‘I CARE ABOUT THIS COLLEGE’
Dr. Phillip Gribble Prepares for His Next Step as CHS Dean
INSIDE:
Refusing to Lose: Ex-NFLer's Book, Correspondence Making a Difference with CHS Students
Reaching the Top: CHS, University Officials Celebrate Topping Off Ceremony for Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building
It probably goes without saying, but I am very excited about what lies ahead.
Because it is my pleasure to welcome Phillip Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA, as the next Dean of the College of Health Sciences. Effective July 1, 2026, Dean Gribble will begin leading this College into its next chapter, and I can say with complete confidence that the future is in excellent hands.
Dr. Gribble is a respected scholar, accomplished clinician and proven leader who knows this College well. Since joining the University of Kentucky in 2014, he has served CHS with distinction as a faculty member, department chair and mentor to countless students and colleagues. His dedication to academic excellence, innovation and student success has been evident throughout his career.
He also brings national and international recognition in his field, including being named the 2025 National Athletic Trainers’ Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer. More importantly, he brings integrity, vision and a genuine passion for helping others succeed — and you can read about that more in the following pages.
Our College stands today on a strong foundation because of the work of those who came before us, and I know Dean Gribble will continue building upon that momentum in exciting and meaningful ways. Under his leadership, this College will continue preparing the next generation of health professionals while addressing the critical health care needs of Kentucky and our broader communities.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Dean Gribble. I know he will soon learn that leading this College is one of the best roles on this campus.
With pride and purpose,
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
From 2015-2025, the College of Health Sciences has grown exponentially under Dean Lephart’s leadership.
ENROLLMENT
GRADUATED STUDENTS
FACULTY & STAFF
SPONSORED PROJECTS, GRANTS AND CONTRACTS AWARDS
It was 2015 when Dr. Judith Page served as the President of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and she took the stage as the Master of Ceremonies for the Opening Ceremony and Awards Gala.
“I can still picture her; radiant, and glowing with pride and enthusiasm,” said Richard Andreatta, PhD, ASHA Fellow and Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) and in the Rehabilitation and Health Sciences Doctoral Program (RHB). “In that moment, I truly understood just how extraordinary she was and how deeply she shaped our profession.”
Andreatta said he’d always known that Page was a major figure in the field.
“But that evening brought it home in the most vivid of ways,” he said. “Her humble, reserved nature never hinted at the powerhouse of leadership she carried within, yet there it was, on stage, for all to see.”
Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, FASHA, FNAP and a professor and speech language pathologist whose career at UK spanned more than 45 years, passed away unexpectedly while in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 24.
Join us in creating a permanently named space in the Rankin Health Education Building and/or scholarship or professorship in honor of Dr. Page. To make a gift, please go to https://bit.ly/3PfwHfi. On the online form, please indicate that the gift is in memory of Dr. Page.
The College of Health Sciences (CHS) has announced its 2026 Hall of Fame inductee and alumni award recipients, recognizing graduates and faculty whose careers reflect exceptional leadership, service and impact in health care, education and research.
The 2026 honorees are Mimi Loan, Hall of Fame inductee — a Nicholasville, Ky., native who earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a concentration in Medical Technology in 1983; Kyle Kosik, PhD, ATC, Young Alumni Award recipient who earned his degree from the Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program (RHB) in 2017 and completed postdoctoral training at UK from 2017 to 2020; and Latoya Harris,
PA-C, recipient of the Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award — a native of Elizabethtown, Ky., who earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Health Sciences from the College of Health Sciences in 2020 and her Master of Physician Assistant Studies in 2023.
They were formally recognized during a College of Health Sciences awards on March 31.
In the fall, the College of Health Sciences announced the establishment of a new endowed program support fund, made possible by another generous contribution from Dr. Sibu Saha. The fund, named the Saha Fund for the Saha Division of Post Graduate Education in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, will provide essential support for educational programs, training, and professional development opportunities within the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.
The new endowed fund is designated to support residents, doctoral students and fellows, enhancing their educational experience and preparing them to address critical healthcare needs.
“My family has always thought it was important to give back,” said Saha, currently the UK Physician Assistant Program’s medical director and chief of transition to practice and advanced training programs (while also serving as a professor of surgery with a joint appointment in the College of Medicine and Pigman College of Engineering). “And when I wanted to give more, my grandmother was the one who said, ‘Your family is in Kentucky. You should give to the University and people who nurtured you.”
The establishment of the fund underscores Dr. Saha's commitment to improving healthcare access in the Commonwealth.
“Dr. Saha has spent his life dedicated to the people of Kentucky and this gift is just another example of this work,” said Virginia Valentin, Department Chair. “Dr. Saha wants to provide health care to all Kentuckians, and he knows that PAs are part of the solution to our health care access issue. Dr. Saha is a living example of generosity, and through him we will be able to directly impact students, faculty and future PAs.”
Two College of Health Sciences representatives were honored at the University of Kentucky Alumni Association’s Lyman T. Johnson Alumni Constituency Group's 34th annual Lyman T. Johnson Awards Luncheon Friday, Oct. 17, in the Gatton Student Center Grand Ballroom.
