Message From the Acting Dean

ANSWERING THE CALL IN THE ULTIMATE TIME OF NEED

If there’s anything that exemplifies the University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s commitment to the Commonwealth, it’s how our faculty, staff, and learners adjusted to the once-in-a-lifetime COVID-19 pandemic we faced this past year.

The virus challenged our institution in ways we never could have expected. It caused us to quickly shift our educational practices to virtual learning; it strained our clinical team and forced a reallocation of resources; and it exacerbated the health disparities in our communities.

As vice dean for education, and now as acting dean, I have witnessed our team step up in ways that make me so proud to be at the College of Medicine. Our faculty and staff made sure nothing would get in the way of our excellent delivery of education because they understood their responsibility to train the next generation of physicians and scientists. Our residents, medical students, graduate students, and post docs remained vigilant, engaged, and in tune to the needs of our state. Not only did they continue their path to this honorable profession, but they devoted their time outside of the classroom to help when they could.

Our team also made great strides in addressing the systemic racism made more visible by the deadly pandemic and recent events – including the tragic police killing of Breonna Taylor here in our state. The College of Medicine joined other UK health care colleges to embrace unity and commit to change.

I have a great feeling about this next cohort of physicians and scientists. They rose to the challenge in an ultimate time of need across all of our campuses, and they have more than proven their ability to step up when duty calls again.

We hope that you are moved by the stories of triumph and honor included in this edition of UK Medicine, which centers on our team’s response to this challenging year, especially our learners.

Charles “Chipper” Griffith III, MD, MSPH

Acting Dean; Vice Dean for Education