Transform Spring | Summer 2024

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

Building BRIDGES: Business Education Meets Healthcare

GATTON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

CONTENTS 02

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Department & Faculty News

Gary Hanke: Turning Tragedy into a Lifelong Mission

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Spring Events Recap

Robots for Good: How Kerry Huffman is Redefining Age

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Student Awards Day

Healthcare Research

Chris Bundy Mark Cornelison/UKPR Photography Staff Sugar Maple Photo Story Tepper Marian Turcan Trace Williams

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Spring Break Travel Recap

Trauma Survivor’s Day Tribute: Sydney Adkisson

Subscribe to our monthly alumni newsletter at gatton.uky.edu/alumni

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Q&A with Healthcare Executives: Troy Hammet, Sam Hazen, and Pete November

Charting Their Paths: Gatton Students Pursuing Careers in Healthcare

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Healthcare MBA

Alumni Hall of Fame

Dean Simon Sheather

Director of Marketing & Communications Michelle Lowe

Senior Director of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Nicole Cartier

Contributing Writers & Editors Lindsey Brinkley Michelle Lowe Lindsey Piercy Lucy Tepper Story Tepper

Designer Kelsey Tucker

Photography

UKGatton College @UKGattonCollege @UKGattonCollege linkedin.com/school/ukgattoncollege

Transform is published by the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky and made possible through the generosity of private donations. For more information on giving to the college, please contact Gatton Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, 371 Gatton College of Business and Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0034. Phone: 859.257.4840

Greetings GATTON ALUMNI & FRIENDS

I am delighted to share with you the 2024 spring/summer issue of Transform magazine.

In this issue, I am excited to shine a spotlight on the healthcare industry and how we strive to deepen partnerships in the industry at the university level and beyond, and prepare students for successful healthcare careers. As a college, one of our primary goals is to expand and amplify our educational and research objectives to influence the wellbeing of society. I am proud to note this edition shares inspiring stories of success at the intersection of business and healthcare, featuring Gatton alumni, students and faculty.

Spring is full of celebrations and we were honored to celebrate the 2024 Gatton College Alumni Hall of Fame’s newest inductees: Dave Calzi, ’83, Marsha Couch, ’92, and Julie Talbott, ’77. In addition, this year’s Distinguished Young Alumni recipients were awarded to Keisha Raspberry, ’02 and Joel D. Traut, ’02.

With the help of our generous donors and friends, we collectively raised just under $400,000 for One Day for UK. This funding will provide Gatton students with opportunities to continue achieving excellence through a multitude of experiences. A huge thank you to all the donors for making this one day of giving a success!

At the spring Commencement ceremony, over 900 degrees were awarded to graduate and undergraduate students. From the classroom to the workplace, we are proud to enter these new graduates into the world as forces for impact.

At Gatton, we share a deep sense of gratitude for our alumni community who continue to be key partners in what our college has been — and what it will be. We wish you and yours a happy and relaxed summer season.

Simon Sheather, Dean

DEPARTMENT & FACULTY NEWS

DEPARTMENT

& FACULTY

NEWS ACCOUNTING

Kleppe

Davis

Cheng

Tyler Kleppe was awarded the 2024 Gatton Research Excellence Award for Junior Faculty.

He was also added to the editorial board of The Accounting Review, and his research on daylight saving time was picked up by multiple media outlets and featured in UK’s “Behind the Blue” podcast.

Olivia Davis was elected chair of the board of directors for the Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants for 2024-2025. She was also honored with the Faculty of the Year Award by Beta Alpha Psi and promoted to senior lecturer.

Mark Cheng, Ph.D., ‘25 received the Accounting Doctoral Research Excellence Award. Cheng’s research with Brian Bratten has been cited by the SEC in a new regulation.

Stacy Gills joins as department academic administrator after working as a program coordinator for the Kentucky State Police.

Gills is a 2020 Gatton MBA graduate.

Gills

Pope

Bratten

Tom Pope, associate professor, retired in December 2023 after working for 39 years.

He earned degrees in accounting from UK and UofL. During his career, Pope wrote a tax textbook and several articles on taxes for journals like The Accounting Review and even The American Journal of Surgery. He taught almost every tax course at UK and was the director of the Master of Science of Accounting program for several years.

Brian Bratten’s paper, “On the Informativeness of Unexpected Exclusions from Street Earnings,” was accepted for publication at Contemporary Accounting Research.

Ben Commerford was awarded the 2024 Gatton Research Excellence Award for Academic Impact.

Commerford

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NABA: Minority Business Professionals had many guest speakers this semester, including: Tory Stanley-NABA, Jo Coffey – FORVIS, Frank Parker - Quintas Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, Kirston Chin and David Carmichael - PWC, Jo Greer - DHL, Amanda Leonard - Crowe, and Jillian Chinbwanda –EY.

The Accounting Club held meetings this semester with keynote speakers representing Dean Dorton, Schneider Electric and KyCPA.

At the annual accounting senior recognition event, 93 students (out of 121 applicants) were awarded scholarships and received certificates for their hard work and dedication.

DEPARTMENT & FACULTY NEWS

The Master of Science in Accounting program graduated 21 students with 15 more expected to graduate in December.

Graduates will be joining the following companies and firms: Baker Till CPAs, Baldwin CPAs, Crowe, Craft, Wagner, Noble & Co, PLLC, DeanDorton, Deloitte, Eakle Current & Co. CPAs, EY, Forvis, King & Co. CPAs, KPMG, LBMC, PwC, RJ Corman Railroad Group and Valvoline.

Lala Ma was appointed as a University Fellow at Resources for the Future and joined the Economic Advisory Council for the Environmental Defense Fund as a member.

Ma

Ana Maria Herrera gave a keynote address at the International Association of Applied Econometrics Annual Conference held at the Norwegian Business School and was appointed as associate editor of Journal of Applied Econometrics.

Herrera

Felipe Benguria’s “Trade Invoicing Currencies and Exchange Rate Pass-through: The Introduction of the Euro as a Natural Experiment,” was accepted for publication in the Journal of International Economics.

Benguria

Carlos Lamarche was appointed as a 2024 University Research Professor.

UK’s Alpha Mu chapter of Beta Alpha Psi recognized the largest group of spring initiates (16) in many years. They hosted numerous technical meetings throughout the semester, with presentations from PwC, EY, Deloitte, HCA, Dean Dorton, Blue & Co., KPMG, Cherry Bekaert, Forvis and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division.

ECONOMICS

Bollinger

Ziliak

Chris Bollinger and Jim Ziliak’s paper, “Interpreting Cohort Profiles for Lifecycle Earnings Volatility,” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Labor Economics. The paper was written jointly with 2010 Ph.D. alum, Charles Hokayem at the US Census Bureau and Sir Richard Blundell of University of College London.

Jim Ziliak, economics department chair, director of the center for poverty research and Gatton Endowed Chair in Microeconomics, was named among the top 2% of the most cited researchers during the calendar year 2022.

Lamarche

Zhao

Troske

Linli Zhao, Ph.D., ‘24 received the Economics Doctoral Research Excellence Award.

Her research interests primarily cover macroeconomics, demographics, and labor.

She will join Elon University as an assistant professor of economics in the fall of 2024.

Ken Troske was named as the department chair of the Department of Economics effective July 1, 2024.

This year’s Econ Games, organized by Darshak Patel, senior lecturer, and alumnus Abdullah Al Bahrani, brought 105 students from 11 different universities. Kentucky REALTORS® was this year’s data sponsor.

The 35th Annual Economic Outlook Conference was held on February 8, 2024.

This year’s spotlight was the effects of AI on employment and wages.

Patel

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

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DEPARTMENT & FACULTY NEWS

FINANCE

Jame

Russell Jame’s paper, “Place Your Bets?

The Value of Investment Research on Reddit’s Wallstreetbets,” was the “Editor’s Choice” lead article in the May edition of The Review of Financial Studies.

Chris Clifford received the 2024 Research Productivity Award.

Clifford

Igor Cunha presented at the 2024 Municipal Finance Conference at the Brookings Institution.

Cunha

Hankins

Quan Qi, a finance Ph.D. candidate, received the Finance Doctoral Research Excellence Award. His research interests include asset management, financial fragility, empirical asset pricing and real effects of financial markets.

Sheather

Qi

Spencer Stone, Ph.D. candidate, was awarded the 2024 Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award.

Stone

Liu

Bargeron

Saliling

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Mark Liu received the 2024 Faculty Teaching Excellence Award.

John Saliling and Leonce Bargeron led a student team to the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge Southern Regional Championship in Knoxville, TN. The team took first place, earning their spot in the national championship in Las Vegas in December 2024.

John Saliling led the Wall Street and Pellissier Scholars on their annual trip to New York City. Special thanks to John Stewart, Joe Fields-Elswick, Lain Garrett, Joel D. Traut, Amanda Lillie, Frank C. Parker, Janet Dietrich and Michael McMahon for hosting the students at these events and meetings.

Kristine Hankins joined the board of the Financial Management Association as one of three academic directors for 2024.

Simon Sheather, dean and Truist Chair in Data Analytics, was named among the top 2% of the most cited researchers during the calendar year 2022.

The 7th annual University of Kentucky Finance Conference received almost 500 submissions resulting in an acceptance rate of only 2%. The program featured academics from top research institutions around the world, including London Business School, Harvard Business School, Wharton and University of Chicago.

MANAGEMENT

Borgatti

Steve Borgatti, Gatton Endowed Chair of Management, and Dan Brass, Henning Hilliard Chair in Innovation, were named among the top 2% of the most cited researchers during the calendar year 2022.

