GOING GLOBAL
Avery Skinner and the College of Health Sciences are Taking on the World
A MESSAGE FROM The Dean
Throughout the calendar year, there are always a couple of events that stand out as my favorites.
One is our Staff and Faculty Awards, while another is our Student Honors, and of course, there’s always our commencement ceremonies. All of these experiences have one thing in common: Recognition. In these moments we are able to recognize those who have done well, either in their jobs, research or classwork.
I love being able to do that. And it’s one of the reasons why I love this Gateway issue.
This edition, in many ways, centers on the topic of recognition. You will read about — among other stories — a medal-winning athlete, an award-winning PT alumna, and a few faculty who have had some amazing research accomplishments.
In a way, when we showcase each of the people in these stories, we are also giving them recognition, and that makes me feel good. So go on and read about the incredible Shoulder to Shoulder organization, the alumni of our Athletic Training program, and one special student who is helping to better our campus — and by extension, our community.
Being able to recognize these people gives me an immense sense of pride, one I hope you can also feel when you read these stories. After all, our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are so special —they always make me realize how lucky I am to do what I do.
So enjoy this issue of Gateway, just as I have. Because here, in the College of Health Sciences, we have such a wonderful tale to tell.
And of course, continue to stay healthy and well,
Scott M. Lephart, PhD Dean and Professor
Do you think you have a good story to share?
Contact Gateway Editor Ryan Clark with story ideas at ryan.clark@uky.edu
by the
“Our CHS community is a living embodiment of ‘putting students first,’ and we’re showing that by helping a strong majority of our undergraduate students complete their degree in four years or less,” said Casey Shadix, PhD and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in CHS.
FALL 2024
“That’s critical because not only are our students able to reach their goals of becoming working health professionals sooner, but students are also graduating more quickly and reducing the overall cost of their education. We’re offering the ultimate student-centered approach right here in CHS.”
CHS LEADS THE WAY WITH THE IN THE UNIVERSITY highest retention rate
183 183 153 153 85% 85%
students in undergraduate cohort
# of students retained or graduated
% of students retained or graduated
The 5th floor of the Multi-Disciplinary Science Building has been renovated, providing CHS with:
106 seat digital classroom, which can be split in 1/3 and 2/3 to make two classrooms
11 offices (advisors, recruiters, etc) Welcome Center and Student Success Center
Lead-Off Lead-Off
Taking CHS on the road, looking for Champions
This fall, Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, went on the road to find “CHS Champions” in the region. Covington, Ky.’s Braxton Brewing Company proved to be an ideal first stop to connect with alumni in the northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area. Dozens of CHS alumni turned out for a fun evening of discussion, drinks, food and networking with Dean Lephart and other College officials. At each tour stop, the Dean addresses upcoming new academic programs, campus construction and philanthropic opportunities. Future tour stops will connect CHS Champions in Chicago and Greenville, S.C.
Becknell Scholarship Supports Future Health Care Leaders
Madison Becknell had a smile that lit up every room she walked in. But, in February of 2024 tragedy struck when Madison was involved in a car wreck involving a tractor-trailer. She died at 21 years old, three months before she was set to graduate from the Clinical Leadership and Management (CLM) program.
This fall, the Becknell family started the Madison Becknell Clinical Leadership and Management Memorial Scholarship to make sure the memory of their daughter lives on. Their goal is to raise enough funds to give out two $2,500 scholarships each year to individuals in the CLM program. Recipients will be students who exemplify the passion Madison had for life and the future of health care. SCAN HERE to donate to the scholarship
CSD’s Huseman named recipient of inaugural Emma Rose Davis Bridges Memorial Scholarship
On Aug. 28, the family of Emma Davis Bridges presented the inaugural Emma Rose David Bridges Memorial Scholarship to second-year Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) graduate student (and CSD undergraduate alumna) Natalie Huseman.
The scholarship was awarded to Huseman for demonstrating collaboration and innovation as a student in the CSD program. Emma’s friends and family joined College faculty and staff in celebrating Emma, the scholarship in her memory, and her legacy.
CSD Represents CHS at LTJ Awards
Current Voice + Swallow clinic student clinician, Raleigh de los Reyes and Communication Sciences and Disorders alumna Avery Skinner were awarded Torch Bearer and Torch of Excellence, respectively, for CHS at the 2024 Lyman T. Johnson Awards on Oct. 11. The LTJ awards honor alumni and students who embody the spirit and accomplishments of Lyman T. Johnson and have positively impacted the lives of others and their community.
Pabian Elected Vice President of ACAPT Keener named UK innovator
Patrick Pabian, PT, DPT, PhD and department chair for the Department of Physical Therapy in the College of Health Sciences, has been elected Vice President of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy.
The term as Vice President will begin during the Education Leadership Conference in October, and end at the Education Leadership Conference in October 2027.
ACAPT is the principal voice representing academic physical therapy and its core purpose is to lead physical therapy in the pursuit of academic excellence. ACAPT member institutions represent about 95 percent of all US accredited physical therapy programs.
This fall, Research Communications partnered with UK Innovate to spotlight faculty innovators with pioneering ideas at the University of Kentucky. UK Innovate works collaboratively with innovators to strategically assess, protect and license early-stage technologies and co-create new technology startups.
