Behind The Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 18, 2024) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must: Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winner

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 11, 2024) – [THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE.] Dr. Kenneth Campbell is the director of translational research in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in the UK College of Medicine. His work, to help map out an important part of the heart on a molecular level was part of a study published online in the prestigious journal Nature in 2023. Campbell says the study is important for discovering new drug therapies for heart disease, the leading cause of death in Kentucky. According to the CDC, Kentucky is among the top 10 states with the highest death rate from the disease. On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, Dr. Campbell talks about this important research and how the development of the Gill Cardiovascular Biorepository has helped drive heart muscle research around the world. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be fe

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 4, 2024) – [THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE.] The Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network (KARRN) is a collaborative team that advocates to empower communities impacted by disability. Their focus is improving the quality of life for all. The organization is directed under the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and led by Patrick Kitzman, PT, Ph.D. Each year Kitzman and his team take on multiple projects to help those who need it most. Projects include refurbishing equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers, providing adapted toys to children and fundraising for the Grace Jones Fund. KARRN also has an undergraduate student club on UK's campus led by Clara Bond, a junior in the College of Health Sciences. Their purpose is to assess campus for accessibility and suggest changes where needed. They have also provided education to children in various schools across the Fayette County school district.  This year during One Day for UK, the University's annual giving day, all

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 27, 2024) – In February of this year, we published an episode of Behind the Blue that previewed the UK College of Pharmacy’s ‘Everything is Science’ event. ‘Everything is Science’ is a speaker-series festival that unfolds across various venues throughout Lexington. The idea behind it is to take a large and intimidating topic and make it relatable and accessible in a fun and interactive way. One of the goals of the series is to help people feel more connected to the world they live in. The theme of this year’s ‘Everything is Science’ festival was ‘Make it Make Sense!’, where attendees would embark on a sensory journey, with the focus on the five remarkable human senses: touch, vision, taste, hearing, and smell.  On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, we’re featuring one of the presentations from this year’s festival. Lou Hirsch, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment gave a talk entitled “Fungal Feasts: Fungi are all aro

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 13, 2024) – [THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE.] This week marks the beginning of Campus Pride Week here at the University of Kentucky. Celebrated nationally in June, Campus Pride Week, hosted by the Office of LGBTQ* Resources (housed in the Office for Student Success) allows students, faculty and staff an opportunity to honor pride on campus while the spring semester is still in session.  Throughout the week, the campus acknowledges the diversity of identities, experiences and histories in the LGBTQ+ community and recognizes all who have and continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ lives, rights and visibility.  While this is an annual event at the university, this year will look a bit different, as the Office of LGBTQ* Resources has hired both a new director and assistant director.  Glenn Means, new director, believes the week will provide the campus community with an opportunity to learn about the office’s resources and build community.  Prior to his new role, Means served in the UK College of Pub

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 6, 2024) –For over three decades, Everett McCorvey, D.M.A., has been the driving force as director of UK Opera Theatre, which is part of the School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts. The school has earned a national reputation for excellence in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as in music education, music therapy, composition, theory, and music history. As the first African American to earn a doctoral degree in music from the University of Alabama, McCorvey is personally committed to creating opportunities for UK students from diverse backgrounds to thrive. One of McCorvey’s most renowned projects is ‘It’s A Grand Night for Singing!’, a vibrant, high-energy musical showcase featuring hits from Broadway and beyond. Since its inception in 1992, ‘Grand Night’ has captivated audiences with its Emmy Award-winning performances, highlighting the best of Broadway both past and present. On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, McCorvey shares insights into his upb

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 30, 2024) – After finding great satisfaction in writing his first popular press book, “Vote for US: How to Take Back Our Elections and Change the Future of Voting,” Joshua Douglas was motivated to pursue a similar endeavor for his second book. Douglas, a professor at the UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law, sought advice from a trusted advisor about his new idea, which focused on using bipartisan solutions to improve our elections and potentially circumventing the need for Supreme Court involvement. His advisor suggested that this concept should be the conclusion of his book, proposing instead that Douglas explore why he views the Supreme Court as problematic and why a comprehensive election reform is necessary.  The outcome is Douglas’ second book, released on May 14th, titled "The Supreme Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights." In this book, Douglas delves into significant voting rights cases—some lesser-known and others mor

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 23, 2024) – In October 2016, the UK College of Social Work (CoSW) established a partnership with the Department of Defense to offer the one-of-a-kind Army-UK Master of Social Work degree.  A satellite site was established within the Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston. The satellite implements the full-time, 60-hour CoSW program. The curriculum is delivered in a condensed format over 14 continuous months of study, and all classes are administered face-to-face on the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston campus. The goal is to develop well-qualified clinical social workers to fill positions across military service branches. Colonel Teresa Murray, a graduate of the MSW program, is now the director of the very same program she graduated from. Murray was promoted to the rank of colonel in April of this year. There are currently fewer than 10 active-duty social workers who have earned that title in the army. With more than 21 years of active federal service, Col.

