CATalyst magazine recognizes public health champions impacting Kentucky and beyond

At the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health, our “health champions” make a significant impact in Kentucky and beyond.

The newest edition of CATalyst, the spring 2022 Edition, showcases the successes of those champions — students, alumni, professors, faculty, researchers, community, partners, and more.

“Our health champions are no longer behind the scenes, they are visible and are leading the charge in impacting the health of everyone in Kentucky and beyond,” says Donna Arnett, dean of the College of Public Health. “This magazine is a snapshot of our community’s best success stories, but it’s only part of our story. This is just the beginning. As we look forward, we believe the best is yet to come.”

Our champions make an impact in a variety of ways and the stories show the impact through multiple categories: academics & student excellence; robust research; service to public health; collaboration & partnerships; community impact; and career & alumni success.

“After reading our success stories in this issue of CATalyst, you will clearly see these impact categories represented in our amazing faculty, students, alumni, board members and other partners, and so much more,” adds Dean Arnett.

These success stories include:

• Featuring the 2021 Lyman T. Johnson Award winners: Daniela Nakinoja (Torch Bearer) and Dr. Regina Washington (Torch of Excellence).
• Honoring our Legends & Leaders who are recognized as public health legends, distinguished alumni leaders, and promising alumni.
• Launching of the Master of Science in Biostatistics program and the PhD in Health Services' first student cohort.
• Showcasing the visibility of our Master of Health Administration (MHA) students and alums, and how they are becoming difference makers in their communities.
• Highlighting the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), which works with local, state and regional partners to make Kentucky safer, and the Center for Innovation in Population Health (IPH Center) as it transforms systems with a focus on TCOM and person-centered care.
• Spotlighting successful alums, Chioma Okafor and Sydney Clark, for their contributions in global health and emergency preparedness for those living with disabilities, respectively.
• Recognizing two SPARK program students, Princess Magor Agbozo and Meron Lemma, and their passion for health equity research.
• Promoting some of our outstanding early-career faculty that are involved in impactful research, presently and in the future: Dr. Aaron J. Kruse-Diehr, Dr. Anne E. Ray, and Dr. Rachel Hogg-Graham.
• Introducing the Flu Pandemic of 1918 to COVID, through a nursing and public health lens, and the impact on generations.

For those who would like to receive a copy, contact Christopher Carney, Director of Marketing and Communications at christopher.carney@uky.edu or write to UK College of Public Health, 111 Washington Avenue, Suite 113, Lexington, KY 40536.

ISSUU's electronic version is available here.