In the final Q&A of the series, Michaela Keener, Ph.D., discussed her work in developing an interactive digital health system designed to enhance access to care for equestrians. Keener is an assistant professor of athletic training and clinical nutrition in the UK College of Health Sciences. She has received research funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and University of Cincinnati.
Three UKPA students present at NCCPA REPRESENT! Summit
Dalia Eloraby, Amani Miles, and Katie Chheang are current Physician Assistant Studies students in the College of Health Sciences who were selected this fall to present at a national conference, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) REPRESENT! Summit. This conference highlighted the importance of increasing diversity and creating a more inclusive environment as a Physician Assistant. Across the nation, only 20 students were selected and funded to attend this conference. The group presented their master’s research project which was titled, “Examining the qualities and behaviors of providers that contribute to an inclusive environment among Diverse and Underrepresented populations.”
CHS Staff Presents at PAEA Conference
Two staff members in the Physician Assistant Studies Department recently gave a presentation about contributing to staff efficacy while at the national PA Education Association Conference in Washington D.C. Nadia Henry and Julia Berry, MSEd, presented “Untapped Potential: Professional Staff Contributions to PA Program Efficacy.”
CLM now Certified by AUPHA
The College of Health Sciences’ Clinical Leadership and Management program has been certified by the non-profit Association of University Programs in Health Administration — a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals and organizations dedicated to the improvement of health and healthcare delivery through excellence in healthcare management and policy education. The CLM program will now be certified for the next three years.
Congratulations to Keiko Ishikawa, PhD, MM, CCC-SLP, who was recently published by Nature.com, an international research journal, for the paper “Cognitive load associated with speaking clearly in reverberant rooms,” of which she was a co-author.
Wilson selected as Undergraduate Research Ambassador
A College of Health Sciences student has been selected for the 2024-25 Undergraduate Research Ambassador program. Madi Wilson, a senior Human Health Sciences major on the pre-Physician Assistant track from Ona, W.Va., is one of 15 outstanding undergraduates selected by the University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) to increase awareness and create opportunities for students to actively engage in research. Ambassadors must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and be involved in mentored research.
UK PT student is recipient of ASAHP Scholarship
Isabel Fairbanks, a third-year graduate student in UK’s Physical Therapy program, is the recipient of a 2024 Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) scholarship. Fairbanks was one of eight students selected natioanlly to receive the $1,000 Scholarship of Excellence Award. Fairbanks, who is from Highland, Mich., completed her undergraduate degree at the University of South Dakota. As an out-of-state graduate student, she said she is “super grateful for any scholarships that I receive and the contribution they have toward funding my education.”
2 CHS students named UK Alumni Ambassadors for 2024-25
Two College of Health Sciences students were selected to serve as Alumni Ambassadors for the 2024-25 academic year. Alumni Ambassadors promote the University at numerous events in partnership between the Office of the President, Office of Philanthropy and the UK Alumni Association.
Celia Brungs, a junior from Fort Wright, Ky., majoring in Clinical Leadership and Management, and Grace Wells, a sophomore from Cincinnati majoring in Human Health Sciences, were among the 32 students chosen. Alumni Ambassadors represent the best and brightest of UK students, demonstrating high achievement in their collegiate careers and a dedication to the advancement of the university. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher and represent diverse backgrounds, cultures and areas of campus involvement.
Mayer named Fellow of Critical Care Medicine
Congratulations go out to Kirby Mayer, DPT, PhD, as he was recently honored as a Fellow of Critical Care Medicine in the American College of Critical Care Medicine.
Mayer, associate professor in the College of Health Sciences’ Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program, received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Kentucky, Center for Excellence in Rural Health in 2014. After practicing as a staff physical therapist at Chandler Medical, he returned to school and completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Kentucky in 2019. Mayer received his PhD in Rehabilitation and Health Sciences with focus on muscle health and physical function in patients with and surviving critical illness. Mayer is a clinician and researcher in UK’s ICU Recovery Clinic.
MLS Club Helps with First Teddy Bear Hospital
Schuer inducted into Delta Omega Honorary Society
Earlier this year, College of Health Sciences professor Kevin Schuer, DrPH, PA-C, was humbled to learn he was being inducted into the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. The Delta Omega Honorary Society recognizes and encourages excellence in practice, research, education, and academic achievement within the field of public health.
“It’s an honor to be recognized alongside current and prior Delta Omega award winners, especially considering how prestigious this honor is,” Schuer said. “Delta Omega recognizes excellence in public health scholarship, leadership, and service, and I’m deeply humbled to join its ranks.”
The Medical Laboratory Science Club took part in the first Teddy Bear Hospital this summer.
Teddy Bear Hospital Day, hosted by The Kentucky Children’s Hospital, helped children feel more comfortable with doctor visits and healthcare in general. The event was designed to give kids an idea of what happens during visits and to relieve the anxiety that some may have about doctors’ offices and medical procedures.
Different areas were set up to treat the stuffed bears and teach children more about the purposes of different departments, such as radiology, operating rooms and labs.
Twelve MLS students helped participate in the event, said Chad Guilliams, M.Ed, MLS (ASCP), CM and lecturer in Medical Laboratory Science.
