To explain those issues, they went to Dr. Michael Karpf, executive vice president of UK HealthCare.

Karpf met Wednesday with about 15 journalists from other countries, including Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands and China. The group discussed the issues surrounding health care reform, including what the Affordable Health Care Act looks like and concerns that have been voiced about the plan.

"We talked about the fact that the two major drivers are coverage and cost," Karpf said. "There are more than 50 million Americans who are uninsured or underinsured, and a cost of 17 percent of the gross domestic product is just unsustainable, and it's increasing."

And while he didn't take sides with the politics involved, Karpf did say that, in his judgment, the most important issue to address first is cost, rather than coverage.

"Cost and coverage are both critical," Karpf said. "I probably would have worked on the cost issue first, then explored the coverage issue when the cost was under control."

Karpf said the reporters were deeply analytical of the health care issue, and that they came looking for a basic understanding of the issues at hand. After all, Karpf said, there is no right or wrong answer.

"They really wanted to understand what the Affordable Health Care Act will and won't do," Karpf said.

The participants in Wednesday's discussion came from health care systems that are more centrally driven, Karpf said.

"I pointed out that, ultimately, we either have a private sector health care system that works on competition, quality and cost or we have a budgetary driven system by the government," Karpf said. "Personally, I hope we go through the private route. One economist calls that managed competition - not managed care. That's a model I think we will evolve to."

Karpf said he was honored that the group looked to UK HealthCare for help in understanding these issues.

"I think it's recognition that UK has a special place in the health care system in the Commonwealth, and that we will be major participants - if not a driver - of how health care evolves in the Commonwealth."

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 16, 2012) -- The University of Kentucky Medical Alumni Association honored five physicians during its recent Annual Alumni Reunion and Family Weekend held Oct. 5-6.

The 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Awards were presented to Dr. Jeffrey Cutler of Bethesda, Md., and Dr. William N. Offutt IV of Georgetown, Ky., both from the class of 1968. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes a College of Medicine or resident alumni for significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: education, practice, community and public service, research and advocacy.

Cutler has had a long and distinguished career at the National Institutes of Health in general preventive medicine and has served as a program director, senior scientific advisor, epidemiologist, general medical officer and in other roles. He currently serves as a consultant in the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at NIH. Prior to his retirement in 2007, he was acting chief of the vascular biology and hypertension branch in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases.  

A native of Cambridge, Mass., Cutler received his bachelor's degree at Wesleyan University and then attended the UK College of Medicine. He later earned a master's degree in public health at the Harvard School of Public Health and was a special student in epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.

A good friend and classmate said, “Focusing his career on coordination of cardiovascular research, Jeff is a good example of how a physician with a very strong interest in chronic disease prevention can benefit the lives of countless individuals worldwide for our generation and for future generations.”

Offutt, like his father and grandfather, is an eye surgeon and has been in practice in Central Kentucky now for 40 years. He also has been involved in teaching residents and has been involved locally and nationally with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and several other ophthalmology associations.   

After attending medical school at UK, he completed an internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and ophthalmology residency training at the Wills Eye Hospital in Penn. Offutt was awarded a Heed Fellowship for study in corneal transplant and ophthalmic plastic surgery and is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He established the ophthalmic plastic surgery service at UK where he continued to serve on the faculty for 40 years.

Dr. Offutt has been president of the Lexington and the Kentucky Academy of Ophthalmology, he was a counselor and member of the board of trustees of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and he was appointed to the inaugural board of the Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company.

The Distinguished Young Alumnus Award was presented to Dr. Michael E. Matheny of Nashville, a graduate of the Class of 2001. The Distinguished Young Alumni Award recognizes alumni 40 years of age and younger for their outstanding professional accomplishments at an early age. Since graduating from UK, Matheny has excelled as an accomplished researcher, author and clinician.

He currently is assistant professor of biostatistics at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Along with his medical degree, he also has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from UK and has completed a master's degree in biomedical informatics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master's of public health at Harvard University.

UK College of Medicine Dean Dr. Frederick C. de Beer was recipient of the Commonwealth Alumnus Award which recognizes physicians for their extraordinary level of leadership, commitment and service to the medical profession. De Beer, who also serves as vice president for Clinical Academic Affairs at UK HealthCare, completed his residency at UK in 1994.

De Beer received his medical degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. His postgraduate education was at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London. Prior to coming to the United States in 1989, he served as professor of medicine at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

In 1993, he was named chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine at the UK College of Medicine. He has also served as vice chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, director of the UK Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences, and chief of medicine at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lexington.

In 2003, he was appointed as the Jack M. Gill Professor and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. de Beer has authored or co-authored 129 peer-reviewed publications as well as a number of book chapters and editorials. He maintains an active research laboratory and has been continually funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 20 years.

Also during the ceremony, Dr. Michael Karpf, executive vice president for health affairs at UK, was presented the Honorary Alumnus Award which recognizes outstanding individuals, who are not graduates of the College of Medicine, but who have made significant contributions to the educational mission of the University of Kentucky and the College of Medicine.

Karpf earned a bachelor's degree and medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed an internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He served as a research associate at the National Institutes of Health until 1974 when he returned to the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania to complete his medical residency. During that time, Karpf completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology and served as chief medical resident at the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania and Veterans Administration Hospital.

He held faculty and clinical positions at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Miami School of Medicine, and the University of Pittsburgh. In 1995, Karpf was recruited to the University of California, Los Angles. During his tenure, he integrated three hospitals into one corporate entity. He was responsible for the planning and rebuilding of two replacement hospitals and was instrumental in developing a primary care network for UCLA. He was recruited to UK in September 2003.

Since coming to UK, he has transformed UK HealthCare to a regional academic medical center with world-class facilities including the new Pavilion A at UK Chandler Hospital which includes a new emergency department and a hospital setting designed to support patient care for the next 100 years. He also has led the recruitment of more than 250 senior level positions and established a one-of-a-kind arts in healthcare program.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristi Lopez, kristi.lopez@uky.edu, (859) 323-6363

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 16, 2012) - The following column appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012.