Held during UK Homecoming, the event honored alumni and students from each academic college who embody the spirit and accomplishments of Lyman T. Johnson, recognizing those who have positively impacted the lives of others and their communities.
Each academic college selects alumni to receive Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Awards for outstanding achievement and students to receive Torch Bearer Awards for academic excellence and service to others.
Ke’La Porter, PhD, was awarded the Torch of Excellence, while Felipe Gonzalez-Seguel received the Torch Bearer Award. Porter is an assistant professor in the department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition, while Gonzalez-Seguel is a current student in RHB.
College of Health Sciences’ student Asia Thigpen, a 5-11 outside hitter and libero for the No. 1 seed Kentucky Volleyball squad, was honored in December with the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award, given to the sophomore student athlete or above in the Final Four who has the highest grade point average.
Thigpen, a sophomore from Pittsboro, N.C., majors in Human Health Sciences (on the pre-Physician Assistant track) and has a 3.953 GPA.
The Wildcats team made it all the way to the national championship match before falling to Texas A&M.
Olivia Kitts, from Nicholasville, Ky., is a Clinical Leadership and Management senior in the UK College of Health Sciences, and is also pursuing a certificate in business. She currently serves as vice president of the Epsilon Omega chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority, an ambassador of the College of Health Sciences and as a resident advisor. Kitts is also the social media coordinator for DanceBlue, helping raise awareness and funds for the DanceBlue Hematology/Oncology Clinic. Additionally, she serves as director of marketing for the Student Government Association and leads a Life Group for middle school girls. She is the daughter of Tim and Stephanie Kitts.
In the fall, she also became the 2025 Homecoming Queen.
“Looking back, it still doesn’t feel real that I was named the University of Kentucky’s 110th Homecoming Queen,” Kitts said. “The experience was shaped by everything leading up to it — the nerves, the excitement, the chaos of getting ready, the hours of preparation, and the people who supported me every step of the way.”
Hanna Hoch, PhD, professor in the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition and program director of the Professional Master’s in Athletic Training, has been named a 2026 Fellow of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).
NATA Fellow status recognizes association members who have demonstrated outstanding professional scholarly achievement combined with leadership in advancing research and scholarly endeavors in athletic training, including the education and scholarly development of trainees. Only the most accomplished scholars contributing to the athletic training profession earn this distinction and may use the designation “FNATA.”
Hoch’s primary research focuses on improving health-related quality of life and physical activity after musculoskeletal injury. She also advocates for patient-centered care in athletic training clinical practice through the use of patient-reported outcome instruments.
Phillip Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA, professor and chair of the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition here in the College of Health Sciences, has been named a 2025 Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).
Gribble received the honor last summer at the NATA Annual Meeting. It is one of the profession’s highest recognitions.
The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research and UK Sustainability are honored to announce the six winners of the fifth annual sustainability research poster competition — and CHS' Katie Neglia is one of them.
Katie Neglia, a sophomore premed Human Health Sciences and Pharmacology major from Carmel, Ind., who also happens to be a Chellgren Student Fellow, earned the People’s Choice undergraduate award.
The competition was held in conjunction with the annual UK Sustainability Showcase in the atrium of the Healthy Kentucky Research Building on Oct. 15.
Neglia was also one of 21 students recognized in the 61st annual Oswald Research and Creativity Competition. She won first place and finished second in the competition, which was founded in 1964 by UK President John Oswald, and promotes undergraduate research and creative endeavors across all academic disciplines.
Neglia's research involves investigating the acute actions of lipopolysaccharides on smooth muscle contractions of the GI tract.
“One of the most exciting aspects of my research is that is has allowed me to translate concepts I learn in class to real-world situations," Neglia said.
Congratulations are in order, as Child Development Center of the Bluegrass Physical Therapists were recently rated in the top three for PT services in Lexington based on Google reviews, according to the BusinessRate TOP 3 of 2025 Awards, which identify local leaders in customer satisfaction, brand reputation and service excellence using publicly available Google review data.
BusinessRate provides intelligent ranking solutions and comprehensive review management services to help local businesses thrive in competitive markets through data-driven insights and proven strategies.
Patrick Pabian, PT, DPT, PhD and chair for the Department of Physical Therapy in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky will serve as the editor for Physical Therapy and Musculoskeletal Fitness for the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (AJLM), which publishes a broad range of articles intended for primary care providers and other health professionals on healthy lifestyle. AJLM is the official journal of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and publishes commentaries and research reviews on nutrition and diet, physical activity throughout the lifespan, behavior change, cardiovascular disease, obesity, anxiety and depression, sleep problems, metabolic disease, musculoskeletal function, etc.
A College of Health Sciences faculty member was one of 11 recipients of a recent award from The PA Education Association (PAEA).
On October 9, 2025, at the Education Forum in San Diego, the PAEA recognized educators who “represent the best of the PA profession with the PAEA Faculty and Staff Awards.”
Virginia Valentin, DrPH, PA-C and the Daus Family Endowed Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, as well as the department chair, was honored with the 2025 Leadership Development award.