PT alumnus first in state to earn Wound Management Certification
Michael Forston PT, MSPT, WCC, recently became the first Physical Therapist in the state to earn his certification in wound management. Forston, who graduated from UK’s College of Health Sciences with a master’s degree in Physical Therapy in 2007, is now a board certified clinical specialist in wound management.
GLOBAL Going
Avery Skinner and CHS are Taking on the World — One Set at a Time.
But She’ll Always Come Back to Her Old Kentucky
BY RYAN CLARK CHS Communications Director
“Amazing.” “So cool.” “So proud.”
That was how faculty and staff in the College of Health Sciences described the scene this summer when Avery Skinner returned to her Old Kentucky Home to show everyone her silver medal — her prize for becoming the University of Kentucky’s first-ever representative to play in the Olympics for the national USA volleyball team.
As a first-year player for the squad in Paris, she helped lead the team to the gold medal match before the U.S. fell to Italy. Still, Skinner — a 2021 alumna of the Communication Sciences and Disorders program — had nothing but great memories to bring home. Which she did, making sure to come back to visit Kentucky, the same place she won a national volleyball championship in her senior season.
Home.
“I make a point to come back every summer,” she said. “I’m overseas for about seven months out of the year, so I’m not home for a long time, but Lexington is my home, and I love it so much. It fills me up to come back and see all of these people who were integral pieces of my life for four years — and even to this day. I keep in touch with so many of the staff members and a lot of the people in the CSD program.”
The talented outside hitter is now in her third season of playing professional volleyball in Italy, and she said she had no expectations for what the Olympic experience would be like. From getting a team picture with Snoop Dogg, to sailing in the Opening Ceremonies in the rain, to sharing space with legends like Simone Biles, Skinner said it was one surreal moment after another.
“I really just wanted to get there and experience all it was,” she said. “For (our team), we had no clue what was going to happen. Of course, we had high hopes. But at the same time, we kept our expectations very low, and I think that helped us, honestly. We fought through so much adversity, and we’ve done something that very few people can.”
From winning a national championship, to earning an Olympic medal, there are certain characteristics those accomplishments require — characteristics that are also required to be a great student in the CSD program.
“There are so many things that overlap — and I think that’s why sports are so great, because you learn so many lessons that you can apply to life,” she said. “You learn so much about yourself. And CSD is not an easy program, but it’s so rewarding. There’s so many skills that play into that. Preparation — we talk all the time: How you play in a match is a pure reflection of how you practice. So, all the preparation, all the studying, all the work that we’re doing behind the scenes in school is going to prepare us to be a great clinician — it’s all to set you up for success, so that when you get into that therapy room with a client you feel like you can give the best practice.
“It’s not easy, but it’s so rewarding,” she continued. “This all has helped me become a better human. The values that (CSD tries) to instill are even bigger than the actual coursework.”
Skinner said she’s looking forward to when she can use her degree. But right now, she’s enjoying this global ride —
one that could take her to the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. And when her athletic career is over, she will start work somewhere in the CSD field.
“When I got the opportunity to play overseas, I didn’t want to think that maybe I missed out on something, so I’m really glad that I’ve taken advantage,” she said. “However, I know that I cannot play volleyball forever — that chapter will come to an end at some point, and when it does, speech is definitely something I want to do. I’m passionate about the field.”
Her former professors say they appreciate her coming back.
“It was wonderful visiting with Avery and seeing her beam with pride when she showed us her Olympic medal,” said Richard D. Andreatta, PhD, ASHA Fellow and professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
“I remember thinking that the lives of our students are amazing and full of transformative experiences. I’d like to think the seeds of those experiences began here at UK. She is the best of us, and she will continue to do great things.”
It’s all part of why she calls Lexington home.
“I have my UK sweatshirt, and I wear it all around Italy,” Skinner said. “I love UK — it feels like home to me, and I’m so grateful for it. And yeah, I will be back over and over again, because I really do love it.”
Photo
TO LEAN ON
Physical Therapy students gain hands-on experience in Ecuador
BY HAYDEN GOODING CHS Contributor
One of the most valuable ways University of Kentucky students can spend their time is by getting real-life, hands-on experience in their field of study.
Since 2008, physical therapy students in the College of Health Sciences have had the opportunity to travel to Ecuador, taking their knowledge from the classroom to the clinic. The CHS physical therapy program participation was initiated by professor emeritus Lynn English, DPT, founder of the physical therapy teams for Shoulder to Shoulder.
It all started with Tom Young, M.D., professor of pediatrics in the UK College of Medicine. Back in 2002, he decided to look for service learning
opportunities abroad. He began taking pediatric residents to Ecuador, where the university already established a connection through a program called Ecuador Partners. While there, he realized there was a town outside of the Santo Domingo area that was poverty-stricken.
Young had a vision for establishing a clinic that would help eliminate some of the barriers to care. He knew it would be important to not only include primary care medicine, but also physical therapy, pharmacy, nursing and all the interprofessional teams it takes to educate populations about health and create a healthier state as a whole.
With his vision, Shoulder to Shoulder Global Ecuador began. Now multiple times each year, students across different academic programs at UK participate and travel to Ecuador to get handson experience.
Most people think of the need for medical doctors and nurses when it comes to medical mission work.