By Dr. Gregory Jicha

It is a common saying among neurologists that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain. Not only is this true of exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping blood pressure within a healthy range, but now a study suggests that blood sugar levels lower than the usual diagnostic criteria for diabetes may be detrimental to brain health.

It has long been known that high blood sugar levels are damaging to the circulatory system, contributing to atherosclerosis (plaques in the arteries) and associated problems like nerve damage, eye and kidney problems, gum disease and even heart attack and stroke. <?xml:namespace prefix = owc />

As a major organ, the brain is dependent on the circulatory system for oxygen and other compounds necessary for cell health. When circulatory health is impeded, the brain suffers.

In the new study conducted by the Australian National University and published in Neurology, 249 people age 60 to 64 each had brain scans four years apart. Those people with higher fasting blood sugar levels were found to have experienced more brain shrinkage in the four-year interval.

Participants who were not diabetic, but who had high blood sugar levels were shown to have experienced brain deterioration. (In the United States, diabetes is commonly diagnosed when fasting blood sugar reaches or exceeds 126 milligrams per deciliter.)

Researchers took into account other factors — such as smoking, alcohol use, age and high blood pressure — that could affect brain health. Even controlling for those factors, the researchers found that 6 to 10 percent of brain loss could be accounted for only by blood sugar levels.

Interestingly, another study in the journal Pediatrics recently showed a link between metabolic syndrome (which includes the insulin resistance seen in pre-diabetes) in teens with worsened brain functioning.

In older adults, numerous studies have shown links between high blood sugar, Type 2 diabetes and dementia. Until now, though, it was unknown whether people with non-diabetic blood sugar levels could experience the same results. The current research suggests that blood sugar ranges too low to be considered diabetes may in fact place people at risk for brain deterioration along with other complications.

So, what can you do? Basically, it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle. Get exercise, eat well and keep your brain active. Make sure to have your doctor keep an eye on your blood sugar ranges, and know your numbers for blood sugar just as you would for cholesterol and blood pressure. If you have questions about your diet, consult a registered dietitian or your doctor.

Dr. Gregory Jicha is the McCowan Endowed Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease at the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 17, 2012) -- The University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging will host the first of a four-part series about Alzheimer's disease training for health care providers on Oct. 23.

"Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment and Research Advances," will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Kentucky Clinic, 740 S. Limestone in room K116, across from the optical shop. It will also be held via teleconference from 6-7:30 p.m. eastern time at the University of Lousiville geriatrics department and St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead. It will be presented from 5-6:30 p.m. central time at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah and Murray-Calloway County Hospital in Murray.

Dr. Greg Jicha will be presenting on the topic. Jicha is the clinical director for the UK Alzheimer’s Disease Center and an associate professor in the Department of Neurology and Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at UK. The presentation will aim to distinguish normal age-related cognitive change from changes associated with dementia and also identify different screening modalities for dementia to use in developing a practice-based screening strategy.

This conference targets physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners, nursing home administrators, home health providers, allied health providers, social workers and other health care professionals who work with persons with Alzheimer’s disease. The presentation can also be used for continuing education credits in medicine, nursing, nursing home administration and social work.

Individual pre-registration is required. Contact Hardin Stevens at OVARGEC@uky.edu or (859) 257-1510 for registration information.

For more information or help finding the location of the conference at the Kentucky Clinic, contact Frank Farmer at fhfarm2@uky.edu or Kari Heflin at kari.heflin@uky.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Elliott, allison.elliott@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2012) — The University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) will host UK Clinical Research Education Day on Friday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place in the UK Chandler Hospital Pavilion H lobby (outside of the administration offices), and will feature a variety of informational tables for patients, faculty, staff and visitors to learn about clinical research.

Organizations providing information at Research Education Day will include: The Kentucky Women's Health Registry, the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), the Speech Pathology/Voice Center, the Veteran's Affairs Hospital, Concussion Assessment Research, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences, the CCTS, the Gill Heart Institute and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. Participating organizations will provide education about the variety of clinical trial opportunities available through their programs, as well as clinical research in general.

In addition, College of Nursing students will provide free blood pressure checks and the College of Health Sciences will provide free checks of grip strength.

UK Research Education Day is open to everyone, and will offer educational opportunities for all with an interest in clinical trials and research. For more information contact: Roxane Poskin, roxane.poskin@uky.edu or (859) 257-7856.

Media Contact: Allison Elliott, allison.elliott@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2012) — The University of Kentucky is hosting the first annual Makenna Foundation Symposium on Pediatric Pulmonary Disease next Friday and Saturday.

The symposium will bring together thought leaders across a spectrum of disciplines to discuss recent advances and future direction in the diagnosis, management, surgical and non-surgical therapies for pulmonary diseases.

Event speakers will present the recent advances in the field that can be applied to patient care and include faculty from the University of Kentucky as well as faculty from other top medical programs across the country.

Friday's program will be held in the UK College of Pharmacy's Biological Pharmaceutical Building Room 234B. It will feature educational sessions by:

• Dr. Charles Hoopes, director of the UK Transplant Program
• Sheila David, executive director of the Makenna Foundation
• Robin Shandas, professor and chair of bioengineering at the University of Colorado
• Dr. Mary Mullen, assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School
• Dr. Brandon Fornwalt, assistant professor at the Kentucky Pediatric Research Institute
• Leighnia Nance, registered nurse at Kentucky Children's Hospital
• Dr. John P. Clancy, director of clinical and translational research at Cincinnati Children's Hospital
• Dr. Albert Faro, co-director of the Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Development Network
• Dr. Jamshed Kanga, professor and chief of the division of pediatric pulmonology at UK
• Dr. Robert Bartlett, director of the ECMO Circulation Laboratory at the University of Michigan
• Dr. Jay Zwischenberger, UK HealthCare surgeon-in-chief

All health care professionals, from physicians to researchers to nurses and students, are invited to attend both Friday and Saturday sessions. The Saturday sessions are also open to the public and free. They will be held in the UK Chandler Hospital Pavilion A Auditorium and will include the following presentations:

• Organ Transplantation: Organ Shortage and Organ Donation; Dr. Andrew Bernard, Chair of the UK Organ Donation and Transplant Action Council
• PVOD and Lung Transplantation: My Journey; Claire Dowling, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) patient and lung transplant recipient
• Viewing of "The Power of Two," an award-winning documentary about twin sisters with cystic fibrosis who received life-saving lung transplants
• Panel discussion on organ donation; Dr. Charles Hoopes

Registration fees for the symposium vary. The fee for physicians is $150 and will include CME credit. Nurses' fee is $35 and will include one CNE credit. The fee for other health professionals is $15; respiratory therapists may receive CEUs for attending. There is no charge for students, residents and fellows.

