month of their Chief year, the Department of Surgery’s 2016 class of residents and fellows shared their plans to continue their training or get into the professional ranks.

On Monday, May 16, 2016 Paul A. Mueller successfully defended his dissertation titled:

"PPAP2B EXPRESSION LIMITS LESION FORMATION IN MURINE MODELS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS”

Abstract of Dissertation

For many University of Kentucky researchers who study health in Appalachia, the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) is an indispensible partner in conducting community-based research. The Center, located in Hazard, Kentucky, connects researchers with the local community and provides necessary infrastructure, from conference rooms to a team of community health workers, called Kentucky Homeplace, who engage participants and gather data.

The annual University of Kentucky Markey Cancer CenterResearch Day not only provides researchers with the opportunity to share their work, but to get feedback from colleagues. An estimated 400 people were in attendance at the event, with about 50 staff members tasked with judging posters.