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Welcome to the Advancing Kentucky Together: LCME Update series! Over the next year, we’ll share monthly blogs about the accreditation process, what it means for our College of Medicine, and how each of us contributes to this important work.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine proudly welcomed its Class of 2029 with a series of White Coat Ceremonies across its Bowling Green, Northern Kentucky, and Lexington campuses, as well as students in the Morehead-based Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP). These events, held July 31 through Aug.

Every summer, we welcome a new class of medical students to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and are reminded of the passion, purpose, and hope they bring with them. Each student’s path is uniquely their own — but together, they represent a powerful vision for the future of health care in Kentucky and beyond.
Three University of Kentucky College of Medicine students recently took their passion for Alzheimer’s advocacy to the nation’s capital, meeting with lawmakers to champion research, education, and access to care for those impacted by dementia. The trio traveled to Washington, D.C., as volunteer advocates with the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum.

A casual scroll through Instagram turned into something much bigger for Alicia Fields, a rising fourth-year medical student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine–Bowling Green Campus. After discovering an advocacy event organized by dermatology trainees in Indiana, she began to wonder why Kentucky didn’t have something similar.

For most medical students, Match Day and graduation signify the culmination of years of rigorous study, personal sacrifice, and unwavering determination. But for Drs. Abigail and Jason Hurt, this milestone season marked something even more profound: the beginning of their life as a family.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine has selected two medical students, Elizabeth McCauley and Kiki Samsel, to support the expansion of nutrition education for physicians in training.

Bradley Firchow, a fourth-year student in the UK College of Medicine's Rural Physician Leadership Program, recently received the 2025 Quinn Student Award, which is the highest honor given by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to a medical student.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is excited to share that 31 medical students from the Bowling Green, Lexington, Morehead, and Northern Kentucky campuses were recently inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society.
Congratulations to the following medical students in the Class of 2026!

Kidus Shiferawe, a third-year medical student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, has been named the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Hospital Medicine Scholarship from the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM).

At 23 years old, Anna Cox was active and in good health, and she rarely needed medical care. But when severe abdominal pain sent her to the emergency room, imaging revealed an abnormally enlarged lymph node, prompting further testing.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is excited to share the winners of the fourth annual Mission, Vision, Pillar, and Enabler (MVPE) Awards.

Caroline Sumner, a proud University of Kentucky alumna, continues to draw inspiration from her love for the Lexington community, dedicating herself to making a difference through her ongoing contributions.
Throughout her undergraduate studies, she served as DanceBlue’s overall chair while also studying in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Lewis Honors College.

On Tuesday, March 26, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine hosted the 19th annual Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Groves Memorial Student Research Symposium.
Match Day is a defining moment for medical students, and this year, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine proudly celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2025 as they took their next step toward becoming practicing physicians.

When Sara Khandani arrived in Kentucky at the age of 10, she faced an unfamiliar world. She had left behind her homeland of Iran, spoke limited English, and was suddenly navigating a place that felt entirely foreign. Yet, despite these challenges, she excelled academically, driven by a deep-seated determination and the values instilled in her by her family.

Last Thursday, the UK College of Medicine MD+NBA Club clinched an impressive second-place finish in the University’s intramural basketball tournament. Showcasing remarkable teamwork and resilience, the team of medical students made it all the way to the championship game before falling short in a thrilling 36-39 finish.

Beyond the classroom, lab and hospital walls, University of Kentucky medical students are improving the health of their community.

As Match Day 2025 approaches, we are reflecting on recent UK College of Medicine alumni, like Jacob Nanney, MD ’24, whose dedication to rural care exemplifies our mission to advance the health and wellness of Kentuckians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Saunders, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, as the new assistant dean for clinical education in the Office of Medical Education.