Steve Borgatti received the 2024 Societal Impact Research Award.

Brass

Dan Brass received the 2024 Managerial Impact Research Award.

Ateba Whitaker received the 2024 studentnominated Faculty of the Year Award at the annual Student Awards Day. Whitaker

DEPARTMENT & FACULTY NEWS

Mikhail Wolfson was promoted to associate professor with tenure.

Wolfson

Xiwen Zhao, a 2024 management Ph.D. candidate, received the Management Doctoral Research Excellence Award. Her research aims to generate new insights into behavioral strategy by using an audiencecentric perspective focused on investor reactions to firm practices.

MARKETING David Hardesty received the 2024 Gatton SGO “Above and Beyond” Award.

Hardesty

Zhao

The LINKS Center for Social Network Analysis offered a Virtual Workshop in May 2024.

Presenters included Steve Borgatti, Dan Brass, Dan Halgin, Robert Krauss, Rich DeJordy and Filip Agneessens.

Halgin

Murtha

The Management faculty designed online courses offering leadership development for those in the distillation industry for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) Academy.

Leslie Vincent received a 2024 Teaching Excellence Award.

Krauss

Vincent

Jenkins

Ateba Whitaker and the LeadHER student group organized the “Pioneering the Path: Celebrating Black Excellence in Hockey” event. Speakers included Kimberly Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of the National Hockey League, and Damon Kwame Mason, Director of Soul on Ice, who spoke about the importance of diversity and inclusion in their industries.

The Fifth Annual Sales Competition allowed students to engage in 20-minute sales scenarios, where they showcased their skills to pitch Dell Small Business products to corporate buyers in simulated role-plays.

A panel of corporate sales professionals evaluated contestants based on their sales techniques, communication skills and overall performance. Special thanks to Brian Murtha for organizing this event.

The 14th annual Supply Chain Forum, “Practical Ways to Deal with Operational Complexity,” was held in March and invited supply chain faculty and professionals to share industry best practices and focus on real-world issues.

Michael Jenkins, a marketing Ph.D. candidate, received the marketing Doctoral Research Excellence Award. He was the runner-up for the 2023 William O. Bearden competitive paper award and was a 2023 AMA Sheth Doctoral Consortium Fellow.

John Peloza, associate dean for research and international programs and Carol Martin Gatton Professor, was named among the top 2% of the most cited researchers during the calendar year 2022.

Peloza

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

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EVENTS RECAP

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Spring

EVENTS

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Competition after competition, from site visits to career fairs, our students never fail to leave us proud of all that they do. This semester was no exception.

Gatton students competed for more than $25,000 and consistently came out on top. At The Econ Games, Gatton teams placed 2nd and 3rd out of 19 total teams. In the annual sales competition, our students demonstrated impressive personal selling skills to local and regional corporate partners. Gatton students secured a victory at the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge and earned their position in the national competition to be held in December 2024. Many local corporations opened their doors

EVENTS RECAP

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for our students to tour, network and open their minds to different career possibilities during this semester’s new Discovery Visits. And speaking of career possibilities, 678 students attended this semester’s career fair, landing both internships and full-time jobs. It wasn’t just our students who attended events; our staff and faculty also had a busy semester. From forums to speaking events, we were well-represented on all corners of the globe. From another successful Supply Chain Forum to recognizing hard work and dedication at the Haywood awards, we are proud of our students and grateful for our community and partners.

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Discovery Visit at YUM! Headquarters in Louisville, KY

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Sales Competition

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Supply Chain Forum

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Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge hosted by the University of Tennessee

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Econ Games

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PNC Innovation Summit

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PNC Pitch Competition

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

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STUDENT AWARDS

XIOMARA SUKACH & JULIA MANSUR CARDOSO Dean’s Award for Excellence Recipients

Gatton Student

Awards Day 20

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Excellence is celebrated every day at Gatton, but during Student Awards Day, we get to celebrate it just a little more. Every year, we dedicate a special event to honoring the outstanding achievements of our students, faculty and staff. This day is a celebration of excellence — recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance, leadership and service within the Gatton community. Students from all departments, as well as some of our dedicated student organization leaders, gather to celebrate one another.

The main event of Student Awards Day is the recognition of the recipients of the Dean’s Award for Excellence.

As always, it is incredibly difficult to select just one of the nominees. This year, Dean Sheather, along with the selection committee, chose Xiomara Sukach and Julia Mansur Cardoso. Both students are exemplary and embody the spirit of Gatton in all that they do. Xiomara graduated with a degree in finance and will be starting as an Investment Banking Analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York this summer. Julia will be continuing her studies at the University of Chicago where she will earn her Master of Arts in Public Policy. As they depart from Gatton and tackle the next endeavor, we will be cheering them on!

ATEBA WHITAKER

SHONTA PHELPS

Top Faculty Award

Top Staff Award

(Student Nominated)

(Student Nominated)

GATTON AMBASSADORS Student Organization of the Year

NICOLE COZZI

BETA ALPHA PSI

Student Organization Member of the Year

Student Organization of the Year

ISABELLA HUERTA & BEN DAMGE Honors Pathways Class Leaders

KELSEY SIEBENTHALER

XIOMARA SUKACH Finance Department Outstanding Senior

Accounting Department Outstanding Senior

PAUL ALLISON Marketing Department Outstanding Senior

JULIA MANSUR CARDOSO

AUDREY SMITH

Economics Department Outstanding Senior

Management Department Outstanding Senior

TRAVEL RECAP

SPRING BREAK Each spring, Gatton offers adventure-packed Spring Break trips that give students specialized learning opportunities, global exploration and fun. This year, the Full-Time & Part-Time MBA students packed their ski jackets and goggles and ventured out to the capital of the Alps (Grenoble, France) to sharpen their business techniques and approaches. This trip, led

by Candace Bramley, allowed students to participate in a design-thinking project with Salomon, a French sports equipment company, at our partner institution, Grenoble Ecole de Management, while soaking in the rich culture. Also in Europe, some undergraduate students visited Leeds University in England for an unforgettable trip led by Darshak Patel and Katherine Hale. From learning the rules of rugby to learning about the Snowflake Data Cloud, the students experienced a little bit of everything during their stay in West Yorkshire. From Europe to the Americas, another group of students chose warm weather and sunshine for their Spring Break! Michael Bowling, our executive in residence, and Willie Carver, academic advisor, guided a group from our Gatton Americas

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Initiative on a week-long excursion of business visits and an eco-adventure to the lush landscapes of Costa Rica. While exploring the wonderful nature there, they also explored international operations of businesses in the area. Our Wall Street & Pellissier Scholars took an amazing journey to the Big Apple.

Our students immersed themselves in the heart of finance and commerce by visiting 13 different companies and six cultural sites. Led by John Saliling, the students maneuvered their way through the concrete jungle to experience being young professionals in the finance capital of the world. From the sunshine of Costa Rica to the powdered snow in France, Gatton’s trips are educational adventures for our students, helping them move toward their career goals while also traveling, making friends and creating memories. We are dedicated to developing the next generation of international business leaders through trips like these — ensuring that the world’s best and brightest come from the Gatton College of Business and Economics.

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1. Grenoble, France Submitted by Taylor Redmon

2. New York, NY Submitted by Samrat Gurung

3. Venice, Italy Submitted by Taylor Redmon

4. London, England Submitted by Madison Glascott

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5. London, England Submitted by Beni Ntagaramba

6. Costa Rica Submitted by Ariana Velasquez

7. Costa Rica Submitted by Max Libby

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

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TITLE

The overlap between business and healthcare is creating great opportunities for today’s business students. Gatton alumni are leading this trend — using their skills to innovate in healthcare management, technology and patient care. By blending business knowledge with an understanding of healthcare, they are improving efficiency and the quality of care.

This shows how important business principles are in advancing the healthcare industry and contributing to a healthier society.

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TITLE

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

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FEATURE

HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES

Q&A

TROY HAMMETT

PETE NOVEMBER

Region CFO of CommonSpirit Health, BS Accounting ‘86

CEO of Ochsner Health, BS Accounting ‘93

SAM HAZEN CEO of HCA Healthcare, BBA ‘82

When it comes to Gatton alumni in healthcare leadership roles, Sam Hazen, Pete November and Troy Hammett are in prominent positions, leading organizations that serve millions each year. Sam Hazen is the CEO of HCA Healthcare, overseeing 186 hospitals and 2,400 care sites, serving 6% of all U.S. inpatient hospital services.

Pete November, CEO of Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest employer, healthcare provider and educator of healthcare professionals, has been instrumental in expanding healthcare access through key partnerships since joining in 2012. Troy Hammett, region CFO and senior operations leader at CommonSpirit Health, manages an $8 billion region encompassing more than 50 hospitals and numerous care facilities, bringing more than 30 years of extensive healthcare leadership experience. Together, these leaders provide insight into the intersection of healthcare and business and the crucial role Gatton played in their professional journeys.

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FEATURE

Q: In your opinion, what are the best management practices in healthcare and how did you learn them?

HAMMETT: Similar to other service industries, the healthcare industry’s most valuable asset is our people.

The management team of a healthcare organization can achieve optimal efficiency, productivity and performance by creating an environment that engages its workforce.The best practices that I learned throughout my career include creating a positive and innovative culture, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams (clinical, strategic, financial, physicians) to develop a common vision and deliver positive results, transparency in communication and datadriven decision making.