But, for this community in Ecuador, there is also a big need for physical therapists. Ellen Stockhausen, DPT, adjunct assistant professor, and Elizabeth Siereveld, DPT, adjunct assistant professor, are program cocoordinators for the program.
“It’s their livelihoods – the people in these communities are hardworking and their daily routines involve so much heavy, physical manual labor,” said Stockhausen. “They don’t have the same modern household appliances or machinery that we have here in the U.S.”
In these communities, men are often working in the fields and using machetes or lifting heavy loads, and the women take care of multiple children, cook, clean and do laundry –all manually.
“There are so many overuse injuries,” said Stockhausen. “The lack of modern-day conveniences is just astounding and something we take for granted here in the U.S. If you don’t have your physical health, then you’re doing daily routines with a lot of pain or with a lot of difficulty.”
It’s not only wear-and-tear injuries. The group also discovered that a lot of people are living in their homes with lasting effects of neurological conditions like strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other conditions without having the equipment needed to assist them with everyday living.
“To paint a picture of what that looks like, when I was a student on a brigade with Dr. Lynn English in March 2010, we went into the home of some adults who had cerebral palsy and had grown up without positioning equipment,” said Stockhausen. “So, they were lying on mattresses with severe contractures. Their family members would pick them up by their limbs to move them from one place to the next because they didn’t have positioning equipment, like a wheelchair, to sit in.”
For many here in the U.S., it’s easy to take for granted access to equipment as simple as a wheelchair. But for patients in Ecuador, it can be challenging to receive proper equipment to help them move around in an upright position, eat and communicate.
This is why physical therapy becomes a huge need for the patients in this community.
“It’s about decreasing pain and improving a patient’s participation. If you’re in pain or not able to move well, it decreases your interest in participating in life,” said English.
A typical day for the physical therapy students and CHS faculty supervisors starts early. The team travels to their work site and sets up their station, then the clinic opens and they begin seeing patients who need their care. The handson experience of this program allows students to practice examination, evaluation and intervention skills using the tests they’re learning in the U.S. classroom.
At the end of each day, they have time for reflection and recap the day with an interprofessional group.
“During our reflection times, after treating, I was able to solidify my ‘why’ for choosing physical therapy,” said Cody Scales, CHS student with the May 2024 brigade. “Being able to experience the different cultures and populations in the different communities and having the opportunity to treat them was something that I will never forget. Seeing how grateful people were for our services, watching people’s faces light up when they left in less pain than when they arrived, and seeing how grateful families were when we were able to provide them with medical equipment that they desperately needed was one of the most rewarding experiences.”
Students in the CHS physical therapy program have the opportunity to travel to the clinic and serve this population in Ecuador three times each year.
Each brigade begins with an interprofessional class and physical therapy orientation. Then the students travel to Ecuador to begin their work, putting their skills from the classroom to use.
“This experience is truly life-changing and provides us with the opportunity to strengthen our clinical skills while positively impacting many patients’ lives,” said Isabel Fairbanks, a CHS student who was part of the May 2024 brigade. “What I did not realize is how much of an impact this trip would have on me. Embarking on this trip was very helpful for my clinical reasoning skills and flexibility but was also beneficial in forming everlasting relationships and experiences that I will cherish forever.”
During the brigades, CHS faculty work alongside the students the entire time, making it a low-pressure situation for them to try their skills and problemsolve.
“This opportunity comes at a good time for students in their curriculum because they are eager to get out of the classroom and gain real experience with patients and see how their treatment helps people,” said English.
English has been going on Shoulder to Shoulder trips yearly since its beginning in 2008. Over the years she has grown a strong relationship with the community and clinic they serve.
“It feels like going back to see friends and family when I visit the clinic,” said English.
For Stockhausen, Shoulder to Shoulder was one of the reasons why she decided to attend the CHS physical therapy program more than 10 years ago. Now, being a cocoordinator is one of her favorite jobs.
“The trip is the best week of the year,” said Stockhausen. “It gives me so much excitement and inspiration. We become physical therapists because we want to help, and we want to improve people’s lives and make a difference.
The work of Shoulder to Shoulder and the clinic in Ecuador received major recognition with the award of a USAID grant for the expansion of the clinic in Ecuador.
This year during the 2024 March Brigade, the clinic broke ground on the expansion project supported by the $420,000 grant. The expansion will allow the clinic to build a rehab facility along with other updates to the clinic. The addition of a rehab facility will allow space for physical therapists to practice year-round and increase access to physical therapy for the community.
CHS plans to continue growing its representation in the Shoulder to Shoulder program. This year, more students will be participating in the program and representing the Department of Physical Therapy than ever before. The CHS physical therapy students have all shown an intense desire to participate in service-learning opportunities, and they are willing to go out of their way to do so.
This growth wouldn’t be possible without the support of Scott Lephart, PhD, dean of the College of Health Sciences, and Patrick Pabian, PhD, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy.
“The Shoulder to Shoulder program has proven to have a much-needed impact on the community being served, while also having a long-lasting effect on the students we send,” said Pabian. “Through this immersion, students experience personal and professional growth that cannot be obtained in a typical classroom environment. We know that students will use these experiences in their development as patientcentered health care providers. We are exceptionally thankful to Dr. English for her long-term dedication and vision in developing this important program, and both Dr. Stockhausen and Dr. Siereveld for leading the charge and being such a positive mentor to the UK students.”