Attendees must register for the symposium in advance. To register online, visit http://www.cecentral.com/live/5514. For more information regarding registration, contact CE Central at (859) 257-5320 or support@cecentral.com.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 23, 2012) — When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, Rhonda Nunley of South Shore, Ky. wasn't too keen on being a breast cancer advocate.

She attended the first "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" event in Ashland, Ky., in October 2010, just three months after receiving a life-changing diagnosis — stage IV breast cancer, metastasized to her bones. At that event, Nunley said she kept mostly to herself and was hesitant to join the survivors' group.

"I think it's an identity thing," said Nunley. "You don't want to have cancer, and you don't want to be identified as someone who has cancer. I didn't want that sympathy."

At only 39 years old — 37 at the time of her diagnosis — most people might comment that Nunley doesn't look like a typical cancer patient. She has a full head of hair, though she keeps it cropped short. She's young, talkative, and energetic. Though she is currently on disability leave from her regular job as a case worker for Greenup Co. School District, she stays active in her role as president of the Greenup Co. Habitat for Humanity and as the mother of two rambunctious young boys.

Wanting to be around to watch her boys grow up plays a big part in her strength, Nunley says.

"I'm trying to be as healthy as I can for my kids," she said. "It's motivation."

When Nunley first visited her local doctors in January 2010, complaining of tenderness in her left breast, they first assumed it was a milk duct infection — Nunley was only 36 at the time and had only recently stopped breastfeeding her youngest son.

But as the pain continued despite treatment, Nunley went back to her doctors. Mammograms and ultrasounds were ordered, but radiologists found nothing amiss in the tests. After 30 days of hormone treatment, Nunley went to see a surgeon at King's Daughters Hospital in Ashland and received an MRI. There, the surgeon delivered the bad news — breast cancer.

The news was shocking, especially coming after months of diagnostic testing that revealed nothing, but Nunley points out that her young age may have played a factor. Most women don't begin receiving mammograms until the age of 40, based on national guidelines.

"I had a mammogram, but I was so young that they didn't have anything to compare that mammogram to," Nunley said. 

After the diagnosis, Nunley came to Lexington Clinic and had a mastectomy on her left breast — she says the surgeons removed a 12-centimeter tumor. Further testing showed that the cancer had gotten into 10 of her lymph nodes, and the cancer had spread into her bones.

As a metastatic cancer patient, she will need additional cancer therapies for the rest of her life.

Based on a recommendation from a friend, Nunley sought help from Dr. Suleiman Massarweh, a breast oncologist at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center. Determined to shop around for the most effective cancer treatments, she also visited the Cleveland Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for second opinions.

Massarweh actually encouraged her to seek a second opinion, Nunley said, a fact that surprised her but gave her confidence about his abilities.

"He encouraged me to go, and even said that if I decided to go (to MD Anderson) that I should go before the weather in Houston got too hot!" Nunley said.

Massarweh is a strong advocate of second opinions, pointing out that patients are often rushed into treatment without time to thoroughly examine their options.

"It's critical for patients diagnosed with breast cancer to spend an adequate amount of time learning about the disease, its prognosis, and all available treatment options," Massarweh said. “This understanding will help them make the best decision they can to optimize their outcome."

After speaking with the other oncologists, Nunley decided to stay at Markey. Even though she lives two hours away, she visits the Markey Cancer Center for chemotherapy on a weekly basis, usually accompanied by her husband.

And these days, she's much more willing to speak about her cancer experience, particularly to share an important message — your family history is important. After her diagnosis, she discovered that her paternal grandmother had also been diagnosed with breast cancer in her 30's. Nunley and her family knew her grandmother had received treatment for breast cancer in her 60's, but they hadn't realized that its first occurrence had come at such an early age.

Subsequent genetic testing showed that Nunley had inherited the BRCA1 gene mutation from that side of her family. Women with an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene have up to a 60 percent risk of developing breast cancer by age 90, and they are often encouraged to get mammograms earlier than the standard age 40.

"The big thing was the family history link," Nunley said. "That would have been a big red flag for me and my health professionals."

There's a perception that breast cancer mainly affects older patients, but Massarweh says patients of any age should take any unusual symptoms seriously.

"It’s unfortunate that many primary care providers don’t think of breast cancer as a possibility when young women present with breast symptoms,” Massarweh said. “Age is not a guard against breast cancer, and all too often symptoms are dismissed until cancer becomes more advanced. In this particular instance, Rhonda happened to harbor a mutation that was the underlying cause for her breast cancer, something that was only known after the fact once she was diagnosed."

Having just completed her third "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk, Nunley says she has grown more comfortable into her role as a breast cancer advocate.

"You can't be a 'non-survivor,'" Nunley said. "There's a certain power to (being a cancer survivor). If you're quiet about it, people aren't going to know. Cancer can be part of your life, but it doesn't have to consume your life."

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Perry, (859) 323-2399 or allison.perry@uky.edu.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 24, 2012) — For most babies, reaching the one-year mark is just another milestone on the growth chart. For baby Clay Eaton of Irvine, Ky., who is officially one year old today, it's a miracle.

Clay was diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in the 18th week of gestation — a birth defect that severely hampered his chances of survival. The day he was born, his parents, Hannah and Eric, were prepared but anxious for Clay to arrive and start receiving treatment.