NOVEMBER: I embrace the servant leadership management style — a people first approach. It’s the doctors and the nurses and caregivers who are caring for patients. They are fulfilling our mission. My job is to make sure that we’re giving them what they need to do their jobs in a way that advances patient care and makes Ochsner an exceptional place to practice.

I also think you’ve got to create an environment for innovation, because healthcare is always changing. That’s why focusing on organizational culture — and making sure that people can innovate — is important. In any industry and for any leadership role, it’s not about you as much as it is about the team that you build. You have to give them what they need to achieve great things.

to invest heavily in our business and our people. And, we utilize the intellectual capital that we gain from best practices to spread across our 2,500 facilities.

Q: Can you discuss any specific courses, professors or extracurricular activities at Gatton or at UK that have had a significant impact on your leadership development and professional growth in the healthcare sector?

HAMMETT: During my UK undergraduate program, I was a Resident Advisor (RA) in a large dormitory. There I learned to lead other UK students and collaborate with other RAs in running a large dormitory and programming events. This experience provided me with basic skills on how to be an effective leader and the value of teamwork.

HAZEN: If I had to point to one class, it would be Investment Management. It was in this class that I had to do a portfolio project, and one of the companies I had in my portfolio was HCA Healthcare. It was during my research of the company that I located a financial management training program, and I applied for it. In retrospect, if it weren’t for that class project, I may not have known anything about the company.

NOVEMBER: I learned a ton about leadership from the UK president at the time, Dr. Charles Wethington. He was really smart and strategic, but he was also a really down to earth guy.

Financial accountability and financial transparency are really important. Healthcare is a complicated business.

We’ve seen people from other industries try to jump into healthcare, realize it’s complicated, and then jump out. We need to be transparent about the financial challenges of healthcare and make sure that we’re being as cost effective as we can, so that we can continue to reinvest in programs and our people.

I will always remember this day. I was sitting in the office and he came over and said, “Come on, let’s go have lunch.” I’m 21 years old, and he’s the UK president! We walked upstairs to the Student Center, and we had lunch together, sitting in a booth just like normal people, talking about normal stuff. It struck me then, and I’ve always remembered, that leaders are just normal people. He taught me that at a young age.

Finally, in healthcare, the importance of quality, access, safety and the needs of the patient must be top of mind every day.

When I was in student government, I’d have meetings regularly with him, and we’d talk about school issues and student issues. I also had the chance to interact with the various deans, and then athletic director CM Newton. To have an opportunity to get their insight and be in those kinds of conversations at 21 years old was huge.

Q: In your experience, what are some of the key challenges and opportunities facing healthcare leaders today, and how do you approach addressing these challenges in your role?

HAZEN: Healthcare is a very fragmented industry in the U.S. In many ways, it mirrors the education industry. This fragmentation unfortunately produces significant variation in outcomes and inefficiencies. HCA Healthcare is the largest healthcare provider in the country, and we try to use the scale we have to support our local facilities in delivering high quality patient care. We generate economies of scale, which lowers average costs. We leverage capital resources

My main role was to give that student perspective. They wanted to know how the students felt or as a student how I would react to initiatives. They were always trying to make sure that they set up an environment where they could recruit and retain the best students. In my role as a healthcare CEO, I spend every day thinking about how we recruit and retain the best caregivers.

Having those interactions in those formative years impacted how I think today.

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

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FEATURE

Q: Can you share any notable achievements or

Q: What advice would you offer to current Gatton

milestones in your career that you attribute, in part, to the skills and knowledge gained from your education at Gatton or at UK?

students who aspire to pursue leadership roles in the healthcare sector, based on your own career journey and experiences?

NOVEMBER: If I hadn’t gone to UK, and been on the

HAMMETT: My recommendation to anyone aspiring

fraternity council, served in student government, had the internship opportunities that the school created for me, and forged relationships with those I met, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And I wouldn’t have met my wife, who also went to University of Kentucky – and without her, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.

My wife attended UK, and she worked in the UK Alumni Association when I was in law school. She would say the same thing about her career. And we are proud to have our son back at UK today, as well.

to become a healthcare leader is to become a lifelong learner of industry trends, innovations and best practices. It is an investment of your time in learning new and better ways to become a better leader, increase your skill set and add value to your company that will pay dividends throughout your career. Work ethics is very important, too. Take on new projects and additional responsibilities that show your company that you are an engaged leader that is interested in developing your leadership skills and sharing your knowledge and talents with other team members and leaders.

Q: How did your education and experiences at

HAZEN: When I speak to young people, I talk to the

Gatton and at UK prepare you for leadership roles in healthcare, particularly in terms of developing strategic thinking, decision-making and problemsolving skills?

them about five basic things that have served me well over my career: first, hard work matters; second, continue to learn — never stop; next, be prepared — study, analyze & anticipate; fourth, take a chance on an opportunity that may not be what you planned but has the potential to create a step change in your career; and last, treat people right — it’s the only way to stay ahead.

HAMMETT: My undergraduate degree at Gatton equipped me with fundamental knowledge across a broad range of topics and valuable skills that ultimately prepared me for executive leadership roles in healthcare consulting and the healthcare industry. While problem solving was the primary focus in my undergraduate course work, my most valuable classes were in strategic and investment management. These courses challenged me to look behind the numbers to analyze complex scenarios, develop strategies and understand the implications of making decisions on how to use a company’s resources to drive operational improvement and organizational growth.

NOVEMBER: I would say look for leadership opportunities while you’re in college. Those leadership opportunities I took on in addition to classes taught me so much and allowed me to get where I am today.

Seek out mentors. If you’re a student at UK, I know the professors have contacts in the healthcare sector. UK has a terrific and well respected healthcare system. If you’re curious about healthcare, I know the faculty and administrators in the business school will help create connections for you and that will lead to opportunities.

HAZEN: For me, my educational experience was foundational in many respects. I do not think you are ready for strategic thinking, decision making or even problem solving coming right out of undergraduate school. I think real experiences are needed to support these areas; however, you need a strong foundation of basic understanding, theory and some perspective.

That is where my undergraduate education from UK was tremendously helpful.

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Open your mind to all the opportunities that are out there, because in healthcare we have an entire scope of employees outside of direct patient care. We’ve got accountants and finance people, and marketing and communications people, you name it. People don’t always realize that healthcare has all of that. It’s not like you have to major in healthcare — I didn’t major in healthcare. I majored in accounting as an undergrad.

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE

TITLE

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH A GRADUATE BUSINESS DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

- MBA - ACCOUNTING - BUSINESS ANALYTICS - FINANCE - HUMAN RESOURCES - MARKETING

MBA AD

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JESSE KITOKO

GATTON.UKY.EDU/PRC

BBA Finance ‘21 MS Finance ‘23

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

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FEATURE

HEALTHCARE

MBA The healthcare industry is evolving and changing at a rapid speed. According to Danielle Griggs, chief pharmacy officer of UVA Health, roles in finance, accounting, economics, business development & strategy, marketing, and organizational management are used daily.

She shares, “Healthcare is evolving and changing rapidly as we see disrupters entering the market, payment models shifting, virtual care becoming increasingly important to patients, technology advancing and challenges with the healthcare labor market. With these inevitable changes, it is important to keep our vision on the future of how we can meet the needs of patients in this evolving healthcare landscape and develop and deliver high-quality, value-driven services that have evolved along with the market.”

What does that mean for business education?

For almost a decade, the Gatton College of Business and Economics has provided the MBA for Leaders in Healthcare program designed to equip healthcare professionals with essential business and leadership skills — preparing them for roles in healthcare administration or to manage their own practices.

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Through an innovative curriculum that includes case studies, hands-on exercises and selective experiential learning projects, students are guided towards professional growth and development.

Danielle completed her Gatton MBA through the PharmD/MBA dual degree program in 2014 and said the program was pivotal in preparing her for a career in healthcare leadership. She shares, “I enjoyed taking business electives prior to entering pharmacy school and wanted to gain additional skills and knowledge to prepare me for various career possibilities. I did not always know I wanted to be in hospital leadership, but I did want to have the skills so that I could pursue different options after graduation.” Ten years later, Danielle has reached a top spot in healthcare leadership.

“As a Chief Pharmacy Officer, I lead the pharmacy team at UVA Health to deliver pharmacy services to our patients across the organization. The pharmacy leadership team at UVA Health runs the pharmacy business within a multi-hospital healthcare system, and our customers are patients and other healthcare providers. As leaders, we must have pharmacy expertise, business acumen and the ability to lead effectively across the organization,” she shares.

DANIELLE GRIGGS Chief Pharmacy Officer of UVA Health, MBA ‘14

Karl Gustafson, Gatton’s MBA academic director, elaborates on what distinguishes the Gatton MBA for Leaders in Healthcare program from other healthcare MBA offerings.

This approach not only deepens students’ industry-specific knowledge but also facilitates networking among healthcare professionals from diverse healthcare fields. Furthermore, a partnership with the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health allows students to earn a Graduate Certificate in improving healthcare value through their elective course options. This integration of business fundamentals with specialized healthcare knowledge ensures that graduates are well-prepared to apply core business principles effectively within the healthcare industry.

KARL GUSTAFSON MBA Academic Director, Senior Lecturer

To stay current with evolving trends, the program benefits from an MBA Advisory Council composed of industry leaders — ensuring the curriculum remains relevant. Key skills developed include business acumen, improved decision-making and improved managerial expertise.

Ken Troske, a professor of managerial economics in the program, emphasizes the integration of healthcare into his teaching approach. He explains, “I provide students with readings and problem sets that illustrate the general principles I am teaching using examples from the healthcare markets. Many of these readings and problem sets illustrate some differences in how resources are allocated in the healthcare industry in contrast to how they are allocated in other industries.”