This podcast discusses suicide, which may be difficult and distressing for some to listen to. Resources and assistance are available at 988lifeline.org.  LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 22, 2024) – On May 1, 1824, Eastern State Hospital opened its doors as part of Fayette Hospital, becoming just the second state psychiatric hospital in the nation. Now 200 years later, it also holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating state psychiatric hospital in the U.S. Last week, Eastern State Hospital held a celebration to honors its 200 years of mental health service to the Commonwealth. Lexington lawyer Bruce Simpson – who received treatment at Eastern State Hospital following a suicide attempt – joined the celebration to share his personal story and to thank the staff who helped him.   On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Simpson joins the podcast to talk openly and candidly about his nearly lifelong struggles with mental health, including his suicide attempt. He also highlights the importance of East

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 16, 2024) – Greystar is a global leader in the investment, development, and management of high-quality rental housing properties. Greystar is one of the largest operators of rental housing in the world, with properties including apartments, senior living communities, corporate, and student housing. In 2012, the University of Kentucky embarked upon an historic multi-phased partnership with Greystar to construct state of the art student housing facilities on campus. The development provided new housing to enhance the learning experience for students at the University of Kentucky. The multi-phased project replaced most of the existing student housing located across campus with modern state of the art facilities. Over the past two years, Greystar and the University have embarked on a new partnership – working with students through the Explore First: Careers, Cultures and Connections program. Explore First is an education abroad program designed to equip and empower First-Generation students

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 9, 2024) – UK HealthCare employs dozens of nurses from around the world, advancing care for a diverse Commonwealth while also providing an opportunity for international nurses to advance and continue their careers in a cutting-edge health care environment.   But packing up your life to work at a hospital on the other side of the globe is never easy. UK’s International Nurse Well-being Council offers those nurses a chance to be heard and help tackle challenges associated with living and working in a new country. The findings from the council’s monthly meetings are shared with enterprise leadership to ensure UK HealthCare stays a great place to work and patients receive the best care possible.   The council includes nurses who have been in the U.S. for years and many who are brand new. That mix of experience can help international nurses not just learn to adjust to a new place but also offer a space to be listened to and supported. The council also helps build a cross-cultural community a

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2024) — Cierra Couch, a representative of the University of Kentucky May Class of 2024, is a first-generation college student who came to UK in 2020 with a strong sense of determination, but without a clear roadmap. As a Robinson Scholar from Hyden, Kentucky, Couch instantly found community through like-minded peers who were also from Eastern Kentucky. As time went on, she began to curate her college journey through resources like UK’s Stuckert Career Center, Student Support Services and her first-generation advisor. These services helped Couch first learn about the multitude of opportunities in the field of social work. But it was later in her academic journey when Couch stepped into a UK student involvement fair, where, by chance, she learned about Alternative Spring Breaks (ASB), a program that connects UK students to service and learning opportunities across the U.S. and around the world. After becoming involved in ASB, Couch discovered a passion for social work and working with

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 25, 2024) – Dr. Kenneth Campbell is the director of translational research in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in the UK College of Medicine. His work, to help map out an important part of the heart on a molecular level was part of a study published online in the prestigious journal Nature in 2023. Campbell says the study is important for discovering new drug therapies for heart disease, the leading cause of death in Kentucky. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kentucky is among the top 10 states with the highest death rate from the disease.  On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, Dr. Campbell talks about this important research and how the development of the Gill Cardiovascular Biorepository has helped drive heart muscle research around the world. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists an

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 19, 2024) – Robert Hayes is the Executive Director of Student Community Resources and Services in the UK Office for Student Success. His expertise and mission lies in providing support to first-generation students and offering academic advising within the College of Arts & Sciences.  He believes academic advisors serve as critical touchpoints for students, ensuring they navigate the complexities of higher education seamlessly. From pre-matriculation meetings to summer orientations, these interactions lay the groundwork for student success.  Additionally, Hayes sees the unique challenges faced by first-generation students, particularly with disparities in social capital. While these students may lack the familial frame of reference for higher education, he highlights the immense growth potential they possess.  On this episode of Behind the Blue, Hayes discusses the pivotal role advisors play as the bridge between students and the myriad of resources available to them, the evolving