"It was really overwhelming, and I was thinking 'This is the calm before the storm,'" Hannah said. "When he came out, I was anxious to hear if there was a cry or not — and he made a little cry, like a whimper. We could hear that little whimper all the way down the hall — and it was good to hear even that small noise."

The average survival rate for babies born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia is about 60-70 percent; however, due to the severity of Clay's defect, his doctors gave him only a 10 percent chance of survival — unless Clay could receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support once he was born, which would raise his survival chances to about 75 percent.

During Hannah's pregnancy, the Eatons were referred to the University of Kentucky, where physicians have utilized ECMO support since 1994. UK houses one of only two comprehensive ECMO programs in the state of Kentucky, and was recently awarded a prestigious ECMO Center of Excellence designation by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.

The thought of Clay needing ECMO was frightening, says Hannah, but ultimately their best possible option.

"We were hoping we wouldn't have to use ECMO," Hannah said. "I guess in my mind, ECMO meant really, really sick babies, and I didn't want to think about Clay being a sick baby… but once the time came, there was no other route."

Clay was born on Oct. 24, 2011, via a planned Cesarean section. His small intestines, liver and spleen had formed in his chest cavity, pushing against his lungs. As a result, his lungs were not fully developed, and his heart was pushed over to the right side of his body.

"Neither of Clay's lungs could fully expand," said Dr. Hubert Ballard, director of neonatal and pediatric ECMO at UK. "And that's why ECMO was so important for Clay and for other newborns with similar defects. ECMO is essentially like a prolonged heart-lung bypass — it allowed the machine to do the work of those organs while his lungs healed and expanded."

Clay was placed on ECMO support at only 18 hours old, and remained on the system for eight days so that his lungs could recover. The ECMO support also allowed pediatric surgeon Dr. John Draus and his team to move Clay's internal organs down into the abdomen and construct a diaphragm from mesh to replace the half that was missing.

"Access to ECMO was critically important for Clay, and I do not believe he would have survived without it," said Draus.  "Furthermore, I don't believe he would have survived transport to UK if he had been born at a hospital that did not provide ECMO.  He was very unstable and there was no time for delay."

Clay and his parents spent the next eight months at Kentucky Children's Hospital. Draus has so far performed eight procedures on Clay, including placement of J-tube (a feeding tube that hooks directly into the jejunum) and further surgery to repair the first mesh diaphragm, which needed adjusting as Clay grew. But on June 26, Hannah and Eric finally got to bring their baby boy home to Irvine.

At home, Clay still requires much specialized care — he is still hooked up to a ventilator to help him breathe, and he still has his J-tube. The equipment requires near-constant supervision for blockages or other problems, but it's all part of being able to stay at home in the comfort of what Hannah affectionately calls their CICU — Clay Intensive Care Unit.

"It was amazing to be able to bring him home," Hannah said. "The doctors and nurses trained us well on using the equipment, and we felt completely comfortable going home."

Now a year old and counting, Clay continues to improve and grow. His pulmonologist, Dr. Michael Anstead, has given the Eatons the go-ahead to begin weaning Clay off of his ventilator. In the next few months, Draus plans to do a procedure to give Clay a G-tube (a feeding tube that will go directly into the stomach) to replace the J-tube, and eventually the Eatons will begin easing him into solid foods.

As he grows, says Draus, Clay's doctors will keep a close eye on him for any potential problems that may occur in the future. Though Clay cannot speak yet, due to his tracheotomy, Draus said Clay is progressing nicely.

"Clay is doing very well given how sick he was," Draus said. "He smiles, looks around, grabs things, and recognizes his parents – many of the things that a 'normal' baby his age does. He will hopefully catch up in the future and have a long, happy life."

Draus places much of the credit for Clay's good health on his parents' devotion to his care.

"Clay's an incredibly lucky boy to have two loving parents taking care of him," Draus said. "I cannot stress enough the value of this for babies who have multiple medical problems."

Hannah, who serves as a full-time stay-at-home mother to Clay, credits the strong support system she has at home — the family members and friends who have always been willing to lend a hand when she or Eric needed a break.

"It's a sacrifice, I guess, to stay at home with him all the time, but I wouldn't want it any other way," Hannah said. "We have lots of family close by who have been a huge help, and that support has made all the difference in his well-being… and ours!"

To learn more about the Eatons' experience, visit Hannah's blog Breathing for Baby Clay. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Perry, (859) 323-2399 or allison.perry@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 26, 2012) − Once the decision was made to incorporate dental education into the University of Kentucky's new medical campus in 1956, a vision of excellence and tradition was put into place by a newly appointed dean and a small group of faculty members who worked to build what is today the UK College of Dentistry. This year, the college is celebrating 50 years of providing superior dental education and healthcare.

Inaugural Dean Alvin L. Morris had a clear goal in mind - build a dental curriculum that departed from the traditional one that focused heavily on surgical treatment of disease and psychomotor skills. Morris believed dentists needed a stronger understanding of systemic/medical health, needed to be able to treat soft tissue conditions in the mouth, and needed to have just as much skill in thinking as they did in using their hands. He changed the focus to be more balanced and worked hard to better integrate the basic biomedical sciences to the clinical dental sciences.

"Starting a college in an empty cornfield was pretty exciting," said Stephen Dachi, then chair of the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine. "But most importantly, we worked together as a team to develop a philosophy and a curriculum we wanted, the kinds of professionals we wanted to educate, and the professional environment we wanted to foster in Kentucky."

The college opened for classes in the fall of 1962, starting out with a small class of 25 students. Unlike other dental schools at that time, UK adopted a diagonal curriculum, introducing students immediately to clinical experience along with basic science rather than waiting until their third year which was the traditional approach at the time the school was founded. Every student was given a key to the dental building so they could use laboratories or the library at any hour.

Within in a few months of opening, UK began to attract international attention. The Journal of Dental Education devoted its entire December 1962 edition to the new dental school, calling it "the first of the second generation of dental schools." Several new schools were in the planning at that time and what UK did was thought to be so revolutionary and so good that it was likely to be emulated by the new schools as they opened- a new generation meaning a new type of curriculum and teaching model.