KEN TROSKE Richard W. and Janis H. Furst Endowed Chair of Economics, Professor

SPRING | SUMMER 2024

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FEATURE

“This program has provided me with the necessary tools to understand business and healthcare from a new perspective. I have learned new skills on how to be a more effective communicator, understanding and balancing budgets, critical and design thinking skillsets, along with many more. I feel that flexibility in the program is a key component that sets the University of Kentucky apart from other MBA programs.”

MARK ANDERSON Chief Nurse Anesthetist at the UKY Chandler Medical Center

DAN BROOKS Vice President of Sales at Hamilton Medical

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Mark Anderson, chief nurse anesthetist at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center’s Department of Anesthesiology and a 2024 MBA candidate shared, “This program has provided me with the necessary tools to understand business and healthcare from a new perspective. I have learned new skills on how to be a more effective communicator, understanding and balancing budgets, critical and design thinking skillsets, along with many more. I feel that flexibility in the program is a key component that sets the University of Kentucky apart from other MBA programs.“ The program also emphasizes professional networking through social and philanthropic activities each semester for MBA candidates. They also have the opportunity to partake in career advancement services to aid them in their journey.

Dan Brooks, vice president of sales at Hamilton Medical, who graduated in 2010 explains, “Two primary factors motivated me to pursue an MBA: The potential for accelerated career advancement and a deeper understanding of complex business principles. Gatton’s MBA curriculum helped me learn to balance an understanding of both the clinical needs and financial constraints faced by healthcare institutions. This knowledge has helped me to tailor solutions that address specific challenges while demonstrating an understanding of my client’s patient outcome objectives.”

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FROM JOURNALISM

TO HEALTHCARE

ADMINISTRATION

business studies was indeed a leap. “The MBA curriculum’s structure, the nature of the work and the subject matter were vastly different from my undergraduate experience. This diversity was both challenging and enriching — preparing me for a multifaceted career,” she shares.

Jennifer is the associate director for administration at Markey Cancer Center, a role she has been in since 2019.

Her responsibilities encompass a broad spectrum of administrative, budgetary and operational tasks. This includes overseeing clinical trial operations, human resources, grants/ contracts management, public relations, communications, philanthropy, facility management and strategic planning.

“One of my proudest achievements is contributing to Markey’s recent designation as a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center.”

The MBA program at Gatton was instrumental in equipping her with the necessary skills to excel in her role. The comprehensive training allowed her to navigate the complex subject matter her position demands daily. Working alongside experts, her MBA education empowered her with the skills to articulate and execute a strategic vision that unifies the team towards a common goal: a cancer-free tomorrow.

In 2014, Jennifer Rogers proudly graduated with her MBA from the Gatton College of Business and Economics after completing the rigorous part-time program in three years. Her journey was unique — as it bridged her undergraduate background in journalism with a new world of business and healthcare.

Jennifer selected UK’s MBA path for its versatility, which she believed would offer the most robust foundation for her long-term career. The transition from journalism to

Although her career began in marketing, publications and public relations, she found her passion in the healthcare environment, which is driven by her curiosity and love for continuous learning. The academic and research-focused setting of Markey Cancer Center aligns perfectly with these interests — allowing her to thrive and contribute meaningfully.

Jennifer’s unique perspective stems from her deep roots in Central Kentucky. She sees the opportunity to serve the communities where she grew up in as a privilege and an honor. Even without a direct patient care background, her business skills enable her to make a significant impact in the healthcare environment — fulfilling a crucial role in supporting Markey’s mission.

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GARY HANKE: TURNING TRAGEDY INTO A LIFELONG MISSION

In the heart of Gary Hanke’s career transition from a successful transportation executive to the operations director of Charlie’s Kids Foundation lies a deeply personal and powerful story.

This narrative began on April 6, 2010, when Gary’s grandson, Charlie Paul Hanke, was born to his son and daughter-inlaw, Sam and Maura Hanke. Their joy was short-lived; just three weeks later, Charlie tragically passed away due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), caused by an unsafe sleep environment. This unimaginable loss was the start of Charlie’s Kids Foundation, an organization dedicated to preventing other families from experiencing the same grief.

“Sam was a pediatric cardiologist and Maura was a kindergarten teacher. They were as prepared and diligent as two new parents could be,” said Gary. In their grief, the Hanke family found a way to turn their pain into a mission.

On what would have been Charlie’s first birthday, they established the Charlie’s Kids Foundation to honor his memory and advocate for safe sleep practices to prevent infant deaths.

Since its beginning, the foundation has remained strong in its mission to educate parents and the medical community about the fundamentals of safe sleep. Gary emphasizes, “Babies should sleep on their back, in a crib or pack and

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play, with nothing but baby for every single sleep. We know safe sleep is hard, but your baby is worth it.” The foundation’s primary educational tool is their children’s book, “Sleep Baby Safe and Snug.” They have distributed more than 5.2 million copies across across all 50 states since 2013.

Working with Charlie’s Kids Foundation has been deeply rewarding for Gary. He recalls memorable moments, like when Sam introduced their book to the board at a conference and the milestones of distributing one million and five million books.

“We will never know how many lives we have saved, but I believe that number is growing every day.

Those moments are special!”

Gary’s degrees in marketing and management (‘73) from Gatton, and his extensive career in transportation, have played a crucial role in his current work. He spent 41 years in the transportation industry, including 27 years as president and co-owner of Pegasus Transportation, Inc. This background, particularly in handling the logistics of transporting pharmaceuticals and blood plasma, prepared him for the operational challenges at Charlie’s Kids. Gary emphasizes, “My education from Gatton College prepared me for that role. Once at Charlie’s Kids Foundation, I could inject my lifelong experience into the distribution of our infant safe sleep materials.”

Gary’s role as operations director involves overseeing key initiatives and programs that advocate for safe sleep. One significant effort is the Book Grant Program, which distributes more than 25,000 books annually to organizations that might not otherwise afford them. Gary’s previous experience in transportation logistics has helped him manage the distribution of these materials efficiently.

Charlie’s Kids Foundation collaborates with more than 1,500 partners nationwide including state health agencies, birthing hospitals, local community organizations and family advocacy groups. Gary finds joy in meeting new moms in high school teenage pregnancy and parenting programs, listening to their stories and sharing safe sleep practices. The foundation also works closely with the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure their safe sleep recommendations are accessible and understandable for parents.

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A particularly strong partnership exists with UK Healthcare.

Gary explains, “Charlie was born in Kentucky, so from the beginning, we committed to working with Kentucky organizations advocating for safe sleep.” UK Children’s Hospital follows safe sleep guidelines and teaches parents this critical information during their child’s hospital stay.

Parents of newborns at UK Children’s Hospital receive a copy of “Sleep Baby Safe and Snug,” thanks to this collaboration.

Looking ahead, Charlie’s Kids Foundation aims to make safe sleep practices as routine as buckling a child into a car seat. Gary envisions leveraging technology to spread the safe sleep message further. Beyond its children’s book, the foundation has released a digital library of informative messages accessible to parents at any time.

In addition to digital resources, Charlie’s Kids Foundation is exploring the development of interactive tools and mobile applications that can offer real-time support and guidance to new parents. These innovations are aimed at making safe sleep practices more accessible and easier to integrate into everyday routines.

“Safe sleep is everyone’s business! We need advocates willing to be champions for our infants who don’t have a voice.”

Donations are crucial for expanding the foundations reach and saving more lives. The foundation welcomes volunteers, donations and partnerships with businesses and community organizations to help further their mission.

The Hanke’s journey, from a tragic loss to leading a mission that saves lives, showcases the power of turning personal grief into a force for good. Charlie’s legacy lives on through the tireless efforts of Gary and the entire Charlie’s Kids Foundation team.

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A WILDLY POWERFUL COMMITMENT The University of Kentucky is boldly committed to transforming our students' lives – both in and out of the classroom.

In August 2023, we were proud to introduce UK Invests – a first-of-its-kind initiative nationally and a holistic wellness program anchored by financial education.

Through UK Invests, we are empowering and encouraging students to understand the importance of investing in themselves and their future.

Ultimately, through this initiative, every student on campus can receive a personal investment account that will be used to incentivize and reward them for developing healthy habits – from wellness to career skill building to financial literacy. During the 2023-2024 academic year, more than 7,100 students opened a brokerage account through UK Invests. Collectively, those students participating in the program have earned more than $900,000.

This program sets UK apart from other colleges and universities by teaching real-world situations to demonstrate the benefits of saving and investing early.

“We can say we’re going to put students first, but by stepping forward in this way, we do put students first,” UK President Capiluoto said. “We believe in them, their future and what it can mean for Kentucky.”

“This program has taught me that building these habits of wellness, financial literacy, involvement and employability pay off, literally!

I’m so glad to be a part of this program and to

LEARN MORE AT GO.UKY.EDU/UKINVESTS OR BY SCANNING THE QR CODE.

go.uky.edu/ukinvests | ukinvests@uky.edu

be able to start investing in my future today.”

Shelby Wilson, Junior

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ROBOTS FOR GOOD:

HOW KERRY HUFFMAN IS REDEFINING AGE

Most Star Wars fans have likely fantasized about having their own personal assistant, much like the beloved C-3PO. Kerry Huffman, a Gatton alumnus, is making that dream more of a reality each day at Labrador Systems. With an impending “Silver Tsunami” (a demographic shift) in the coming years, Kerry’s work is bringing groundbreaking technology to the world of independent living among those with limited mobility. Having graduated from Gatton in 1982 with his bachelor’s in marketing, his career journey has taken him through multiple industries to lead him to the world of robotics as vice president of client services at Labrador Systems.