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 11, 2024) – This week marks the beginning of Campus Pride Week here at the University of Kentucky. Celebrated nationally in June, Campus Pride Week, hosted by the Office of LGBTQ* Resources (housed in the Office for Student Success) allows students, faculty and staff an opportunity to honor pride on campus while the spring semester is still in session.  Throughout the week, the campus acknowledges the diversity of identities, experiences and histories in the LGBTQ+ community and recognizes all who have and continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ lives, rights and visibility. While this is an annual event at the university, this year will look a bit different, as the Office of LGBTQ* Resources has hired both a new director and assistant director.  Glenn Means, new director, believes the week will provide the campus community with an opportunity to learn about the office’s resources and build community.  Prior to his new role, Means served in the UK College of Public Health as the admissions

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 4, 2024) – Every year, more than 97% of Americans, and more than 1.6 billion people worldwide, move their clocks forward one hour in the spring — allowing for more evening light as part of daylight saving time (DST). Sure, that “spring forward” might make you more noticeably tired and cranky. But time is more than just numbers on a clock — it's a force that shapes our days, our routines and even our well-being. And according to Tyler Kleppe’s new research, that heavy-eyed feeling doesn’t just impact simple day-to-day tasks. In fact, the assistant professor in the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky, has shown losing that hour is also affecting higher stakes decisions — like investing for one’s retirement. “Even if you're not directly involved in capital markets, our financial system is relevant to all of us,” Kleppe said. “That’s why it remains important to evaluate regulatory actions and continue asking if they are effective.” A number of studie

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 27, 2024) – Four years ago, the world at large became more familiar with the field of health care known as “critical care” when the COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented numbers of patients being admitted to hospital intensive care units. Dr. Ashley Montgomery-Yates, a critical care physician and senior vice chair of strategy for the UK Department of Internal Medicine, was one of the many health care providers on the front lines of the pandemic.  On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Dr. Montgomery-Yates discusses what it means to go into the field of critical care, what life was like for the ICU teams during the pandemic, and how staff experiences helped shape the design of UK Chandler Hospital’s recently opened 12th floor – the new home of its medical and cardiovascular ICUs. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 21, 2024) – The Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network (KARRN) is a collaborative team that advocates to empower communities impacted by disability. Their focus is improving the quality of life for all. The organization is directed under the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and led by Patrick Kitzman, PT, Ph.D. Each year Kitzman and his team take on multiple projects to help those who need it most. Projects include refurbishing equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers, providing adapted toys to children and fundraising for the Grace Jones Fund. KARRN also has an undergraduate student club on UK's campus led by Clara Bond, a junior in the College of Health Sciences. Their purpose is to assess campus for accessibility and suggest changes where needed. They have also provided education to children in various schools across the Fayette County school district. This year during One Day for UK, the University's annual giving day, all donations to the College of

 LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 15, 2024) – Dr. Tessa London-Bounds, a cardiothoracic surgeon at UK HealthCare’s Gill Heart & Vascular Institute, had two vastly different breastfeeding experiences as a resident and later as an attending surgeon. Variations in workplace support, along with access to technology and facilities made finding a balance between caring for patients and providing for her own children difficult.  After speaking with co-workers about her experiences, she was inspired to team together with fellow surgeons to create an online survey, which asked nearly 900 surgeons to share their opinions on the challenges of access and equity in the workplace for breastfeeding surgeons. On this episode of Behind the Blue, Dr. London-Bounds discusses how her own personal experiences helped inspire the creation of the survey, the stigma and difficulties pregnant and breastfeeding surgeons perceive in the workplace, and the positive impact she can already see from the information and understanding the resear

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 7, 2024) – On March 11th, UK’s James B. Beam Institute will host their annual Beam Institute Industry Conference, where hundreds of distillers, researchers, distillery and supporting industry employees gather for 3 days of learning and information exchange in Kentucky’s signature industry. On this episode of Behind the Blue, the Beam Institute’s Director Seth DeBolt and Research Director Brad Berron discuss the mission of the Institute, the partnerships that have enabled the construction of a 7,500 square-foot on-campus research and teaching distillery, and their dedication to training more than 1,600 students through university courses, internships, and distillery apprenticeship programs to support the next generation of leaders in the spirits industry. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along w