The College of Dentistry was set on a course of greatness from infancy that continues to this day. The college has made an indelible mark on the local community that extends to the far corners of Kentucky and the world through education, research and service to others.

The Center for Oral Health Research at the College of Dentistry supports multidisciplinary basic, applied, clinical and epidemiological research in partnerships with other colleges across campus and nationally. The clear link between oral health and overall health serves as a catalyst for many of the Center's research initiatives, such as the "Centering Pregnancy Smiles" program which served 600-800 women and provided dental education and treatments for tooth and gum disease in an effort to prevent pre-term low-birth rate babies.

A collaboration with UK College of Nursing colleagues has implemented the "Heart Health" project focusing on rural patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and implementing behavioral interventions to empower them to lower their risk for a cardiac event.  COHR research projects also engage cardiology collaborators to develop salivary biodiagnostics for coronary artery disease, and gastroenterologists and obstetrical nursing faculty to determine the effect of poor oral health reflecting risk for inflammatory bowel disease gestational diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

“The research mission goes back to why the UK College of Dentistry was founded,” said Jeff Ebersole, director of the Center for Oral Health Research. “We have a statewide mandate to improve the oral health of Kentuckians” and our founders believed that research was a major factor to meet this expectation.

The spirit of volunteerism has flourished at the UK College of Dentistry over the decades. Students not only excel academically and grow professionally, but also embrace the college’s mission of improving the healthcare of Kentuckians through outreach and service.

From the early days of the college, faculty and students have gone out into underserved areas of the state to offer dental care to school children.  The first mobile dental unit in the late 1960s, affectionately known as the "Mink Mobile," was named for Dr. John Mink, a founding faculty member in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry who recently retired after 50 years of service to the College.

Over the years, the mobile program expanded into far Eastern, Central and Western Kentucky. It is the largest, dental education based, children’s dental outreach program in the nation. UK currently operates a fleet of four mobile dental clinics and a dental outreach program serving elementary school children and Head Start children in more than 40 Kentucky counties. 

Service to the community-at-large is a tradition firmly rooted in the mission of the college that is carried on today through the many programs of the college, which, in addition to the mobile dental program, includes the nationally recognized Saturday morning clinics that for over 25 years have  provided free clinical checkups for Lexington area children, and the Twilight Clinic that offers pediatric dentistry at a low-cost to countless children who might not otherwise be able to afford basic dental care.

Today, the College of Dentistry has grown into a college leading in innovation, committed to outreach, and boasting more than 2,400 alumni worldwide, all the while remaining true to the mission established by the founders. Currently, the faculty is comprised of 69 full-time and 44 part-time faculty members along with basic science and behavioral science faculty drawn from multiple departments within the College of Medicine. Currently, there are 227 Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) students enrolled for the 2012-2013 academic year and the average class size is 57 students.

The College offers a four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree. In addition, the College offers advanced educational programs leading to specialties in periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatric dentistry, orofacial pain, and orthodontics.  Additionally, the College offers a hospital based general practice residency in dentistry which enhances a dental practitioners’ ability to work with patients who have complex medical histories. In periodontics and orthodontics, students also earn a Master of Science degree from the University of Kentucky Graduate School. Additionally, the option of a master's degree is available in both orofacial pain and pediatric dentistry. The College also offers many annual continuing education courses for practicing dental professionals are an important dimension of the College's educational activities and service to the profession of dentistry.

"The UK College of Dentistry provides a rare and unique environment for students to obtain an outstanding dental education while they also grow to appreciate the importance of professional service for those who are underserved such that they strongly support concepts of social justice," said Sharon Turner, current dean of the UK College of Dentistry. "What we do today is even more relevant than it was 50 years ago and it was Dr. Morris’ vision that has kept us in an enviable position nationally as a dental education institution.”     

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859) 312-3587 or ann.blackford@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 29, 2012) — The University of Kentucky has honored Dr. Anthony N. DeMaria by establishing the Anthony N. DeMaria Chair in Cardiovascular Imaging at the Gill Heart Institute. Dr. Vincent L. Sorrell, director of cardiovascular imaging at the UK Gill Heart Institute, was named as the inaugural chair at the October 2012 investiture in Lexington, Ky.

DeMaria was raised in Bayonne, N.J., where he attended Washington School and Marist High School. His parents are the late Anthony DeMaria Sr., and 96-year-old Charlotte DeMaria, who still resides in the family  home in Bayonne. DeMaria graduated from Holy Cross College in Massachusetts, and in 1968 from New Jersey College of Medicine. He completed his cardiology fellowship training at the University of California-Davis and upon completion joined the faculty at the Unversity of California-Davis. 

In 1981, he accepted the position as chief of cardiology at the University of Kentucky.  He remained in that position until 1992 when he accepted the position as professor of medicine and chief, Division of Cardiology at the University of California-San Diego.  In 2004, he founded the University of California San Diego Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center.  His field of specialization is cardiac imaging techniques, particularly echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart).

DeMaria is a diplomate in the American Board of Internal Medicine and is board-certified by the Subspecialty Board in Cardiovascular Disease.  He is past president of the American College of Cardiology as well as past president of the American Society of Echocardiography.  He has served as a member of the Subspecialty Board on Cardiovascular Disease of the American Board of Internal Medicine and chair of the Diagnostic Radiology Study Section of the National Institutes of Health.  DeMaria holds memberships in numerous professional organizations, including the American Heart Association, the American Federation for Clinical Research and the Association of University Cardiologists.

DeMaria is currently the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and has served as an editorial consultant and member of various other editorial boards.  He has authored or co-authored more than 530 articles for medical journals.  DeMaria is listed in the Best Doctors in America, and by Good Housekeeping magazine as one of the Best Heart Doctors in America.

 “Tony brought UK to the forefront in technology and academic exposure and he taught us all how to write and teach. But most of all, he taught us how to be doctors,” said Dr. Mikel Smith, director of the Gill’s Echocardiography Laboratory, speaking of his time as a cardiology fellow under DeMaria.