Huffman’s career began at Unilever, a global leader in consumer-packaged goods. An interview at the UK placement center launched his seven-year tenure at Unilever, where he progressed from sales representative to division sales manager. This period was pivotal — providing him with a solid foundation in sales and marketing.

Huffman recalls the foundational education he got at Gatton and credits it for equipping him with the skills that have been essential to his success. “I constantly utilize things I learned at Gatton through classes such as sales promotion, marketing research, finance and economics.”

After Unilever, Huffman transitioned to Frankel, a leading U.S. advertising and sales promotion agency. The early 90s marked a significant shift in his career as he ventured into the software industry. His roles at Intuit, Broderbund Software and Autodesk involved creating channel

marketing divisions, leveraging his extensive experience in sales and promotion. This period ignited Huffman’s entrepreneurial spirit leading him to establish Reach America Marketing, a direct marketing agency focused on consumer product promotion and sports marketing.

Huffman’s career took a robotic turn when he became involved with Labrador Systems, an AI-enabled robotics company aimed at helping individuals with pain and mobility issues regain or retain their independence. The inspiration to focus on robotics and aging populations stemmed from the company’s mission to address the needs of people with conditions like Parkinson’s, MS and arthritis, as well as those wanting to age in place. The company received investments from influential companies in robotics like Amazon, iRobot and AARP, enabling them to conduct their life-changing research and develop their Labrador Retriever™.

“Robotics is a huge buzzword now and you will find equal parts excitement and fear when you talk to people,” said Kerry. Although the use of robotics has taken off in industries like farming and security, its acceptance has been slower in people’s personal lives. To overcome this, he focuses on the practical benefits of the Retriever, which resembles an end table and performs essential tasks to alleviate pain and enhance mobility. “We are more pragmatic in that we focus on tasks that need to be done to alleviate pain and help mobility,” he explains.

“What will you tell the Gatton Class of 2054?”

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To learn more visit: labradorsystems.com

The most rewarding moment for Huffman was witnessing the impact of Labrador’s robots on users’ lives. He recalls the story of Tricia, a woman with MS who regained the ability to perform everyday tasks thanks to Labrador’s robot. “She would send us videos of her doing tasks in her home that she couldn’t do with her diagnosis — now, she could. Simple things that we all take for granted like laundry, bringing in the groceries, dusting furniture. For someone with MS, these are tasks that exhaust you. With the Labrador, she could now do these things plus more and simply enjoy her life again.” It was stories like these that encouraged Kerry and got him hooked on the industry. Tricia’s story, along with countless others, reaffirmed his hard work in bringing the product to market and improving the quality of life for many.

A significant challenge in Kerry’s work is raising awareness about the impending “Silver Tsunami,” the demographic shift resulting in more people over the age of 65 than under. Huffman emphasizes the urgent need for solutions to support this aging population, highlighting the financial and caregiving crises that loom ahead. “Our challenge has been to get organizations to take the coming ‘Silver Tsunami’ seriously,” Huffman states. By focusing on the economic potential of this demographic and the solutions Labrador Systems offers, Huffman has been able to garner positive attention and support for their initiatives. His work is just the beginning of a broader movement to address the challenges of an aging population with practical, AI-enabled solutions.

Beyond the classroom, Huffman emphasizes the importance of networking and lifelong learning. Growing up outside of Louisville and going on to become a first-generation college graduate, Huffman’s journey to Gatton was a bold step. He recalls his father’s advice to learn a trade like welding as a backup plan. Instead, Huffman pursued his passion for problem-solving and business, leveraging loans and a determination to succeed. Networking has been a cornerstone of Huffman’s career. He emphasizes the value of maintaining relationships and providing value to one’s network. This approach has allowed him to collaborate with individuals across different companies and industries — creating opportunities and fostering growth. “I have done the majority of my business over these 30+ years through working my network,” Huffman says. He highlights the importance of staying in touch, bringing value to the network and being consistent.

Huffman encourages future Gatton graduates to think longterm, embrace networking and remain adaptable. “Before you start your career, think about 30 years down the road.

Granted you have no idea how many jobs, companies, people you will encounter. Also, you will probably work in a few different industries. But if you think about 30 years when you are sitting in your chair as I am now, what will you tell the Gatton Class of 2054?”

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HEALTHCARE

RESEARCH AFFORDABLE CARE ACT For the past decade, two Gatton College economists, Aaron Yelowitz and Chuck Courtemanche, have researched the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on various aspects, such as health insurance coverage, access to healthcare, health outcomes, risky behaviors, political participation, provider supply and Medicaid enrollment errors. Their interdisciplinary studies have been widely cited in peer-reviewed journals across economics, public health and medicine — influencing policy discussions, including citations by former President Obama. Currently, they are collaborating with Healthlink Dimensions, part of the Castellan group, to gather data for a detailed analysis of provider participation in the ACA.

What inspired you to pursue this area of healthcare research?

The Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, was the largest expansion in health insurance coverage in the United States since the introduction of Medicare in 1965.

The ACA has enrolled millions of new beneficiaries in both private

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and public coverage, and the expenditure on health care comprises large portions of both federal and state budgets. The policies that expand coverage affect virtually every business entity in healthcare, whether public, private non-profit or private for-profit.

What are the key objectives or goals of your research?

Our key goal is to document fundamental issues with how important government legislation (like the ACA or COVID policies) affect consumers and businesses.

Although many studies in economics attempt to be clever by examining nuanced downstream effects, our focus has been on accurately quantifying some of the most important upstream effects. For example, our most cited analysis separates out the gains in insurance coverage due to the ACA from private coverage and Medicaid coverage.

This is challenging, because other trends like an improving economy, make it difficult to attribute the gains in insurance solely to the ACA. In the first several years of the ACA

rollout, insurance coverage increased by 6 percentage points in Medicaid expansion states and 3 percentage points in non-expansion states among non-elderly adults.

What methodologies or approaches are you employing in your research?

Our research relies on modern econometric methods for examining natural experiments. We use techniques called event studies and differences-in-differences to estimate the impacts in most of our studies.

What role do partnerships between academia, research institutions and industry play in advancing healthcare research?

These partnerships are critical for a deeper understanding of how the world works. Many of our studies rely on very coarse, publicly available data. Those data sources do not provide nearly as nuanced a picture of the impacts of the ACA as from collaborating with industry sources (such as Healthlink Dimensions).

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How are emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics and telemedicine influencing the business of healthcare research?

We believe there is tremendous upside potential from AI and big data in personalized medicine, and in turn, examining consumer well-being. The full impacts may be many years away with public data, but it is possible that collaborating with private businesses could lead to important insights much sooner. For example, the healthcare system focuses on sickness, not wellness. At the same time, wearable devices provide a treasure trove of biometric data that can potentially be used to detect or prevent illnesses. In addition, AI could be harnessed in conjunction

with health care professionals and telemedicine to provide streamlined care at lower prices.

How does healthcare research contribute to economic development and job creation within the healthcare industry and beyond?

Healthcare expenditure is approximately $4.5 trillion, or 18%, of GDP. Government regulation and public policy seams into the decisions of every health care provider. Some spending is extremely effective and other spending is quite wasteful. The goal of our research is to objectively and credibly identify what works and what doesn’t work in the healthcare sector.

MENTAL HEALTH

This story was written by Lindsey Piercy for UKNOW.

The Institutional Multidisciplinary Paradigm to Accelerate Collaboration and Transformation (IMPACT) Awards were launched in 2023 to champion the necessary and groundbreaking work done by University of Kentucky faculty and other campus community members.

them. Today, we learn more about the project titled “Accelerating Cultural Transformation in Business and Engineering to Support Mental Health.”

The inaugural IMPACT Awards total more than $600,000 — with a particular emphasis on proposals that are transdisciplinary, innovative and aligned with some aspect of The UK-PURPOSE, the UK Strategic Plan.

In 2024, IMPACT will continue to fund projects similarly aimed at supporting the university to continue leading in teaching, research, service and care.

This spring, UKNow is highlighting the 2023 IMPACT Award projects and the faculty who are leading

Sarah Wilson, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering; Joseph Hammer, associate professor and director of counseling psychology training in the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology in the College of Education; and Alexis Allen, acting associate dean of undergraduate studies and associate professor in the Gatton College of Business and Economics; are conducting research aimed at supporting business and engineering students’ mental health.

CHARLES COURTEMANCHE Director of the Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise, Associate Professor

AARON YELOWITZ Economics Professor

Anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns are more common in college students than some may realize. For an increasing number of first-year students, the culture shock can have serious consequences. In fact, a study by the American Psychological Association found that one in three teens faces a mental health disorder during their freshman year.

While business and engineering students aren’t necessarily more likely to have a mental health concern, they are significantly less likely to seek help than other cohorts of college students.

The results of the project will allow for the development of interventions that can increase colleges’ capacity to create academic environments that support student wellness.

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UKNow caught up with the research team to learn more about the project. You can read more in the Q&A session below.

community within the programs to policy and procedural changes that could be implemented at the college level.

How has the IMPACT award inspired innovation at UK with your research?

We look forward to sharing the outcomes of the focus groups with administrators and talking about how we can drive change to facilitate student well-being.

Often, interventions that are designed for students do not consider the students’ perspectives.