Designed to promote and celebrate growth, commitment, dedication, and advocacy throughout PA education, the awards spanned a range of categories from Administrative Support to New Faculty, Research, and Lifetime Achievement. Each award recipient has made “a significant, lasting effect on their programs, students, and communities,” the PAEA website noted.
Two years ago, a pair of CHS professors — Janine Bartley, PhD, CCC-SLP; and Leslie Woltenberg, PhD, MSEd — collaborated with the Center for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) to present the College’s first Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Faculty Learning Community group.
Now, they are confident the third time is the charm, as seven faculty from the College of Health Sciences, are preparing for the CHS SoTL FLC group 3.0.
SoTL FLC 3.0 membership (as pictured, left to right):
Leslie Woltenberg^, PhD (Dept PA Studies, CHS Director of Scholarship)
Randa Remer*, PhD (Dept Health & Clinical Sciences)
Ryan Hunton*, DHSc, PA-C (Dept PA Studies)
Lucy Hollingsworth Williamson*, RN, BSN, MPH (Dept Health & Clinical Sciences)
Ashley Quinlan*, PA-C, MS PAS (Dept PA Studies)
Kristen Metzler*, PT, PHD (Dept Physical Therapy)
Madeline Miller^, DrPH (Center for the Engagement of Learning & Teaching)
Legend: * = member; ^ = facilitator/lead
BY RYAN CLARK CHS Communications Director
A professor. A department chair. An internationally recognized researcher.
And soon — the next Dean of the College of Health Sciences.
On March 27, UK Provost Robert DiPaola announced that Dr. Phillip Gribble will become the next CHS Dean effective July 1. Since 2014, Gribble has served as a member of the CHS faculty, as well as an internationally recognized researcher in ankle instability, and he brings more than two decades of academic and clinical experience to the role.
Below is a five-question interview with Gribble about his path, priorities and vision for the College.
Q: Why this job — and why now?
Dr. Gribble: I care about this College, and at other schools, I’ve seen what happens when leadership transitions don’t go well. I felt like I was at a point in my career where I was ready to consider this step, and I’m grateful to have been selected.
As a faculty member and a department chair, I’ve had the chance to learn from Dean Scott Lephart for many years. With the staff, faculty and students we have, it’s easy to want to step into this role.
Q: What originally drew you to health care and this field?
Dr. Gribble: During my undergraduate years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I was exposed to health care career options, and I really connected with Athletic Training. I stayed for a master’s in Athletic Training with clinical experiences along with opportunities in research and teaching. My first formal teaching experiences were in physical activity classes, including tennis, volleyball and bowling, as well as getting to be teaching lab assistant
in athletic training undergraduate courses. That’s when I realized how much I enjoyed working with students. I also had amazing mentors for a thesis that really ignited my interest in research.
My first full-time job at Appalachian State University allowed me to combine teaching as a lecturer and serving on staff as an athletic trainer for the wrestling team in intercollegiate athletics. Two years later, I was back in graduate school at Penn State University for PhD work, which solidified my love for research and further developed my teaching skills. Finally, for over a decade before joining the faculty here at UK, I was a post-professional athletic training program director and built a successful research agenda at the University of Toledo. The balance of teaching, clinical work and research along the way has really shaped my career.
Q: What are a couple of your short-term goals as Dean?
Dr. Gribble: It may sound cliché, but I need to listen — to as many people as possible. I understand many things about the College, but there’s a lot of nuance and details I still need to learn.
I also want to better understand our remote sites and ensure we’re connected as a College.
Preparing for the move to the Rankin Health Education Building (HEB) is another priority. It’s a tremendous opportunity, but we have to be intentional about maintaining our culture as we expand into new spaces.
Q: What are the biggest challenges you see ahead?
Dr. Gribble: We need to grow, but thoughtfully. There’s a balance between expanding programs and not stretching ourselves too thin.
Like many institutions, we’re also facing the challenge of attracting high-quality students in a competitive and expensive environment. What gives me confidence is the strength of the UK brand.
Having worked at other institutions before coming to UK, I’ve experienced building a brand and how diligently you have to work to create and maintain success. At Kentucky, our people and resources provide a tremendous advantage, but it doesn’t mean we must work hard to create our successes.
Q: How do you see your first 100 days playing out — or have they already begun?
Dr. Gribble: Absolutely. I’ve already started meeting with people and learning how the College operates and interacts with the University community.
In the coming months, even before my official start, I’m trying to be more visible across campus — meeting faculty, staff, partners and stakeholders.
I’d like to visit every department early on and understand their challenges. Right now, it’s about building a clear picture of where we are and where we can go.
Bonus Q: What do you do outside of work?
Dr. Gribble: Family is a big part of my life. My son is a rising junior and plays soccer at Bellarmine. My daughter is a rising high school senior and volleyball player, so we’re going through the college recruiting process with her now. My wife is a dedicated pediatric physical therapist. We really enjoy spending most of our free time watching our kids do the things they love to do. We don’t have extended family in the state, so we’ve grown very close as a family unit living here in Kentucky the last 12 years.
Here in the College of Health Sciences, Gribble now has an entire College that will become his new extended family — and it will become the foundation for our next chapter.