Asked to describe his feelings upon the chair being named for him, DeMaria said:
“Among the incredible opportunities I’ve had as president of the American College of Cardiology and Echocardiography, serving on the Board of Internal Medicine and being host of “Cardiology Update” [television program], the editor-in-chief of JACC, etc.,etc., this is the biggest honor of my life.”

Remarking on the caliber of faculty currently at the Gill Heart Institute and the fellowship education program, he said: “From everything I’ve seen here, UK is poised to be launched as one of the absolute top cardiovascular programs in the world. The leadership has been extraordinary.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Elliott, allison.elliott@uky.edu

“Creating a lasting tribute to those who have given hope and new life through donation has been a dream of UK and KODA for many years,” said Donna Slone, client services coordinator for KODA at UK HealthCare. “There have been nearly 1,000 donors at UK since transplantation began here in 1964. Some have chosen to remain anonymous, but we hope other families of UK donors that we did not reach this year will see the Gift of Life wall and allow us to add those names in the future.”

The names of 240 individuals who provided the gift of life through organ and tissue donation were read aloud during the official ceremony and unveiled on the Gift of Life wall, located inside Pavilion A adjacent to the Gill Heart Institute.

More than 500 donor family members and guests attended the ceremony to honor their loved ones. Michelle Landers, whose 17-year-old daughter, Hannah, became an organ donor in 2008, was involved in the memorial planning and shared her daughter's story as a featured speaker.

“I am very honored to have been a part of the planning committee for the donor memorial wall and to have been asked to share Hannah’s story," Landers said. "Our family continues to be very proud of her decision to be an organ donor, and we are so grateful that UK and KODA have chosen to publicly honor her and the many other organ and tissue donors in such a beautiful way.” 

The ceremony featured a musical performance by liver recipient Katie Raybould as well as remarks from heart recipient Zack Poe, UK HealthCare's Chief Nursing Officer Colleen Swartz and Dr. Andrew Bernard, UK's director of trauma and acute care surgery and the chair of the Donation and Transplantation Action Council, who emphasized the importance of organ donation in Kentucky.

“Organ and tissue donation can save and improve lives in our community, around Kentucky and across the nation,” Bernard said. “Joining the donor registry gives hope to those in need of organ and tissue transplants, while leaving a legacy of generosity for the donor and his or her family.”

Every year, an estimated 6,000 people die while waiting for an organ transplant. More than 116,000 Americans are currently waiting for donated organs, including 880 people in Kentucky. Their names are on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list. The level of necessity, blood type, and size are among several criteria that determine who can receive a donated organ. One individual donor can provide organs and tissue for nearly 50 people in need.

After her son Marc Schuster's untimely death in 1993, Janet Mart and her family opted to have his organs donated, and eight patients received the gift of life from his donation. As a result, Mart became passionate about raising awareness for organ donation, and she now works as a KODA Family Support Liaison where she counsels families who are going through experiences similar to hers.

This year, Marc's name is the earliest one celebrated on the wall. For Mart, the memorial provides another way for donors like her son to be honored for their sacrifices.

"He deserves this recognition and it helps ensure that he will never be forgotten," Mart said. "What happened to him was no fault of his own, as is the case with most of our donors."

Mart, who has been with KODA full-time for 16 years, says that her son's tragedy has given her life new purpose.

"The birth of your child often defines who you are," Mart said. "And in my case, the death of my child continues to define who I am and what I do."

Although hospitals are obligated by law to identify potential donors and inform families of their right to donate, anyone can sign up to become an organ donor by joining the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry. The registry is a safe and secure electronic database where a person’s wishes regarding donation will be carried out as requested.

To join the registry, visit www.donatelifeky.org or sign up when you renew your driver’s license.  The donor registry enables family members to know that you chose to save and enhance lives through donation. Kentucky’s “First Person Consent” laws mean that the wishes of an individual on the registry will be carried out as requested. 

If your loved one was an organ donor at UK Chandler Hospital and you would like to have him or her honored on the Gift of Life wall in the future, contact Donna Slone at (859) 323-7343 or donna.slone.koda@uky.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Perry, (859) 323-2399 or allison.perry@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 1, 2012) — At the age of 5, Dr. Jacqueline Noonan began dreaming of being a doctor. At the age of seven, she decided she wanted to be a pediatrician.

She never even considered that it might be more difficult because of her gender.

"It never dawned on me that there would be prejudice because I was a woman," Noonan said. "I never presumed that if anything bad or good happened to me, it had anything to do with me being a woman."

Today, Noonan is one of eight female heart specialists at UK HealthCare who have carried on a strong tradition of female cardiologists.

“We are fortunate to have had several female icons in cardiology at UK — Jacqueline Noonan, Nancy Flowers, Cindy Grines among them," said Dr. Susan Smyth, chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and co-director of the Gill Heart Institute. "These trailblazing women made fundamental contributions to congenital heart disease, electrophysiology, and percutaneous management of heart disease. Their dedication to the field opened many doors for other women.”    

In addition to Drs. Noonan, Flowers, and Smyth, other current female faculty specializing in heart disease at UK HealthCare are cardiologists Dr. Allison Bailey, Dr. Sara Rugg, Dr. Melina Aguinaga-Meza, and Dr. Anna Kamp, director, pediatric electrophysiology lab and Dr. Deborah Kozik, a cardiothoracic surgeon.

In her first class at the University of Vermont Medical School, Noonan was one of four women.

When she came to UK to teach her first class in 1961, she had one female student.

Still, Noonan never saw gender as an issue.

"Even if it was, I wouldn't have paid attention to it," Noonan said. "A lot of it is in the eye of the beholder. If things don't go right, you can always blame it on something. But that's just life. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't.

"You have to have confidence in what you're doing, and you have to know that your life has value — it has as much value as anyone else's. Think positively. Don't blame other people when things don't go right. Look to yourself and see if you did the best job you could do, work hard, and be dedicated."

During her more than 51 years as a cardiologist, Noonan has received numerous accolades, including having a congenital heart disorder named after her — Noonan Syndrome, which is characterized by distinct facial traits, short stature, and congenital heart defects.