Dean Lephart and Dr. Pabian have helped by supporting the initiative financially which has allowed the program to expand its reach and ability to recruit people genuinely committed to service to the underserved.
“In the College of Health Sciences, our mission is to help people achieve the highest level of health that they possibly can,” said Dean Lephart. “Supporting the Shoulder to Shoulder program not only helps our students learn and grow but also changes the lives of the citizens in these communities. I’m proud of all the CHS students and faculty who have dedicated their time to serving others through the program.”
Any students who have an interest in participating in the initiative should email est270@uky.edu Select “Global Health Fund” and indicate “physical therapy” in the notes section. WANT
The Department of Physical Therapy is already looking forward to the visits they have planned for the 2024-2025 school year.
Donations to support the College of Health Sciences Shoulder to Shoulder initiative can be made here: https://bgcf.givingfuel.com/donate-now
The
WIGGINTON, CLASSMATES CELEBRATE UKPT CLASS OF 1984 TRAILBLAZER
BY RYAN CLARK CHS Communications Director
When Tassa Wigginton came to UK in the Physical Therapy Department in the early 1980s, she was a nontraditional student, married with children, and she took on a mother figure role to the class while also making lifelong friends. She also happens to be black, and she went on to become the first black PT student to graduate from the University of Kentucky.
On July 13, Tassa, now 79, helped celebrate the 40th anniversary of that group with her classmates in The Commons Room at the College of Health Sciences. Many former students walked into the special celebration and formed a line, waiting to give Tassa a big hug.
“We knew you as an amazing wife, amazing mother, and an incredible person,” Cathy Murphy-Rau, who lives in Mansfield, Ohio, told the crowd.
about TASSA
During the reunion, which actually occurred over a two-day period, the alumni were treated to a tour of the College, games, food and lots of laughter. The former students flipped through baby pictures, shared memories and even took an impromptu anatomy pop quiz (The prize for the best grade? A $10 Starbucks gift card). In all, 30 of 36 in the class were able to attend.
After lunch, superlatives were handed out — everything from those who had published books to those who had traveled the farthest to get to the reunion. But for Tassa, there was one special recognition — she was presented the with the group’s Trailblazer Award.
“I thank you so much for this special recognition,” Tassa said.
Those academic days were long, she said. Tassa would catch the 6 a.m. bus for her 8 o’clock class, then her husband would come pick her up at 11 p.m. She went on to become a physical therapist for the V.A. Medical Center.
“I was just trying to keep up with you guys,” she told the others in the room. “Know that every time this award is given out, I’ll will always be with you.”
Tassa wiped away tears as the applause finally eased. “Thank you so, so much,” she said.
It seemed everyone in the room felt the same thing: The reunion was a smash hit.
“This was all just amazing,” said Becky McDowell Eisman, who traveled from Atlanta, Ga. “I’m so glad we came.”
Tassa Wigginton, who grew up in Lexington, Ky., is a member of UK’s Physical Therapy Class of 1984. She was also the first black PT graduate, and, as a nontraditional student, something of a surrogate mother to her classmates. In 2024, at the group’s 40th anniversary celebration, she was honored with the Trailblazer Award. After graduation, she went on to work as a physical therapist at the V.A. Medical Center in Lexington. She is also a member of the Fayette County Alumni Club.
A SIZZLING
CHS Receives Over $4.5 Million in Funding in One Month
BY RYAN CLARK CHS Communications Director
The past few years have seen a remarkable rise in research grants in the College of Health Sciences, highlighted by an amazing summer 2024 — and by the month of July in particular.
It was that month when two CHS researchers — Allison Owen, PhD; and Danielle Torp-Kosik, PhD, ATC — were awarded grants that totaled more than $4.5 million.
Owen, a faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy and a member of the Center of Muscle Biology, was awarded a $1.9 million Early Stage Investigator (ESI) R35 Maximizing Investigators Research Award (MIRA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) for the proposed project: “Cellular and Molecular Determinants of Post-Burn Myopathy.”
“Receipt of this R35 MIRA award is a great honor which will enable us to better understand causes of skeletal muscle dysfunction in survivors of severe burn injury,” Owen said. “Unfortunately, current intervention strategies often fall short in restoration of muscle size and strength, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality and significantly impact quality of life. With this award, we will investigate fibrogenic and immunologic factors that contribute to impaired muscle quality following burn injury using complimentary clinical samples and preclinical models.
“Excitingly, this unique grant offers us a degree of scientific flexibility which will allow us to pursue innovative avenues of research as they develop,” she continued.
“We look forward to leveraging this opportunity to grow our research program here in the College of Health Sciences while also making meaningful discoveries with the goal of improving muscle function and outcomes for those affected by severe burn injuries.”
Torp-Kosik, an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition and a member of the Sports Medicine Research Institute, was awarded a $2.5 million Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP) grant from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (DOD CDMRP) for the proposed project, “Optimizing Retention on Duty in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability Using Auditory Biofeedback Gait Training: A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial.”