BY HAYDEN BUCHERT & RYAN CLARK CHS Contributors
In February, the world’s eyes were on the city of Santa Clara, host of Super Bowl LX, where the AFC and NFC Champions squared off for professional football’s top prize. But one very special fan, who was watching from his chair, found it difficult to focus.
That’s because, Steve Gleason, the former safety who was built like Superman, has lost the ability to blink. It is just another of so many things he has lost over the last decade.
What he has not lost, however, is the ability to transform lives, whether it is those with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or the families or healthcare supporters who are caring for someone with the disease.
And then there are the dozens of students in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky who never knew Gleason existed until they read his story.
Now, many say they will never be the same.
Paetyn Ashcraft could not believe what she was hearing as she sat in her Human Health Sciences class learning about ethics in the health care system.
For the first time, her idea of a career in health care began to carry a different meaning.
Ashcraft is a junior at the University of Kentucky studying Human Health Sciences (HHS) in the College of Health Sciences (CHS). She is currently on a pre-medical track to become a physician. Ethics in Healthcare Practice is a required course for HHS students and during the first week of class when Ashcraft was handed the syllabus, she felt overwhelmed seeing all the required assignments and book readings she’d need to complete.
“I thought, ‘Oh my goodness’ … I was already taking biochemistry and physics,” Ashcraft said. “At the time it felt like something I would just have to push through; I was very unsure of everything at the beginning.”
But something in her changed when she was in class and heard the story of Steve Gleason. Several of the class
assignments revolved around Gleason’s memoir, A Life Impossible.
“As we went on and began the assignment my mind completely shifted,” Ashcraft said. “I feel like my whole mindset on it changed and I found a new appreciation for the class.”
Of course, before taking the class, Ashcraft had never heard of Steve Gleason or his story.
In October 2010, Steve Gleason, a retired professional football player, mentioned to a friend that he’d been experiencing strange twitches and sudden muscle spasms. By 2011, the diagnosis was official and heartbreaking: Gleason had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.
ALS is a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disorder that typically begins with weakness in the arms or legs and results in the progressive loss of the abilities to eat, speak, move and breathe. While some treatments can slow the progression of the disease, there is no known cure.
For a mythic figure like Gleason, the diagnosis was even more shocking. He had played college football for the Washington State Cougars, then professionally with the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. He became most known for one amazing play: In 2006, in the first professional football game back in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city, Gleason blocked a punt against the Atlanta Falcons, resulting in a touchdown. The play seemed to symbolize the recovery of the entire city, and it made Gleason a folk hero.
After eight seasons, Gleason retired from the NFL. And when he was diagnosed with ALS, many thought he was saddled with a death sentence. But in truth, it was a starting point, one where he would go on to touch thousands of lives.
“People were simply expected to fade away quietly and die — that was not acceptable to me,” Gleason said in a documentary about his life. “That is not okay.”
“Of course, I didn’t know Steve Gleason wrote a book,” said Karen Skaff, RDH, PhD and professor in the College of Health Sciences’ Human Health Sciences program. “My grandson and his son play in a flag football league together down in New Orleans, so I knew him and his family, but it never occurred to me that he might be able to help me teach my class.”
That would be Human Health Sciences 353 — the aforementioned Ethics in Healthcare Practice class.
“It occurred to me, when talking with his wife Michel, that Steve’s story might be good to use for this class,” Skaff said. “Students have no idea what it is really like to work in healthcare — to have to fully take care of someone’s needs. It is very difficult to explain this to someone until they must do it. That’s where the book comes in.”
Gleason has gone on to defy the odds and live a remarkable life of advocacy and resilience. Six weeks after his diagnosis, he and his wife learned they were expecting their first child — they now have two children, a son and a daughter. Gleason and his wife founded Team Gleason, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals with ALS lead purposeful and fulfilling lives. He also went on to produce a documentary of his life.
Over the years, the disease took his ability to walk and care for himself in any way.
In 2011, Gleason’s former team won the Super Bowl, and the Saints even gave him a championship ring. The same year, a statue of his famous punt block was raised outside the Superdome. Later, he became the first former NFL player to receive the Congressional Gold Medal (for his ALS advocacy), and in 2024, he received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs.
Now, 49 years old, Gleason has long lost his ability to speak. He communicates using his eyes through a device that tracks his eyesight and movement.
Through this painstaking method, he was able to write a book about his life. In April 2024, Knopf released Gleason's memoir, A Life Impossible: Living with ALS: Finding Peace and Wisdom Within a Fragile Existence.
“It’s an amazing book,” Skaff said. “I just couldn’t put it down.”
And she thought her students might just get something out of it, too.
In fall 2024, Skaff decided that everyone in her class, which is made up of more than 60 students — mostly juniors and seniors aspiring to work in healthcare — needed to read Gleason’s book and study it.
“There are ethical questions in there,” Skaff said. “Like, when you have a terminal illness, what are the ethical questions involved when couples decide to have — or not have — children? What are the issues surrounding end-of-life care? What are the daily trials, like when you must care for someone 24 hours a day? There’s a lot to discuss.”