Noonan retired in 1999 and became a professor emeritus. However, she still sees patients at regional heart clinics in Eastern Kentucky two times per month, and still works with students on a daily basis. She has had a hand in teaching every group of students who have graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine since it opened in 1961.

"I don't have children of my own, but I have many, many students and patients who are like my children," Noonan said.

Despite leading a tradition of women cardiologists at UK, Noonan stresses that gender should play no role in anyone's dream to become a cardiologist or any kind of doctor. Anyone, despite his or her gender, can work hard and reach their dreams.

"If you have a passion for something, go for it," Noonan said. "If it's a difficult road, you've just got to be willing to work hard. Work hard and you can succeed."

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 2, 2012) — Nominations are open for the inaugural Amy R. Wilson Award for Exemplary Performance at UK HealthCare.

The award was established to honor the extraordinary contributions of Amy R. Wilson, who served as the administrative director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology from 1979 until her death from breast cancer in 2011. It will be presented annually to recognize a staff member who exemplifies UK HealthCare's core values and the professional qualities and compassionate service that characterized Wilson's career.

“Amy dedicated her professional life to providing support and guidance to many women receiving cancer treatment at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center," said Dr. John van Nagell, Jr., professor and director of the UK Division of Gynecologic Oncology. "She was a tremendous advocate for UK Healthcare.”

Nominees for the award should demonstrate diligence, professionalism, compassion for patients, collegiality and teamwork, innovation in achieving goals, a service focus and a commitment to excellence. All full-time non-faculty members of the UK HealthCare and UK College of Medicine staff are eligible for nomination.

The winner will be selected by a committee of representatives from the UK HealthCare faculty, Leadership Team, Office of Service Excellence and the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He or she will be celebrated with a public announcement at a leadership ceremony in December, and will receive a plaque and a $500 cash stipend.

The nominating period will be open until Friday, Nov. 30. Nominators must be full- or part-time faculty or full-time staff at UK HealthCare or the UK College of Medicine, and must complete the two-page nomination form and submit it to Amberlee Nickell in the Office of Service Excellence by the Nov. 30 deadline.

Completed nomination forms may be submitted via e-mail to amberlee.nickell@uky.edu. Forms may also be dropped off in person or through campus mail to UK Chandler Hospital, Pavilion H, Room C101.

For more information about the Amy R. Wilson award, contact Amberlee Nickell at (859) 323-2072.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 2, 2012) — The University of Kentucky's chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Dr. Darren Johnson has been named the 2013 Southeastern Conference Team Physician of the Year.

This award is chosen by the athletic training staffs at SEC member institutions and is given annually to recognize a team physician who has contributed greatly to both his or her school's teams and to the SEC sports community. Voting criteria includes both reliability to the physician's athletic department and noted involvement in the field of sports medicine.

Johnson, who began at UK in 1993, currently serves as head orthopaedic surgeon for UK Athletics.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award from my peer institutions throughout the Southeastern Conference,” Johnson said. “It is a great honor and reflection on our entire sports medicine team at UK, which includes our extremely dedicated and devoted athletic training staff and team physicians. Our entire team provides the highest level care possible to our student-athletes.”

The SEC Team Physician of the Year Award is sponsored by DJO Global and the Southern Orthopaedic Association.

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Perry, (859) 323-2399 or allison.perry@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 2, 2012) — The Bluegrass Care Clinic, part of the University of Kentucky Department of Infectious Disease, has recently received millions in funding to advance the care of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Central and Eastern Kentucky.

The Bluegrass Care Clinic was one of 114 community-based organizations, university hospitals and health departments nationwide to be awarded Ryan White Part D funds to enhance the medical care of women, infant, children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS living within the clinic’s 63 county service area.

Under the direction of Dr. Alice C. Thornton, the Bluegrass Care Clinic provides a wide range of services to HIV-infected patients, including: HIV specialty care, primary medical care, medication adherence counseling, medical case management, mental health services and nutrition counseling.  The total award for the Part D grant is $1.2 million over a period of three years (2012-2015).

The clinic was also recently awarded approximately $1.3 million in Ryan White Part B funds from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health, to provide medical case management and supportive services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The BCC is one of six sites across the state of Kentucky funded to provide a wide range of community-based medical and non-medical support services, including physical and mental health care, nutrition and transportation services.

The Part B program serves approximately 850 uninsured and underinsured patients living in 63 Central and Eastern Kentucky counties.

The clinic also receives Ryan White Part C funds in the amount of $699.932 annually from 2010-2015, for a total of $3.4 million over five years. The BCC receives approximately $2.5 million annually in Ryan White funds, making possible a wide array of programming necessary to serve patients.  The goal of the grant program is to fund agencies that can provide comprehensive HIV medical care services to vulnerable populations in areas of greatest need.  

"The Bluegrass Care Clinic's patient population has increased 120 percent since receiving Ryan White funding in 2002, adding an average of 120 patients per year to the practice," said Jana Collins, Bluegrass Care Clinic program coordinator.

Speaking of their experience in the Bluegrass Care Clinic, an unnamed patient said: "[My coordinator's] assistance has been immeasurable. She took care of all the paperwork…[she] made a point of checking in with me."

"In summary," continues the patient, "The program has placed no stress or anxiety on me….I am completely confident that [my coordinator] and the Care Coordinator Program [at Bluegrass Care Clinic] have my best interest at heart."

In addition, Takako Schaninger, an assistant professor in Infectious Disease,  has been awarded a three year grant, beginning in July 2012, to train, educate and mentor rural Kentucky health providers on treating HIV/AIDS, including co-infection with hepatitis and behavioral health concerns. The Southern Central AIDS Education Telehealth Training Center (SCAETTC) will use telehealth and teleconsultation to train and mentor providers. SCAETTC was awarded $250,000 2012, and will receive $200,000 each of the subsequent grant years.

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Elliott, allison.elliott@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2012) - The following column appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Every year, thousands of clinical trials are launched in the United States to evaluate new therapies. Volunteers, both those who are healthy and those who’ve been diagnosed with a disease, are needed for human testing of new drugs, procedures and devices. The purpose of a clinical trial is to determine the safety and efficacy of a potential new therapy.

