News

Asked how she copes with the emotional side of her role in palliative care, Abigail Latimer, PhD, MSW, LCSW, puts it simply. “I want to be there for people on some of their hardest days.”

When pursuing a research career, earning a PhD is a traditional and exciting, yet challenging, part of the process. This fall, sisters Katie and Sally Pauss will lean on one another when they begin the journey together at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

“We both independently felt like that was the right thing for us,” Katie said.

The following clinicians and researchers working under the UK College of Medicine Alliance Research Initiative have been named recent awardees of pilot grants.

Peter Hardy, PhD, College of Medicine

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is excited to announce that faculty, staff, learners, and trainees will have free access to a leading online resource for medical Spanish proficiency.

CanopyLearn, a Spanish language training program for health care professionals, will be available to the UK College of Medicine community starting Aug. 1.

Staff at UK Innovate – the innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic enterprise for UK Research – recently attended an international conference to connect with industry partners, showcase areas of expertise, and promote exciting technology developing at the University.

Na’Tasha Evans, PhD, MEd, is a researcher, published author, champion for female empowerment, and our new vice dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Learn more about her goals, her past work, and more in the following Q&A.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in research? 

A new program beginning this fall at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine will provide opportunities for recent college graduates interested in research, who may not have had the resources to pursue it.

Charles “Chipper” Griffith III, MD, has been named dean of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. 

Pending approval from the Board of Trustees, Griffith will begin his appointment July 15, 2023. He has served as acting dean of the college since July 2021. 

Congratulations to the following basic science and clinical faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine! These individuals were honored with promotions and tenure in fiscal year 2023.

Names are organized alphabetically by department.

Sarah Jean Hall, MD, PhD
Associate Professor

The University of Kentucky STEM Through Authentic Research and Training (START) program recently closed out its summer session, with START Apprentices gaining tremendous insight into research careers and higher education.

Omar Al-Janabi, MBChB, PhD, MS, initially arrived in Lexington, Ky., for a master’s program and an affordable place to live with his family. Nearly a decade later, he has completed not one but three graduate training programs at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He also has engaged with mentors who will have a lasting impact on his career in medicine and research.

Christine Kuhn is a Lexington-based artist who created “Interconnectivity,” a mixed-media art piece that displays in the Medical Center Library. The artwork was created with support from the Herman Lee and Nell Stuart Donovan Memorial Trust.

Following an extensive national search and interviews with highly qualified individuals, the College of Medicine is excited to welcome Na’Tasha Evans, PhD, MEd, as the new vice dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and associate professor in the department of behavioral science.

At times, learners need specific mentoring to face particular challenges—maybe help with a dissertation, a research project, or studying for an exam. But a more general approach to mentoring, one that focuses on the whole person, can also make a crucial difference in student success.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is excited to announce that it has named John Gensel, PhD, the director of the UK Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC).

The College of Medicine’s clinical and basic science departments, centers, and educational offices are all working to develop more inclusive and equitable practices. Our Diversity and Inclusion Ambassadors are charged with leading these efforts.

In 2020, the University of Kentucky joined 22 other academic institutions and organizations as inaugural members of The National Center for Pre-Faculty Development, working together to focus on pre-faculty development as a means to diversifying academia.

Samantha Ford had always wanted to go to medical school, but after training in a clinical laboratory setting at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, she gained a new perspective on how research can play a role in her future career as a physician.

Zaki Udin Hassan, MBBS, MBA, professor and chair of anesthesiology, launched an engagement and alignment program called FAIRE within his department.

Our interview with Dr. Hassan highlights the program’s details and how he is promoting wellness and well-being for his department's faculty, staff, and learners. 

Q: What is the FAIRE program?

In 2021, researchers and educators from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Markey Cancer Center developed an idea for a program to diversify the health care workforce, particularly in cancer research.