This project has allowed our research team to integrate students into the research process. Through focus groups, we have been able to work with students to not only identify challenges that exist related to mental health culture within their program but also identify potential solutions to these challenges. This has allowed us to identify novel mental health interventions that could drive cultural change across each of the colleges.

What positive impact will your research have on Kentucky and beyond?

One of the benefits of stakeholderdriven intervention development is that they can increase buy-in to the intervention. Through this study, we have been able to identify changes students think could effectively drive cultural change across business and engineering to support student well-being.

These interventions range from opportunities to create more peer

Further, we have been able to implement a mental health training program across both areas (business and engineering) — allowing us to reach more than 3,600 students. Through this program, we have measured increases in student knowledge about mental health resources available on campus. Ensuring students are aware of how to access support for their mental health has been a big project outcome.

How did you decide on this particular topic or research area?

I (Sarah Wilson) started doing research on mental health in engineering after I attended a conference where it was clear many faculty were interacting with students who were struggling with their mental health. This was really the motivation for getting started, and we quickly found national data that showed engineering students are in a group of students that are very unlikely to access professional

support for their mental health, so that’s where we started. Through this grant, we were able to expand out to business, because students who are enrolled in business show similar patterns in terms of the prevalence of mental health distress and the lower likelihood of seeking professional help.

What comes next for your research?

We are hoping to continue to develop and implement interventions aimed at improving the mental health culture within engineering and business. Trying to change culture cannot just be a one-time thing. We have to be persistent and continue to make efforts towards changing the way students, faculty and administrators think about and prioritize mental health within their lives. This will take time and buy-in from administrators across the colleges.

We also hope to expand out to other colleges across the university.

If you or someone you know is at risk, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: 1-800-273-8255

ALEXIS ALLEN

JOSEPH HAMMER

SARAH WILSON

Acting Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Associate Professor

Associate Professor and Director of Counseling Psychology Training

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

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SPOTLIGHT

“Invest in medical research because it saves lives, but also understand that it’s a good business decision. It drives the economy, it creates jobs and it invents technological developments that will spur further businesses.”

- Claire Pomeroy

Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA, is president of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. She serves as chief executive officer of the Foundation and is responsible for advancing the Foundation’s mission to “improve health by accelerating support for medical research through recognition of research excellence, advocacy and education.” She passionately supports ongoing investment in the full range of research.

An expert in infectious diseases, Dr. Pomeroy is a long-time advocate for patients, especially the underserved and those with HIV/AIDS, and for strengthening public health infrastructure — nationally and around the globe. She has a special interest in healthcare policy, with a focus on the importance of the social determinants of health. She has published more than 100 articles and book chapters and edited three books.

Dr. Pomeroy serves on the Board of Trustees for the Morehouse School of Medicine and the Board of Directors

for the Science Philanthropy Alliance; iBiology/Science Communication Lab; and the Center for Women in Academic Medicine and Science. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Sierra Health Foundation, Haemonetics Corporation and Embecta Corporation, positions for which she receives compensation.

Dr. Pomeroy was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine in 2011. Among her many honors, she has received honorary degrees from University of Massachusetts Medical School (2016) and the University of South Florida Morsani School of Medicine (2022).

Dr. Pomeroy received bachelors and medical degrees from the University of Michigan and completed her residency and fellowship training in internal medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Minnesota. She earned an MBA from the University of Kentucky and is a proud member of the Gatton College’s Hall of Fame. She has held

faculty positions at the University of Minnesota, University of Kentucky and University of California (UC) Davis.

Dr. Pomeroy was chief of infectious diseases and associate dean for research and informatics at the University of Kentucky. She joined UC Davis in 2003 as executive associate dean and served as vice chancellor and dean of the School of Medicine from 2005 through 2013. She became president of the Lasker Foundation in June 2013.

Scan the QR code to learn more about Dr. Pomeroy’s career.

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SYDNEY ADKISSON MS Marketing ‘22

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TRAUMA SURVIVOR’S DAY TRIBUTE:

SYDNEY ADKISSON “I’ve done more things now than I did when I had two legs.”

Sydney Adkisson jumped off her motorcycle to avoid a car that ran a yellow light. She could see both her broken hands and, later, learned her right foot resembled “scrambled eggs.”

UK HealthCare’s Dr. Eric Moghadamian and his team saved both of Sydney’s hands, but her foot — broken in about 15 places — was a much tougher task. Little healing came from two months in an external fixator and physical therapy. Dr. Moghadamian, director of orthopaedic trauma, suggested one of two options: amputation or another thorough surgery followed by casting. Sydney gave little thought to the first option.

After multiple rounds of casting and three months in a walking boot, Sydney’s foot still wasn’t better. Dr. Moghadamian again raised the possibility of a belowthe-knee amputation, which would enable Sydney to more fully return to the adventurous life she sorely missed. He encouraged her to spend some time at Kenney Orthopedics, a local prosthetics and orthotics provider, to gain a better understanding of the quality of life she could have after amputation.

“I met a lot of people that are my age, a lot of people that are older, and they all seemed to live pretty normal lives,” Sydney said. “I think I had a misrepresentation of people who live with disabilities, simply because I’d never really been

around it a whole lot my entire life. So I made the decision to amputate my foot.”

Sydney underwent her amputation on Sept. 15, 2021, and went home the same day to begin recovery. In December, she got her first prosthetic leg.

“I did five-to-six hours a week of physical therapy trying to learn how to walk again, because my brain did not communicate with my feet that it was OK to touch the ground.”

Sydney graduated from UK with a bachelor’s degree in 2020, but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn’t have a traditional graduation ceremony. In May 2022, she completed a master’s of science in marketing in the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics. This time, Sydney walked.

“I do everything I used to,” said Sydney, who joined UK HealthCare as a coordinator for the Healthy Kentucky Initiative in late 2022. “I still snowboard. I wakeboard, surf. I’ve done more things now than I did when I had two legs.”

This piece was written by Joshua Moore, copywriter, for UK Healthcare’s recognition of Trauma Survivor’s Day in May 2024.

Photographed by Nick Thelen.

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CHARTING

THEIR PATHS:

GATTON STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE

In the ever-changing landscape of healthcare, the role of business professionals has become increasingly vital and noticed. At Gatton, students are embracing the intersection of business and healthcare, creating innovative solutions and transformative impact. This spring, Gatton celebrated the graduation of two outstanding seniors, both with postgraduation plans in healthcare and a rising senior with plans for medical school after graduation. From medical school to medical sales, these new Gatton alumni and future Gatton alumna are making waves in the healthcare industry, driven by their passion for improving lives and shaping the future of healthcare.

Lauren Lewis will graduate from Gatton in the spring of 2025 with degrees in economics and management and plans to attend medical school at UK the following fall. Aside from her outstanding academic performance, Lauren has been incredibly involved as a student in the Global Scholars Honors Pathway program, having completed three education abroad experiences and serving as a Gatton Ambassador.

How would degrees in economics and management prepare someone for medical school? The answer: in ways one might not expect. After shadowing many medical professionals, Lauren discovered many of them wish they’d had more business education to help them manage the business side of healthcare. In this way, her background in economics and management will provide her with those business management skills. Because of this focus on

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her business education, Lauren has spent countless hours outside of her schoolwork preparing herself for the challenge of medical school and taking advantage of many opportunities presented before her to gain the skills needed for applying. In the summer of 2022, Lauren completed a course to earn her license as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Through this course, which included classroom learning and clinical time, her passion for patient care formed through the relationships she built with those she cared for. Lauren has also volunteered as a UK Healthcare College Student Volunteer, where she delivers flowers and mail to patients. Although she does not directly provide care in this role, Lauren says it has shown her the importance of being conversational with patients and creating empathetic relationships with them.

Lauren’s interest in the healthcare industry came from her own experience and her mom’s. Lauren’s mom, Heather Lewis, a three-time graduate of the University of Kentucky, earned her bachelor’s degree, a doctorate in pharmacy, and her MBA all from UK. “My mom also helped me realize the incredible connections between healthcare and business as she is a pharmacist and currently works for our region’s health system as Senior Director of IT Applications.” Lauren’s own hospital experience also pushed her toward the healthcare field. Following her senior year of high school, a planned surgical procedure put her in the hospital for multiple days and nights, requiring great care. That experience solidified where she wanted to pursue a career.

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Lauren Lewis

“This experience significantly shaped my interest in the medical field. I was supported by incredible nurses, physicians and other team members during my hospital stay. I realized what a large impact these individuals had on the trajectory of my life and knew I wanted to have this type of impact on the lives of others.” - Lauren As a Gatton Ambassador, Lauren organized the Gatton in Industry: Healthcare Spotlight event where students could learn about business career opportunities in the healthcare industry. She recruited panelists with careers in healthcare, including a dentist who owned his own practice and an internal auditor for a healthcare organization. Through this event, Lauren gave other students the opportunity to see how healthcare and business intersect through the insights of knowledgeable professionals.

With medical school on the horizon next fall, Lauren plans to use her skills for a career in women’s health in the future.

By combining her business degree with the new skills she will learn in medical school, Lauren is poised to enter the healthcare field as an industry leader.

Jack Ballard, a 2024 accounting graduate, entered the healthcare field through a different path. As a young accounting student, Jack knew he needed to find his specialty. After internships with Plante Moran, KPMG and PwC, Jack found his niche in financial due diligence. As

an outstanding senior at Gatton, Jack received the 2024 Maurice A. Clay Award. This award is selected by the dean and recognizes superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. Also the child of a healthcare industry employee, Jack was inspired by his father, who works in the pharmaceutical field, to join the healthcare industry.