Like Owen, Torp-Kosik said she is hoping her idea makes a difference.
“I am hoping to accomplish a lot with this project; but mostly, leading a great team of colleagues and friends, moving the science forward with gait training rehabilitation paradigms for patients with ankle instability, and growing my skills as an independent researcher,” Torp-Kosik said. “I am so thankful for the guidance of my coinvestigators, support from my department chair and the dean, and all of my coworkers at the Sports Medicine Research Institute.”
Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, said July was a special month due to the efforts of these researchers.
“The news of this grant being funded came with a wave of emotions — shock, gratitude, excitement, relief,” Torp-Kosik said. “This was my third time submitting the grant, first time as a multi-site project, and was submitted 10 days before the birth of my first child. The feeling of your hard work ‘paying off’ is something I will never take for granted nor forget.”
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“Our researchers are continuing to raise the bar for all of us here in the College of Health Sciences,” Lephart said. “Congratulations to Dr. Owen and Dr. Torp-Kosik for their hard work and success. Both are integral to our College’s mission, and they are setting an amazing example for all of us to follow. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.”
Athletic Training Alumni, Teams Have Banner Year
BY RYAN CLARK CHS Communications Director
It truly has been a banner year for athletic training alumni from the College of Health Sciences.
It began last winter, when UK’s Football team faced Clemson in the Gator Bowl. Of course, head athletic trainer Evan Griskowitz was there. Griskowitz, who earned his master’s degree in health science and athletic training in 2019, was promoted to director of sports medicine/head football athletic trainer for Kentucky Football in the summer of 2023.
The football squad went 7-5 last season and finished the year in Jacksonville, Fla. — the program’s eighth consecutive bowl game. (CHS graduate tight end Jordan Dingle was also on that trip. Dingle graduated with a degree in Clinical Leadership and Management).
Then, during the NFL playoffs — four CHS alumni made up the athletic training staffs of three of the 14 playoff teams:
Gabe Amponsah (MS, Athletic Training) Head Athletic Trainer, Pittsburgh Steelers
Naohisa Inoue (MS, Athletic Training) Associate Athletic Trainer, Miami Dolphins
Jon Boone (MS, Athletic Training) Director of Rehabilitation, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Miami Dolphins
Tabani Richards, (MS, Athletic Training) Assistant Athletic Trainer, Buffalo Bills
In the summer, Kentucky’s Baseball Wildcats capped off one of the most successful seasons in program history with a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Richie Wells was the Head Athletic Trainer for UK Baseball that season, and he is an alumnus of CHS, as he earned his graduate certificate in Musculoskeletal Injury Management from the Athletic Training program in 2022.
But let’s not forget Kaley Evans, who was also an athletic trainer for the team. She graduated from the Professional Masters in Athletic Training program in 2022 and from the graduate certificate Musculoskeletal Injury Management from the Athletic Training program in 2024.
Later in the summer, Senior Athletic Trainer Katy Poole led a group of supporters to Paris, France, to watch Avery Skinner as she played her way to a silver medal as part of the National Volleyball Team at the Olympics.
Both Poole and Skinner are alumni of the College of Health Sciences. Poole graduated with a Master of Science degree in Athletic Training in 2013, while Skinner graduated in 2021 with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Overall, it was an extremely successful year for many athletic training alumni — and officials say it’s just another indicator of how successful UK’s program has become.
“We are so proud of all of our alumni and their accomplishments,” said Phillip Gribble, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition. “It illustrates again that our department produces amazingly successful athletic trainers, whether they work in careers in scholastic and collegiate sports, industry, military and tactical populations, or even at the highest levels of professional sports.
“These are the kinds of graduates who are representing this department and the College — and it’s an exciting time to be in athletic training here at the University of Kentucky.”
Photos coutesy of UK Athletics
CHARACTER MEETING THE CHALLENGE WITH ATTITUDE
Two-time CHS Alumnus Provided Healthcare
Help Around the World
BY LORALYN CECIL
CHS Philanthropy Director
Today, more than one million students from foreign countries attend American universities. In 1970 that enrollment was closer to 300,000 — and one of those students was Tim Adewale.
Adewale grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. He was inspired to come to America when he noticed that the best teachers at his local schools had studied in the United States. Adewale wanted to be a doctor. A great education, he recognized, would set him on the path to becoming a health care professional — even if the path stretched across the Atlantic Ocean.
He started on the path 1970s style. He went to the library.
One of the schools that responded to his request was Transylvania University. The university invited Adewale to become a student and extended a scholarship offer. From the moment he got off the Greyhound bus in Lexington, he was treated well, he said. The admissions director met him at the bus station in Lexington and walked him to the Transylvania campus.
He looked through stacks of books and periodicals about American universities. He sent handwritten letters requesting applications. He completed forms by hand and mailed those, too. Then he watched the mail faithfully.
The admissions director and faculty connected Adewale to a host family, the family of Dr. Farra Van Meter.
“Dr. Van Meter took me in like family,” said Adewale. He helped Adewale find a job at a medical clinic, and generously advised him on academic and career decisions.
Adewale thrived. He made the Dean’s list every semester. He was also the soccer captain. He enjoyed Lexington.
“I blended in,” Adewale said with a quick laugh. “I am not kidding.”
