News

Over the next few months, the 海角禁区 College of Medicine will be releasing an exciting mini-documentary series called 鈥淏ecause We Care.鈥 Capturing interviews and conversations with people across our community, the four-part series explores who we are as a college and why our mission matters to all of us, whether we are learners, faculty, researchers, or staff.

Charles 鈥淐hipper鈥 Griffith鈥檚 workday uniform switched from scrubs to office wear when he graduated residency and joined the 海角禁区 faculty in 1994. Shortly after, he began making a statement with loud, colorful ties.

Samuel Potter, MD, considers himself a 鈥渓ifelong Kentuckian.鈥 He was born and raised in the Commonwealth and says he has no intentions of leaving anytime soon. The Pikeville, Ky., native grew up watching his father run a small medical practice, learning about health disparities affecting such rural areas from a young age.

Margaret Griffen, MD, has long called the 海角禁区 College of Medicine home. Her father, Ward Griffen, MD, led the 海角禁区 College of Medicine Department of Surgery as chair between 1968 鈥 1984. Like her father, Dr. Griffen was drawn to medicine and surgery.

From Dec. 8-10, 2023, the 海角禁区 College of Medicine had the honor of hosting the SNMA Region X Medical Education Conference.

Before training at the 海角禁区, Nick Devanney, PhD, had little connection to The Bluegrass State. He is from New England, and his family currently lives there.

Julie Youssefi, MD, discusses being the 海角禁区鈥檚 epilepsy fellow in 2020-2021 鈥 and how being the fellow gave her the tailored experience she needed.
Julie Youssefi, MD, became interested in epilepsy care during medical school and neurology residency training at the 海角禁区.
Anna Maria South, MD, is an addiction medicine physician who treats patients with substance use disorders. She is also an assistant professor at the 海角禁区 training the next generation of health care leaders to improve access and advance treatment.

The 海角禁区 is excited to announce that Matthew Bush, MD, PhD, MBA, has been selected to serve as the new department chair of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

The 海角禁区 has appointed a division chief of academic medical education 鈥 Todd R. Cheever, MD.
Elizabeth Smith, PA-C, has been an advanced practice provider (APP) in the 海角禁区 Department of Urology for eight years.

The 海角禁区 is excited to announce that Sandra Beck, MD, and Janna Neltner, MD, will join the Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME) leadership team.
Dr. Beck will serve as assistant dean for program development. Dr. Neltner will serve as assistant dean for accreditation.

The following individuals were honored at the 海角禁区 Awards Convocation on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Winners included those in Bowling Green, Lexington, Morehead, and Northern Kentucky.
Biomedical EducationOutstanding Graduate Student Award:
Jamila Tucker, MS

The 海角禁区 welcomes a familiar face to its neurosurgery faculty next year. Randaline Barnett, MD, will join the college and 海角禁区 HealthCare as a pediatric neurosurgeon, returning to her alma mater where she 鈥渇ell in love鈥 with neuroscience and officially became the first doctor in her family.

If you ever meet Michael Huang, chances are you鈥檒l see him with a stethoscope hanging around his neck, or a camera strap. Either way, you鈥檝e met Dr. Michael Huang, Lexington physician, or Dr. Mike, well-known, freelance photographer about town.

The 海角禁区 is thrilled to announce that after an extensive search, Emily DeFranco, DO, MS, has been selected to serve as the new chair of obstetrics and gynecology.

Since graduating from the 海角禁区, Ben Mattingly, MD, has climbed the highest peaks on each continent, known as the 鈥淪even Summits.鈥 He has gone scuba diving near the Galapagos Islands. He has ridden dirt bikes in Romania. He has fished in bodies of water across the U.S. and traveled to so many countries, that he has lost count.

Burnout is a problem in any profession, but it is rampant in health care. This national problem has been evident recently as the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many learners, practitioners, faculty, and staff to the limit.

A key component of the 海角禁区鈥檚 mission is providing exceptional education for medical students, residents and fellows, and biomedical trainees.

Terry Hinds, PhD, joined the 海角禁区 faculty with an impressive record of groundbreaking research and state-of-the-art specialized technology. He is not only advancing scientific discoveries at 海角禁区 but also helping more undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows gain early experience with high-impact work.