So Skaff made the book required reading. And her students responded.
“I didn’t know someone could still have hope while going through such a terrible disease,” Paetyn Ashcraft said. “That’s what was so inspiring about his story.”
But it wasn’t just Gleason’s optimism and vulnerability that
stood out to her. Studying his memoir provided Ashcraft with new perspectives on how she will treat her patients when she becomes a provider in medicine someday.
She recalls reading about one of Gleason’s doctor appointments shortly after he was diagnosed with ALS. His doctor pointed out that Gleason must listen to his body and recognize any new limitations that might appear.
“His doctor told him not to stop doing the regular activities that he loved, but instead that he needed to begin listening to his body,” Ashcraft said. “I reflected on this, and it was a good point to remember as a provider that each patient we have is different; each patient’s body reacts to things differently. It’s so important to truly listen to them and help them based on where they are at each day.”
Ashcraft also explained how important it is for her as a student to learn about examples of real-life ethical dilemmas.
“One ethical dilemma that takes place in Gleason’s life is when he had to choose if he wanted to go on a ventilator,” Ashcraft said. “Gleason and his family were faced with the decision for him to continue living but losing freedoms, or dying.”
It’s one thing to learn about examples of different ethical dilemmas, but for Ashcraft, it was eye-opening to read about someone’s life and how these decisions impacted a real family.
After the students completed reading the book and submitted their assignments, Skaff began to hear feedback.
“I heard how (the book) was literally changing lives,” Skaff said. “Just as he has his entire life, Gleason is now helping my students.”
In her final assignment, Ashcraft wrote about how thankful she was that Skaff required Gleason’s memoir as a required reading for the course.
“I would first like to say thank you for bringing this book to our attention,” Ashcraft said. “I was unable to put it down. I feel that it is imperative that future students read this book; there is so much wisdom to be gained.”
Then, Skaff thought the author may like to hear about how, for the first time, his book had become required in an academic classroom. She offered her class the opportunity to tell Gleason, via email, just how much the book meant to them, and nearly every student participated.
“I want to thank Gleason for his truth behind a beautiful story,” Ashcraft said. “He and his family have taught me about this disease and I’m thankful for the vulnerability they have shown. This is a story I can apply to my life when taking care of future patients.”
Other students felt the same.
“If I could meet Gleason or his family, I would tell them thank you for being open and honest about their struggles,” said Kamryn Bradshaw, a senior Human Health Sciences major from Louisville. “I would tell them what an inspiration it is to see a family go against the norms of society and truly work through one of the most difficult things anyone could go through in life.”
“Personally, this book has exposed me to aspects of disease I never considered before,” said Mason Breedlove, a senior HHS major (pre-med) from Mayfield, Ky. “As a healthcare provider it is easy to only focus on the physiological issues your patient is facing and disregard other aspects of their life that may be influencing their overall well-being. Since reading this book, I have developed a deeper understanding of what those who cannot care for themselves go through mentally and how psychologically damaging it can be to completely depend on someone else for tasks that you used to be able to do without a problem.
“I think Steve’s outlook on life and his purpose is commendable and his willingness to advocate for others suffering with ALS while he faces his own dilemmas is inspiring,” he continued. “It made me realize how lucky I am and everything I take for granted in everyday life, and how important it is to cherish the small things because everything can be taken away so easily.”
Over the holidays, Skaff forwarded dozens of the students’ comments and thank-yous to Gleason’s wife, who then delivered them to him.
He was amazed — and he responded with emails of his own.
“It’s incredibly humbling to know that my story is being shared in a classroom setting,” he said via email. “It was especially meaningful that this is coming from Karen’s classroom. My journey has always been about finding purpose in the face of challenges, and knowing that it resonates with others — especially students — reminds me that we all have the power to inspire and learn from one another. If my experiences can spark even a small amount of reflection, understanding, or action in someone else’s life, then it reaffirms my belief that no challenge is too great to create a lasting impact.”
Now, Skaff will be requiring the text in all her future ethics classes as well.
“It’s just been something that the students have responded to,” she said of the book. “He’s continuing to make a difference, and as long as people are reading his book, he always will.”
Gleason then sent another email message back to the students.
“Reading your thoughts and reflections on my story moves me more than words can express,” he wrote. “It’s incredibly powerful to know that my experiences have sparked something in some students — whether it’s a new perspective, a deeper understanding of resilience, or even a renewed commitment to living with purpose. Healthcare is so important in today’s world — it’s always good for us to hear that our story renews people’s drive in this industry. Your responses remind me of the importance of sharing our stories. Thank you for allowing my journey to become a part of yours.”
For Ashcraft, she will soon finish undergraduate school and move on to the next steps toward becoming a healthcare provider. She said Gleason’s journey will always stick with her.
“I think if everyone had Gleason’s attitude the world would be better off,” she said. “His vulnerability really helped me. He’s poured a lot of time into the community and that is really empowering.”
BY RYAN CLARK CHS Communications Director
It was a night of celebration as more than 200 alumni, faculty, and friends of the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Studies (UKPAS) program gathered Oct. 25, at the Signature Club of Lansdowne.