As Adewale was nearing graduation, he considered the possibility of taking the entrance exam for medical school. The cost to take the test, though, discouraged him. Dr. Van Meter thought there could be a different, better route for Adewale. He suggested enrolling in the medical technology program at the University of Kentucky.
The medical technology program had a reputation for being rigorous, but Adewale continued to excel. It was a small class, and he was the only international student.
“You must be qualified academically and have the attitude and character to meet the challenge,” he said.
While at UK, Adewale and students from South America created a soccer team.
“In the evening, we would play and hope the police would not chase us off the lawn,” he said.
After soccer and studies, he worked at UK in pathology.
After graduating as a medical technologist, Adewale worked at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington. He was later promoted to a clinical role in surgery. During this time, he married and had children as well.
In 1979 he had an opportunity to work at a teaching hospital in Nigeria.
“I told Dr. Van Meter, and he said, ‘Grab it.’”
Adewale was glad he did. It was an opportunity to continue his work in health care while being closer to his parents. He also welcomed the opportunity for his wife to travel and have access to professional opportunities abroad.
Ever devoted to education and health care, Adewale returned to the United States after several years. He enrolled in the Physician Assistant Studies program at UK and graduated in 1994. He calls his work as a physician assistant, “the best of my life.”
He returned to Nigeria where he worked for Ahmadu Bello University at the teaching hospital in Zaria. He was responsible for supporting students during their clinical rotations in pediatric health. He co-authored a curriculum for students enrolled in the Nigerian medical program and appreciated the opportunity to help prepare the next generation of medical care providers.
Today Adewale is retired and living in the United States. He is very appreciative of his education at the UK College of Health Sciences.
He credits his CHS education with helping to provide a lifetime of work that was deeply meaningful and significant.
“I can’t say anything more than “Thank you, God,” he said.
All throughout 2025, the College of Health Sciences will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of our Physician Assistant Studies program.
Alumni, if you want to contribute to the history archive please contact us using the link below.
The UKPA Program is planning a 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala to commemorate the milestone on Oct. 25, 2025. For information about serving as an event sponsor, contact Loralyn Cecil, laceci2@uky.edu.
chs.uky.edu/physician-assistant-studies/50-years
Clara Bond is Making Sure Those with Disabilities are Not Ignored
BY RYAN CLARK CHS Communications Director
Clara Bond has always had a passion for making sure those with disabilities aren’t ignored — and it’s now become a large part of her college life, too.
Bond, a senior Human Health Sciences major (pre-PA track) from Bowling Green, Ky., started UK’s undergraduate student club for KARRN, the Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network, a collaborative team that advocates to empower communities impacted by disability. Their focus is improving the quality of life for all, and the organization is directed under the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and led by Patrick Kitzman, PhD., and professor in Physical Therapy
“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for people with disabilities,” she said. “My cousin — I’ve always been super close with him — and he has cerebral palsy and corpus callosum. So, I‘ve always just had a passion that people with different abilities are included and not ignored. Whenever I looked into the KARRN group, I thought this would be the perfect job for me.”
After debating what the club’s focus could be, the group decided to assess campus buildings for accessibility and suggest changes when needed. They have also provided education to children in various schools across the Fayette County school district.
Want to listen to more of Clara’s story?
Listen to episode 15 of The Way Podcast, the official podcast of the College of Health Sciences, where we highlight the amazing people that make our college special.
Find it at chs.uky.edu/about/the-way-podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
“We printed out maybe 200 flyers for our first meeting,” she said. “We just said we were starting a club and wanted people to come. Then we ended up talking to about 50 students.”
And they started investigating, and what they found was that some buildings on campus need major upgrades. Then they presented their findings to University officials — who listened and agreed.
“We’ve assessed many buildings, made a lot of progress, and we don’t plan to stop,” she said. “It’s been very positive with the University. They asked us to bring more to them.”
Now, Clara is looking for others who share this same passion — others who can take over when she graduates in the spring. They do not, however, need to be students in the College of Health Sciences. Clara says the group can be fun and rewarding for students in any major.
“Everyone is welcome,” she said. “I’m really hoping to find someone this year who wants to take this over. We need to build our numbers this year. But I know there are so many people out there who want to do things like this. I’m excited for what they will do with the club after I’m gone. I’ve very proud of our group and what we’ve done.”