Jack met recruiters from the Healthcare Transaction Advisory Group at Alvarez and Marsal who exposed him to an opportunity with their company and got him excited about it. Upon graduation, Jack secured an internship with them in Chicago. In this role, he will be an analyst, looking at financials to create deliverables, like quality of earnings reports, which will aid the financial due diligence process.

“The aspect of the healthcare industry I am most excited to explore is engaging in deals with pharmaceutical companies. I have always loved science since I was a kid, and I would love to contribute to mergers and acquisitions for pharmaceutical companies to enable them to produce new life-saving medicine at a cheaper cost.” - Jack

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Jack Ballard

Hanna Ottaway graduated this spring with marketing and management degrees and an undergraduate certificate in sales. With a career lined up in medical device sales, Hanna is on track to bring the excellence she learned at Gatton to the healthcare industry. After being a dedicated student athlete before college, Hanna’s mindset was set on figuring out how to “win” at anything.

After taking that mindset and graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 cumulative GPA, Hanna’s next thing to “win” is her career.

As a runner-up in the college’s annual Sales Competition and a panelist at the Female Intern Panel event, Hanna is taking her winning mindset to Stryker, a leading medical technology company, as an associate sales representative in Indianapolis.

Having completed multiple intern cycles with the company, Hanna is on her way to success there.

“It is awesome to be in a work environment where you all are working toward the goal of making healthcare better.” - Hanna

Hanna Ottaway

With her competitive mindset, Hanna took to LinkedIn to find opportunities. She set a goal to reach out to 10 people every day in roles she was interested in, leading to many connections that helped her get where she is today. “Go get the opportunity! Set the bar high for yourself and do whatever it takes to achieve it. It all boils down to how hard you are willing to work for something.”

One thing that brings these three students together is their love for Gatton. With nothing but positive things to say about the college, we can’t wait for them to join our extensive network of alumni. The future of healthcare is in capable hands. From navigating medical school to driving innovation and advocacy, Gatton students are making remarkable strides in the industry. Their excellence and dedication to improving the healthcare industry is inspiring. As these students continue to move forward in their journeys, we eagerly anticipate the impact they will have on the healthcare landscape, both locally and globally.

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IN 2025, THE GATTON COLLEGE WILL

Celebrate 100 Y E A R S WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY.

As we approach our upcoming 100year celebration, we invite you to share your experiences, triumphs and lessons learned after graduating from Gatton.

Your story will not only inspire the current generation but will also be woven into the fabric of our rich history.

Your stories are the living proof of the Gatton legacy, and we can’t wait to showcase them as we embark on this historic milestone. Thank you for being an integral part of our community’s success, and here’s to the next 100 years of excellence!

Scan the QR code to share your story!

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2024 Induction Ceremony GATTON COLLEGE ALUMNI

HALL OF

FAME

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HALL OF FAME

2024 Hall of Fame Inductee

DAVID CALZI Class of 1983 BS ACC CEO & Executive Director, St. Vincent De Paul, Louisville

Scan to watch Dave’s Story.

Dave Calzi earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1983 from the Gatton College of Business and Economics. A native of Buffalo, New York, Dave was blessed to enjoy a successful 37-yearlong career in public accounting with two of the largest global firms in the world, Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young (EY). Dave served as EY’s managing partner for more than 15 years in the Louisville, Kentucky office. Dave has served and continues to serve on numerous nonprofit boards focusing on education and the arts and continues to support the University of Kentucky in many ways. His purpose in supporting the university and those organizations is to help others see what is possible and achieve it.

After he retired from EY, Dave carried on his passion for service by joining St. Vincent de Paul, Louisville, as CEO and executive director. St. Vincent de Paul has housed, fed and supported those in need with compassion and dignity for more than 170 years.

While at the UK, Dave was a student-athlete, lettering in track and field.

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HALL OF FAME

2024 Hall of Fame Inductee

MARSHA COUCH Class of 1992 BS ACC Partner & CFO, RD1 Bourbon, LLC & Key Investment Solutions, LLC

Marsha Coyle Couch earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting with honors from the Gatton College of Business and Economics in 1992. After graduation, she worked with Hughes Aircraft Company starting as staff accountant and rising to the position of controller. She left Hughes Aircraft following her entrepreneurial passion and teamed up with her business partner, Mike Tetterton, to work with a start-up hotel company that grew into a regional brand purchased by Red Roof Inn. They also founded Creative Lodging Solutions, which grew into a national brand and was named one of Kentucky’s Best Places to Work. It received Lexington’s Small Business of the Year Award before it was purchased by a public company in 2017. Marsha and Mike have founded or acquired more than 30 companies in various industries.

Their latest endeavor is a bourbon company, RD1 Spirits, which has expanded and grown into a nationally recognized brand. Marsha has been recognized with multiple national and international awards, including Female Executive of the Year. She is a certified public accountant and currently serves on the Gatton College Finance Advisory Board. Marsha is a member of Southland Christian Church and is the proud mother of two boys. She is also a health and fitness enthusiast, avid dog lover and a huge Kentucky Wildcats fan.

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HALL OF FAME

2024 Hall of Fame Inductee

JULIE TALBOTT Class of 1977 BBA President, Premiere Networks, iHeartmedia

Scan to watch Julie’s Story.

Julie Talbott received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the Gatton College of Business and Economics in 1977. She started her career in advertising at Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn advertising agency where she worked as supervisor of media planning and buying. She then transitioned to MJI Broadcasting, where she spent 19 years as COO. Talbott was instrumental in growing the company and acquiring the exclusive radio rights of the Country Music Awards and the CMA Music Festival. Talbott has served as the president of Premiere Networks since 2014 after joining the company as senior vice president of integrated marketing solutions following the company’s acquisition of MJI Broadcasting in 1999. In her current role, Talbott continues to oversee the operation of Premiere Networks’ roster of more than 100 radio programs and services, while managing business partnerships with talent, and leading and maintaining key affiliate relationships. Talbott has been honored with numerous awards from various organizations, including “Women of the Year,” “Most Powerful People in Radio,” “Most Influential Women in Radio” and even a Distinguished Kentuckian Award. Talbott and her husband raised three children in New York.

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HALL OF FAME

2024 Distinguished Young Alumni

KEISHA RASPBERRY Class of 2002 BS ACC Chief Financial Officer, Teremana Tequila

Keisha Raspberry currently serves as the chief financial officer of Teremana Tequila, where she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the financial operations and strategic planning initiatives of one of the fastest-growing tequila brands in history.

Prior to joining Teremana, Keisha held the position of vice president, finance & strategy for the U.S. & Canada at Brown-Forman, a global leader in premium spirits, where she spearheaded financial operations and led revenue growth management strategies for the company’s largest region. Keisha has held expansive roles at MillerCoors, Texas Roadhouse, Lexmark International and BrownForman; where she worked for 13 years. Keisha was born and raised in the town of Clinton, KY and graduated from the Gatton College of Business & Economics in 2002 with her Bachelor of Science in Accounting. During her time at UK, Keisha was a student ambassador for Gatton. She currently serves on the Gatton College Finance Advisory Board. Keisha also holds an MBA from Bellarmine University. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Keisha finds great joy in her role as a wife and mother. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA, with her husband, Alexander, and their three sons: Ethan, Joshua and Ayden.

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HALL OF FAME

2024 Distinguished Young Alumni

JOEL TRAUT Class of 2002 BBA FIN & MKT Partner, KKR

Scan to watch Joel’s Story.

Joel Traut joined KKR in 2015 as a member of the real estate team. Rising in the ranks from director to managing director throughout his tenure, he became partner in 2022. He serves as head of originations for KKR Real Estate Credit and is responsible for business development, the origination process and team coordination across the real estate direct lending business. Prior to joining KKR, Joel spent 13 years at GE Capital, where he led their northeast commercial team. He focused on investing in real estate credit strategies, including first mortgage and mezzanine loans.

Joel joined GE in 2002 as part of GE Capital’s financial management program and during his tenure, worked across multiple GE Capital business segments. Joel graduated summa cum laude from the Gatton College of Business and Economics in 2002 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing. He is also a member of the Finance Advisory Board at Gatton.

Joel is a member of the Urban Land Institute, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (‘NAIOP’) on its Capital Markets Council. He and his wife Carolyn live in New York with their two children, Evelyn and Andrew.

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DONOR RECOGNITION

Thank You T O O U R G AT T O N C O L L E G E D O N O R S

LIFETIME DONORS

Richard J. ’80 and Debra D. Huxley

Thomas W. ’62 and Mary A. Shaver

* Don L. Jacobs, Sr. ’14 ** and

James Fritz Skeen ’72, MBA ’73 and

Catherine K. Jacobs

Helen Morse Skeen

$1MM & ABOVE

Joe Craft Foundation

John Maze Stewart

Ashland Inc.

Joan D. Kincaid ’63

James W. Stuckert MBA ’61, ’14 ** and

BB&T Bank

Gary B. Knapp DBA ’77

* Bill Gatton ’54, 99 **

Howard L. ’70 and Ruth Ann Lewis

The Bill Gatton Foundation

John S. ’86 and Carla D. Cain

* James Ernest ’32 and

The John H. Schnatter Family

Central Bank

* Christine Dennis Luckett

* Diane V. Stuckert

Foundation Inc

Charles Koch Foundation

Roger E. Mick ’68

David L. ’81 and Rosemarie A. Thurston ’86

Paul W. Chellgren ’64, ’14 **

Jerry T. ’73 and Laura J. Miller ’73

Rexford “Rex” ’95 and Amy L. Tibbens

D. Michael ’62 and Moninda D. Coyle

John C. Peters ’66

Truist Charitable Fund

John H. Dicken, Jr. ’82

Scott Roeth ’69, MBA ’70

* M. S. and Sowmya Vijayaraghavan

Dicken Family Fund

Geoffrey H. ’74, MBA ’76 and

Douglas J. Von Allmen ’65

Don Jacobs Charitable Foundation Inc. Forcht Group of Kentucky Cynthia J. Harkins ’84 Hilliard Lyons Howdy Honda

Janet M. Rosenberger

William E. Seale Family Foundation

* Warren W. ’47, 84 ** and

Terry Woodward ’63, ’22 **

* Betty M. Rosenthal.