Welcome to the 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala, which celebrated the rich legacy of the UK Physician Assistant Studies program — a legacy defined by innovation, service, and a steadfast commitment to improving healthcare for all Kentuckians.
Many were clad in black ties and ball dresses, and a few of the attendees were some of the program’s earliest pioneers — including Kentucky’s first physician assistant, Ed Sorace, and Mary Bayne, a member of the first graduating class.
The event commemorated five decades of excellence, leadership, and service in physician assistant education, marking UKPAS as one of the nation’s legacy programs and a leader in the field.
“On behalf of University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto and Provost Robert DiPaola, I would like to welcome everyone to this night of celebration recognizing 50 years of excellence of our Physician Assistant program in the College of Health Sciences,” said Scott Lephart, Ph.D., and Dean of the College of Health Sciences. “As one of the inaugural PA programs in the country, this marks a historic accomplishment of many students, staff, faculty, and leaders dedicated to the health and well-being of our citizens both in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond.”
Lephart highlighted the program’s continued success, noting that UKPAS now ranks in the top 10 percent of more than 300 programs nationwide. He also emphasized the future of health education at UK, pointing to the new Michael D. Rankin MD Healthcare Education Building (RHEB), a nine-floor, 550,000-square-foot facility scheduled to open in early 2027. The building will become the new home for the PA program and other health sciences disciplines.
“I hope everyone has a chance to view this amazing facility,” Lephart said. “For PA, this will be a game changer as we grow our programs to further meet the healthcare needs of the citizens of the Commonwealth.”
Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman joined the celebration as the evening’s honored guest.
“In Kentucky, we show up for one another, and if there is anyone who exemplifies this, it is our healthcare heroes,” Coleman said. “It is an honor to be in a room full of heroes tonight at the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the UK PA program.”
The night served as both a look back and a look forward for the program, which has prepared generations of physician assistants who now serve communities across Kentucky and beyond.
“It was such an amazing event to have alumni (including one from the first class), current students, faculty, staff, and many of our physician champions and hospital sponsors all in one room to celebrate this momentous occasion,” said Virginia Valentin, DrPH, PA-C, associate professor and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.
“Fifty years is a significant milestone. The PA program and profession have grown so much in that time — we are now a key member of the healthcare team. I look forward to seeing what the next generation of PA leaders does over the next 50 years.”
Kevin Schuer, DrPH, PA-C, program director and associate professor, expressed his gratitude for the support and camaraderie shown throughout the evening.
“It was so great to see so many alumni, physician champions, and leaders in the healthcare space come and support this milestone,” Schuer said. “We are grateful for their support and leadership — and look forward to working with them for the next 50 years. It was a great event!”
BY RYAN CLARK CHS Communications Director
A College of Health Sciences professor at the University of Kentucky has been awarded a $3.8 million grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to lead a groundbreaking project aimed at enhancing performance monitoring and injury prevention in military aviation personnel.
Joshua Winters, PhD, CSCS, is Associate Professor in the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition, as well as the Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program and the Sports Medicine Research Institute. His three-year project, titled “Restoration and Maintenance of Physical and Neurosensory Performance (RaMP) in Naval and Marine Corps Aviation,” will focus on developing a fieldready system to assess musculoskeletal and neurosensory function in service members. The initiative is a collaborative effort with the Naval Medical Center San Diego, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, University of Montana, and JAG Human Performance Consulting.
“The overall goal of this research is to optimize and integrate a comprehensive, field-ready protocol for monitoring musculoskeletal and neurosensory performance within the Naval and Marine Corps aviation communities,” Winters said.
The RaMP platform will enable rapid detection of physical and neurosensory performance deficits, helping identify opportunities for targeted training or rehabilitation. This data-driven approach aims to support military readiness and operational effectiveness by enhancing evidence-based decision-making for injury prevention and recovery.
“RaMP is designed to provide functional biomechanical and neurosensory information quickly, enhance the ability to evaluate treatment effectiveness, and improve evidence-based treatment decisions,” Winters said. “It will offer a lasting solution for systematic human performance assessment that can be applied not only in research but also in real-world military training environments and potentially in deployed settings.”
Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, praised Winters and his team for their nationallevel impact.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Winters and the entire research team,” Lephart said. “This award is a testament to their hard work and innovation, and it reinforces the College of Health Sciences’ commitment to advancing human performance and injury prevention. Projects like this reflect the important role our college plays in protecting not only the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but Americans across the nation — including those who serve.”
By integrating advanced analytic modeling and data visualization tools, the RaMP platform seeks to significantly improve the ability to detect, manage and mitigate injuries among military personnel.
For more information about research in the College of Health Sciences, visit https://www.uky.edu/chs.
This work is sponsored by the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research under ONR award number award N00014-25-1-2288. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Naval Research.
With origins in Scandinavian culture and ancient civilizations, a toppingout ceremony marks a significant milestone in construction: The completion of a building’s structural frame.
In the fall, we celebrated this milestone for the Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building. After a celebratory signing of the final beam, it was lifted and installed into its rightful place. Before our eyes, the vision became reality, and we were one step closer to the building becoming the site where practitioners will learn and train for generations to come.