CHS OFFICE
OF RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
FACULTY AWARDS RECEIVED
6.2.2024 - 11.15.2024
Karen Badger, PhD, MSW
KY Council on Developmental Disabilities Health and Clinical Sciences
$239,334
Christopher Fry, PhD
Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
Brian Noehren, PhD
Physical Therapy and BioMotion Lab
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
$2,482,410
Christopher Fry, PhD
University of Utah Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
$733,952
Shelley Irving, MSPAS, PA-C
Health Resources and Services Administration Physician Assistant Studies
$1,749,339
Patrick Kitzman, PT, PhD
KY Council on Developmental Disabilities
$48,912
KY Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Physical Therapy
$125,878
Allison Owen, PhD
National Institute of General Medical Sciences Physical Therapy
$1,871,327
Danielle Torp-Kosik, PhD, ATC
Department of Defense Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
$2,480,329
McDougall Student Endowed Scholarship Fund
Dr. Lori A. Bolgla ‘05, ‘97
Mr. Keith J. Hudson ‘97
Mr. Matthew L. Turner ‘90
Dwain Robert Rice Memorial Scholarship Fund
Dr. Esther Dupont-Versteegden
Mr. Keith J. Hudson ‘97
Ethan Earlywine Student Emergency Endowment Fund
Georgetown Community Hospital
Dr. Sharon R. Stewart
Amy M. Waugh Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
Dr. Johanna M. Hoch ‘13
Ms. Charlotte F. Waugh
Mary Lloyd Ireland Active Girls and Healthy Women Endowed Fund
Ms. Kathleen J. DeBoer
Ms. Brigid L. DeVries
Deirdre M. Dlugonski
Mrs. Alicia Helm McCorvey
Mrs. Martha B. Schlegel
Health Sciences Development Scholarship Fund
Ms. Bonnie E. Boggs ‘77
Health Sciences Academic Fund for Excellence
Dr. Ming-Yuan Chih
Ms. Laura L. Justice ‘91
Mrs. Therese K. Kopytko
Mr. Barret Lanham May
Mrs. Denise N. McCarthy
Dr. Randa Remer-Eskridge
Mr. James M. Rhodes ‘12
Physician Assistant Studies Development Alumni Fund
Dr. Kevin M. Schuer
Clinical Laboratory Sciences Development Alumni Fund
Mr. Chad Guilliams
Clinical Nutrition Development Alumni Fund
Mrs. Carol J. Chappell
Physical Therapy Development Alumni Fund
Mr. Keith J. Hudson ‘97
Mrs. Whitney Lush Quiambao ‘00
Dr. Barbara L. Sanders ‘72
CAHP Athletic Training Development and Alumni Fund
Ms. Jaclyn K. Donovan
Brian Wise Scholarship Fund
Dr. Carrie Baker ‘12
SMRI Gift Fund
Dean Scott M. Lephart
Dr. Nicholas R. Heebner
Medical Laboratory Science Scholarship Fund
Ms. Phyllis J. Goodrich ‘75
Ms. Amy Leeann Hardison
College of Health Sciences Samaritan’s Touch Clinic Fund
Doctorate of Physical Therapy Class of 2024
Active Girls Healthy Women Gift Fund
Dr. Lori A. Bolgla ‘05
Ms. Julia Emberton Moran
Ms. Mary F. Vaughan
Ellen Felice Mattacola Scholarship Fund
Ms. Jaclyn K. Donovan
Dr. Carl G. Mattacola
Physical Therapy Program Scholarship Fund
Mr. Keith J. Hudson ‘97
Mr. Jonathan Edward Perkins
Communication Sciences Disorders Scholarship Fund
Dr. Anne Desmarais Olson ‘10
Grace Jones Memorial Fund
Ms. Erin Alft
Ms. Mary E. Allen ‘05
Dr. Richard D. Andreatta
Dr. Karen S. Badger
Mr. Richard M. Bloyd
Ms. Ramona A. Carper ‘92
Mr. Keith E. Cecil
Ms. Loralyn A. Cecil
Dr. Karen F. Clancy ‘91
Mr. Ryan F. Clark
Mrs. Carol A. Collier ‘59
Mr. John Cruz
Dr. Elizabeth A. Debski
Ms. Carolyn L. Dennis ‘82
Dr. Esther Dupont-Versteegden
Mrs. Lisa K. Echsner ‘85
Dr. Susan K. Effgen
Mr. Scott A. Fannin
Mr. Frank Gdovka
Ms. Phyllis J. Goodrich ‘75
Dr. Courtney Allison Hatcher ‘17 and ‘21
Ms. Margie Hegge
Ms. Susan L. Herrick
Ms. Mary Jo Hidecker
Mrs. Cynthia L. Hile ‘71
Ms. Shannon M. Hoard ‘96
Dr. Johanna M. Hoch ‘12
Ms. Meredith L. Houlihan
Mrs. Sherrie L. Keller ‘99
Dr. Sarah E. Kercsmar
Mr. Patrick H. Kitzman ‘99
Dr. Jane O. Kleinert ‘05
Kandi Kretzschmar
Dr. Janice M. Kuperstein
Ms. Kara Lynch Lee ‘97 and ‘08
Mrs. Virginia W. Longnecker ‘82
Ms. Joanna I. Lyon ‘96
Mrs. Trudi Lynn Matthews
Mrs. Denise N. McCarthy
Mrs. Chrystal E. Means ‘90
Ms. Kaye Combs Moore ‘73
Dr. Denise ODell
Dr. Anne Desmarais Olson ‘10
Mrs. Sue B. Overman
Dr. Judith L. Page
Mrs. Deborah Puckett ‘73
Dr. Brian C. Rymond
Dr. Barbara L. Sanders ‘72
Dr. Casey O. Shadix
Dr. Kimberly Idele Tumlin
Mr. Roddy Williams
Clinical Leadership & Management Development/Alumni Gift Fund
Mr. Mark A. Slone ‘96
Gorman Family Medical Laboratory Sciences
Fahringer Underwood Scholarship Fund
Lynn Chappell ‘18
Marie Childress ‘14