Participating in a clinical trial offers access to cutting-edge therapies, treatment by leading health care providers and the opportunity to contribute to science. Clinical trials, which are supervised by review boards to minimize risk to participants, are carefully monitored studies that take place after a therapy has <?xml:namespace prefix = owc />passed rigorous laboratory and animal testing.

Finding a clinical trial for which you may be eligible can be as simple as an internet search. Sites like Clinical-Trials.gov list available trials across the country. Institutions like the University of Kentucky also maintain their own registries of people interested in clinical trial participation, and contact potential participants when a trial matching their health needs and interests begins enrollment. Physicians may also be able to connect their patients with clinical trials.

Before enrolling , participants should ask several questions, including:

• What treatment will be provided as part of the study?

• Who will provide care to participants?

• How long will the study last?

• What will be required of the participants?

• What compensation, if any, will be offered for time and travel?

• What are the potential risks and benefits of participation?

• What type of long-term follow-up care is included?

The answers to many of these questions can be found in the informed consent document participants must sign before enrolling in a trial. It’s important to note that informed consent is not a contract — a participant may withdraw their consent and leave a study at any time.

Clinical trials may involve several visits to a health care provider, or even hospitalization, as participants are monitored closely for effects — positive or negative.

Every possible precaution is taken to minimize risk.

Participating in a clinical trial, whether as a healthy volunteer or as a person seeking the latest treatment, offers the opportunity to know you are contributing to science in a meaningful way. Research volunteers directly impact the development of emerging therapies and are the front line in fighting conditions from cancer to childhood illnesses. Development of new therapies hinges on the willingness of trial participants to accept some level of risk in exchange for the opportunity to experience the latest clinical advances.

Dr. Philip Kern is the Director of the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 8, 2012) − Dr. Baretta Casey, professor in the departments of Health Behavior, Health Systems Management, and Preventive Medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and professor at the UK College of Medicine in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, has been elected the new chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The ACGME is responsible for the accreditation of post-MD medical training programs within the United States.

Casey has been a member of the Board of Directors of ACGME since 2006, prior to which she served as chair-elect and vice chair of the Board, chair of the ACGME Committee on Requirements, and as a member of the Board’s Executive Committee.

Casey completed her residency in family medicine at the Trover Clinic Foundation in Madisonville. She received her medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. She also earned her Master's in Public Health at UK, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pikeville College.

Casey serves on multiple national and state medical boards, and has received accolades, awards, and honors for her work in medical education, domestic violence, and community service. Casey will serve a two-year term as the ACGME Board Chair.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859)312-3587 or ann.blackford@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 8, 2012) -- The University of Kentucky will host the second annual Free to Breathe Lung Cancer 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Nov.  10.

Registration for the event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Commonwealth Stadium between gates three and four, 1540 University Drive on the UK campus. The 5K run will begin at 10 a.m. In addition to the 5K run/walk there will also be a one-mile walk option. The 5K walk and one-mile walk will begin at 10:03 a.m. There will also be rally and fundraising awards and warm-up stretches before the run/walk begins.

The event will feature remarks from cancer survivors Phyllis Alexander and Lois Dee, and the UK Markey Cancer Center's Dr. Susanne Arnold will also speak as part of the program.

Lung cancer claims more American lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined and Kentucky leads the nation in lung cancer mortality.  The National Lung Cancer Partnership organizes Free to Breathe events to combat this statistic. It is the only lung cancer advocacy organization founded by physicians and researchers who work together with survivors and advocates to increase lung cancer awareness and research funding. Free to Breathe events raise public awareness of lung cancer in communities across the nation, and the proceeds support vital lung cancer research, public awareness and education programs.

"Free to Breathe is about putting one foot in front of the other to create change in the lives of those impacted by lung cancer," said Lisa Maggio, a UK doctoral nursing student and co-chair of the Free to Breathe walk. "I encourage everyone in Lexington to join this movement that will help bring the attention and funding to lung cancer that it desperately needs."

For more information, or to register or donate, visit the website Free to Breathe Lexington or the Facebook page facebook.com/FreetoBreatheLex.

For other general questions, contact event chairs Gina Kinsella, ginakinsella@yahoo.com, or Lisa Maggio, lisa.maggio@gmail.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Perry, allison.perry@uky.edu or (859) 323-2399

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2012) -- The University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital has been named a winner of the 2012-13 Consumer Choice Award in Modern Healthcare by the National Research Corporation.

The award is given to hospitals that consumers believe provide the highest quality care and maintain the best image in over 300 markets throughout the United States. Winners of the award are chosen based on surveys of over 250,000 households representing over 450,000 consumers in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia.

Of the households surveyed, 3,200 hospitals named by consumers are analyzed and ranked, with the winning facilities being ranked the highest. The internet survey invitations began on September 1, 2011, and extended until the end of August 2012. 

"We congratulate the recipients of the Consumer Choice Awards and salute their efforts to improve performance. Because customer centric care is important across the continuum, we plan to extend this important recognition to addition care settings in the future," said Susan Henricks, president and chief operating officer of the National Research Corporation.

The National Research Corporation is one of the largest patient satisfaction firms in the United States. They are dedicated to representing the true voice of patients and other healthcare stakeholders. They strive to integrate metrics and analytics to uncover insights for effective performance improvement, quality measurement, care transitions and many other factors that impact population health management.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristi Lopez, kristi.lopez@uky.edu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 10, 2012)— Andrew Bernard, medical director for trauma and acute care surgery for UK HealthCare, was the guest on last night's "UK at the Half," which aired during the UK vs. Maryland game that was broadcast on radio.  He discussed the new Kentucky Trauma Care System.

"UK at the Half" airs during halftime of each UK football and basketball game broadcast on radio and is hosted by Carl Nathe of UK Public Relations and Marketing.

To hear the "UK at the Half" interview, click on the play button below. To view a transcript of the "UK at the Half" interview, click here.