“Topping out” is the construction term used to indicate that the final steel beam is being placed on the building, and topping out ceremonies are a symbolic milestone that celebrates the building’s progress and the hard work put in by the construction and design teams.
BY LINDSAY TRAVIS AND RYAN CLARK CHS Contributors
There are at least two reasons why Nick Heebner, PhD, ATC, loves what he’s doing as Director of the Sports Medicine Research Institute here in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky.
One, he’s naturally curious about the world; two, he wants to help others.
His role, then, is perfect, as he gets to investigate problems and help those people — doctors, nurses, soldiers, firefighters and police, to name a few — who spend their time helping us.
Heebner, who was recently named a UK Research Professor for 2025, also loves the outdoors, and this seemingly opposing view of the world (as he spends much of his working time in a lab) actually makes sense: Even when he’s in the lab, he’s still thinking about how people are active.
Come with us, as we talk about Helping the Helpers with Dr. Nick Heebner …
Q: How did you get interested in Athletic Training?
Dr. Heebner: So, my background is in athletic training. I’m a certified athletic trainer and that’s where my faculty
position is in Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition, so I do some teaching in that program, as well as our PhD program. But I guess the passion came from playing sports when I was younger and I always had an interest in science. I thought maybe I’d try microbiology or biochemistry, so I did that for a semester and quickly realized this is not what I wanted to do. So I kind of went through the rest of the year trying to figure out what else seemed to spark my interest … I ended up taking this physical activity course — it was in strength and conditioning. I was playing rugby at the time, and I played rugby in high school too, so I took this course. I knew what an athletic trainer was — I had one in my high school, so I was vaguely familiar — but just never really even considered what they do, and (it) kind of got me excited about and interested in that as a potential profession.
Q: What does it mean to you to be recognized as a University Research Professor?
Dr. Heebner: Being recognized as a University Research Professor means a great deal to me personally. It represents the University acknowledging the years of dedication and hard work I've invested in making meaningful contributions to our field and to the University of Kentucky. This recognition validates that the research we’ve been pursuing has value not just within our academic circles, but also to the broader university
community. It’s humbling to have peers and leadership affirm and support our efforts to serve this country, our communities and this University.
Q: How will the professorships program advance your research?
Dr. Heebner: The financial support that comes with the University Research Professorship will directly advance our work by allowing us to explore new ideas and approaches in injury prevention and human performance, but also community outreach. Additionally, this acknowledgment helps increase awareness of the amazing work being done at the Sports Medicine Research Institute and across the University of Kentucky. Greater visibility for our research creates new opportunities for collaboration, attracts talented students and researchers to our programs and highlights UK’s contributions to military health and performance. Making strides in both implementation and innovation requires consistent investment, and this support will help us continue developing impactful solutions that benefit both service members and the broader Kentucky community.
Q: What inspired your focus on this area of research?
Dr. Heebner: I found my way into military injury and human performance research during graduate school while studying sports medicine. Working with my mentors, Dr. Scott Lephart and Dr. Timothy Sell, I started helping on their military projects and quickly discovered my passion. Seeing firsthand the physical challenges service members face and realizing how preventable many of their injuries were sparked something in me — it was the perfect way to apply my sports medicine background to something truly meaningful.
Since arriving at the University of Kentucky 10 years ago and helping to establish the Sports Medicine Research Institute, I have been fortunate to have been able to focus my career on tactical athlete health and performance. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about knowing our research is focused on those who keep us safe.
Q: How does your research impact Kentucky?
Dr. Heebner: My work in military injury prevention and human performance has created meaningful impact across Kentucky through several key channels. Here in Lexington, we partner directly with first responders — including Lexington fire and police departments as well as the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard statewide. These tactical athletes face unique physical demands, and our research helps develop tailored health and performance practices that address their specific challenges and mission requirements. These partnerships ensure that the professionals who keep our communities safe benefit from cutting-edge research.
We’re also committed to extending our knowledge beyond academic publications by providing resources and educational opportunities through outreach events across Kentucky. Through the Sports Medicine Research Institute, we offer specialized health and wellness testing to the public. This gives all Kentuckians access to advanced assessment technology that helps them set realistic health goals and develop effective fitness practices. It’s particularly rewarding to see our research directly benefit the health and well-being of Kentucky residents while supporting those who serve our communities.
Listen to the episode "Helping the Helpers" 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 https://chs.uky.edu/about/whatshappening/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
BY LORALYN CECIL
CHS Philanthropy Director
Last year, the College of Health Sciences announced the Daus Family Endowed Professorship in Physician Assistant Studies.
Endowed professorships are faculty positions permanently funded by endowed gifts to support faculty research, teaching and to create opportunities to benefit students. These positions are pivotal to recruiting and retaining the best researchers and educators, while also helping to elevate the College’s reputation.
Resources help drive scholarly research and educational innovation. Because endowments provide a stable funding source in perpetuity, these positions open doors to additional areas of support, such as research assistantships, outside collaborations, and external grant funding.