Nancy Zink O’Connor ’82

William E. Seale ’63, MS ’69, PhD ’75 and Marguerite E. Pelissier

2023 DONORS

John A. Litchfield, Jr.

Thomas J. Uram ‘82

Jim L. ’84 and Sheila Master

* Joan B. Weyer ’59

$100,000 & ABOVE

Jerry T. ’73 and Laura J. Miller ’73

Terry Woodward ’63, ’22 **

Donald C. ’65, MBA ’67 and

Nancy Zink O’Connor ’82

Central Bank

* Penney P. Rogers

Joe Craft Foundation

Thomas W. ’62 and Mary A. Shaver

John H. Dicken, Jr. ’82

Smith Brothers, Scott S. ’90 and

R. Michael Gray ’80, ’81 and Susan B. Gray Cynthia J. Harkins ‘84

Sean S. ’90 David L. ’81 and Rosemarie A. Thurston ’86

William J. Herkamp ’76

Rexford “Rex” ’95 and Amy L. Tibbens

Joan D. Kincaid ’63

Truist

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$25,000–$99,999 Arvil V. Adams MA ’68, Ph.D. Econ ’70 Heath F. Bowling ’96 Nick L. Cross ’96 Stacy Davis ‘97 Troy D. Hammett ’86

DONOR RECOGNITION

Jim & Paula McDonald Charitable Trust Michael S. McMahon ’92

Jill A. Jones ’87

Farmers National Bank

Rodney H. Mabry ’69 and Barbara

Farmers National Bank Staff

Merle Mabry

Kent T. Mills ‘83

McBrayer, PLLC

Don P. Moore III ’82 and

MiddleGround Management

Marla M. Moore ’83

Michael and Deana D. Paradis ’03, ’03

Jon F. Ferrante ’67 and Vickie Hildegard Ferrante Charles A. Fields II ’66 and Diane S. Fields ’66

MCM CPAs & Advisors LLP

D. Scott ’87 and Kelli B. Parsons

FORVIS

PNC Bank

Mark J. Plummer ’76

Bill D. Gunther, Ph.D. Econ ’69 and

Pete November II ’93 and

PwC

Stephanie S. November Scott Roeth ’69

Geoffrey H. ’74, MBA ’76 and Janet M. Rosenberger

Irene R. Gunther Mary C. Hammons ’76 Donald G. Hardwick ’79 and

James A. Seale ’86

Carol R. Rosenthal

Gary A. Smith, Sr. ’83, MBA ’22

David E. Russell ’91

James G. Harralson ’79

Victoria Russell MBA ’01

John H. Hawkins, Jr. ’73 and

and Anne T. Smith

Janet L. Pugh

Paul C. Varga ’85

Jennifer W. Siebenthaler ’94

Lisa Y. Hawkins

Nathan A. Winters ’01

Margaret Anne Spragens

Mary J. Haywood

Stowers Machinery

Richard J. ’80 and Debra D. Huxley

David A. Tatman II ’01

Lauren M. Klee MBA ’14

Joel D. Traut ’02

Carole P. Knoblett

Michael A. ’90 and Lisa L.

KPMG

$5,000–$24,999 Thomas J. Aaron ’84 Jeffrey T. ’75 and Elizabeth W. Barber ’77 William M. Bateman ’80 Beam Suntory, Inc. Blue and Co., LLC

Wiechart ’88 Allan J. Zachariah ’81 and Alison S. Rand

$1,000–$4,999

Michael R. ’69, MBA ’71 and

Taylor E. Amerman ’11 Jennifer Plenge Arington ’72

John S. Cain ’86

Bradley W. Beckman ’01

David P. ’83 and Jamie L. Calzi ’86

David M. Blanchett ’03

* Josephine E. Carpenter ’49

Stephen P and Roberta Borgatti

Glenn L. Clark, Jr. MBA ’69 and

Thomas C. Brite ’64

Rosanne J. Clark ’68

Anne J. Brooks ’05

Robert P. Crum Ph.D. Acc, BA ’83

Jeremy V. ‘98 and Ann Bryant

Silas E. Deane II ’89

Brian K. ’97 and Jennifer O.

EY Fifth Third Bank of Kentucky, Lexington J. David Flanery ’79 James H. Frazier III

Buchanan David L. ’87 and Cheryl D. Buchanan Gregory L. ’77, MSAcc ’78 and Barbara J. Burns

Robert L. Garrett, III ‘92

Chris P. Clifford

Todd Glickson

Ashby T. Corum ’91 and

Gregory H. ’85 and Kimberly S. Greenwood

Nicole Fulcher Corum ’93 Anthony J. Cox ’08

Lindsey ’00 and James W. Herr

Deloitte

J. Mason Howell and Melissa Wasson

Chris Dykes ’96

Howell ’90, MSAcc ’90

Elizabeth B. Leatherman ’98 Rebecca B. Lewis ’63 James W. Masters ’86

The Brunetti Foundation Susan H. Buchanan

Chris Kramer

David S. Easley ’93

David W. Mayes Mary V. McKinley Christopher D. Meriwether ’04 Warren O. Nash III Michael J. Orefice ’88 Frank C. Parker III ’97 Kevin A. Pollari Claire P. Pomeroy MBA ’01 Rev. Katherine S. Redmond and James R. Redmond Courtney L. Rosenberger ’14 Mike Ruschell Ruschell Property Services, Inc. Camden B. ’67 and Becky Y. Scearce Richard A. Schubert ’78 Dian J. Searles ’70 Brad Smith ’86 and Patricia A. Thomas-Smith ’86 Alvey B. ’73 and Rhonda S. Smith ’78 Elizabeth Solomon George B. Spragens ’93

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DONOR RECOGNITION

R. Michael Stacy ’95

Paul David Childs and Laura E. Childs

Aaron J. Maschinot

Mark W. Stephens ’78

Albert G. ’73 and Nancy S. Craft

Bryant M. McCarthy

James W. Stuckert MBA ’61, ’14 **

Chad E. ’99, MBA ’22 and

Shelby G. Moore

David E. Tate ’93

Abby Dobson

Edward C. Nickles III ’78 and

William L. Taylor ’83

Roy H. Dorsey, Jr. ’73

Ellen P. Nickles

Neal Thomas ’98 and Yana B. Thomas

Gregory A. Doyle ’77

Nicholas C. Phelps ’08

Bryan O. Walker, Jr. ’72, MSAcc ’73

E. Daniel Duzyk ’85

Kezia Elizabeth Ramsey MBA ’16

Lashawn E. Evans, Jr. ’19

Irfan Satriadhi ’99

R. Elton White ’67

and Julia R. Walker

Melinda Evans ’89

Jeffrey T. ’76 and Erin H. Scott

Joseph A. Wohlleb ’08, ’17

Walter J. Ferrier, Jr. ’88, MA ’90

Julia Ruschell Snow ’78 and

$500–$999

Neal Fitch ’97

Robert C. Sparks ’68

Paul G. Fultz

Robert A. Strawbridge ’60 and

Jeffrey C. Adams ’87

Michael E. Gissing ’75

Rodney G. Alsup Ph.D. Acc ’84

T. Dewitt Goodman III ’76

Edward A. Ambler III ’74 and Rowena

Eugene T. Graf ’73

and Alma F. Ferrier

England Ambler

E. Charles Snow, Jr.

* Patricia B. Strawbridge John C. Talbott, Jr. ’65, MSAcc ’70, Ph.D. ’75 and Carlea Talbott

Melinda L. Heck ’94

James P. Toombs

H. Wade ’89 and Susan Bennett ’89

Mark S. Jesse ’08

John L. Wood ’93

David W. Blackwell and Wendy Liu

Rodney N. ’67 and Lois J. Lanthorne

Brad R. Zapp ’01

Michael W. Bowling and Nicole M. Segneri

Ryan Allen Lauer ’13

Edward D. and Sharon S. Bullard

Bill C. Leavell ’75

CDW

Linda Mills Marquis-Cate ’72,

Marc B. Charnas ’93, MBA ’93

MSAcc ’73, Ph.D. ’78 and Tom Cate

Carol Chavez

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

giving

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please note that class years denote degrees earned from the Gatton College of Business and Economics. We make every effort to list your name correctly in the appropriate category. If you have questions about your listing, please contact the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, 859-562-2420 or ncartier@uky.edu.

* Denotes deceased

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** Honorary Doctorate

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THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO

ONE DAY FOR UK

$395,184 RAISED BY 112 DONORS Special thanks to Jim and Sheila Master for establishing this year’s matching gift to support the Gatton College of Business and Economics.

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University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics

SPRING | SUMMER 2024 Office of the Dean 371 Gatton College of Business and Economics University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0034

ADAM STOCKTON 2024 Gatton Grad Strategic Human Resource Management & Analytics

SCAN TO READ ADAM’S STORY!

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Non-Profit Org US Postage Paid Permit 51 Lexington, KY