Faculty who hold endowed professorships are at the top of their fields, and students benefit directly from endowments too, as faculty often use funds to elevate the quality and quantity of learning experiences.
So, what are the endowed professorships across the College?
The Daus Family Endowed Professorship in Physician Assistant Studies
Arthur Theodore Daus, Jr., MD, of Louisville was an Assistant Professor in the College of Health Sciences for
many years, beginning in the early 1980s. He opened a private medical practice in 1965 and helped psychiatry and pain management clients for 37 years. His sons, Dr. Arthur Steven Daus, Arthur Theodore Daus III, and Dr. Kevin Michael Daus, created an endowed scholarship in his honor. This scholarship has already directly impacted numerous PA students in their pursuit of becoming a health care provider. After the endowed scholarship was completed, Dr. Arthur Steven Daus created the endowed professorship.
Virginia Valentin, DrPH, PA-C and Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, was named to the Daus Family Endowed Professorship in August 2024. “After (Dr. Daus) created the scholarship, he gave us the opportunity to talk about our successes,” she said. “He had confidence in us. It feels like an acknowledgement of our work. It is truly an honor.”
And she has big plans for the endowment.
“We want to build leaders,” she said. “This funding makes it possible. We can send students to present at conferences where they will have the opportunity to meet experts and other student leaders in their area of study. We can also include students and residents in our work with our international partners. Engaging internationally is a transformative experience.”
Ultimately, Valentin wants to achieve a culture of integrating research, innovation and educational excellence in the Physician Assistant Studies Department.
Esther Dupont-Versteegden, PhD, is a full professor and director of the Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Program. She holds the endowed University Professorship in Health Sciences, which was created in 2001 to support research in allied health professions.
Dupont-Versteegden uses the funds for research associated with student projects. Students can apply for pilot funding from the professorship for their research by writing a short grant proposal with a detailed budget and an explanation of the need, the significance of their research and the proposed activities.
“The resources from the Professorship have greatly benefitted student research,” Dupont-Versteegden said. “It shows in the number of our students’ publications and conference proceedings.”
Paul A. Thornton Distinguished Professorship and Fellowship
Mr. Mike Thorton established the Paul A. Thornton Distinguished Professorship and Fellowship in 2016 in honor of his father, Dr. Paul Thornton, who led the Clinical Nutrition Program in the College of Health Sciences.
D. Travis Thomas, PhD, RDN, CSSD, LD, FAND, associate professor and program director for Clinical Nutrition, holds the professorship.
“The funds are primarily used to support graduate students pursuing a career in nutritional sciences,” Thomas said. “These students are mentored by CHS Clinical Nutrition faculty and the financial support they receive helps to push the frontiers of their research training and helps our clinical nutrition faculty make innovative advances in their own portfolios of scholarly work.”
Joseph Hamburg Professorship in Rehabilitation Sciences
Jack and Linda Gill established the Joseph Hamburg Professorship in Rehabilitation Sciences in 1998. The
Professorship was named in honor of the first dean of the College of Health Sciences. Brian Noehren, PT, PhD, FACSM and Associate Dean for Research, holds the professorship.
“Dr. Hamburg was known for bringing professions together in his work to establish the College of Health Sciences,” Noehren said. “Likewise, the professorship in his name is used to support pilot work to build transdisciplinary collaborations throughout campus. I hope that this type of work honors his legacy.”
The funds are used to help support pilot research projects by graduate students and post docs, as well as to help support the testing of cutting-edge ideas to garner the pilot data for larger federal grants. They also help support student travel to conferences to present their research.
McDougall Alumni Professorship
In 2007, the PT Richard McDougall Alumni Professorship was established by alumni, faculty, staff and supporters. In the mid-1960s McDougall came to the University of Kentucky to start a physical therapy program, and in 1965 he was named the College’s first chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. He served in this role until 1982.
Dr. Patrick Kitzman, PT, PhD, professor in both the Physical Therapy Department and the Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Program, was first appointed to the professorship in 2010. He has held the role ever since.
“Funds from the PT Richard McDougall Alumni Professorship have been instrumental in our ability to grow and expand our work in the community to meet direct needs of the people of the Commonwealth as well as provide educational training opportunities for students at multiple educational levels,” Kitzman said.
7.1.2025 - 3.1.2026
Karen Badger, PhD, MSW
Office of Academic Affairs & Undergraduate Education
KY Council on Developmental Disabilities
$201,828
Matt Hoch, PhD, ATC
Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Incorporated
$593,701
Kirby Mayer, DPT, PhD
Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
National Institute on Aging
$1,926,702
Brian Noehren, PT, PhD, FACSM
Office of Research and Scholarship, Physical Therapy and Biomotion Lab
National Institute on Aging
$3,170,886
Christopher Fry, PhD
Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
Ridgeline Therapeutics
$129,078
Michaela Keener, PhD
Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
University of Cincinatti
$6,724
Brian Noehren, PT, PhD, FACSM
Office of Research and Scholarship, Physical Therapy and Biomotion Lab
Department of Defense
$1,499,334
Joshua Winters, PhD, CSCS
Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
University of Montana
$225,000
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