7 minute read
Campus News
KYCOM Class of 2028 Receives White Coat of Compassion
On September 28, the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine honored the Class of 2028 during its traditional White Coat Ceremony, held at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, Ky. This significant event marks a rite of passage for beginning medical students, symbolizing their formal entry into the field.
The ceremony not only celebrates their commitment to the profession but also underscores the importance of humanism as the cornerstone of medical practice. By donning the white coat, students pledge to uphold the same standards and ethical responsibilities as physicians.
“Today, you embrace the mantle of professionalism symbolized by this ceremony,” said Dean of KYCOM Joe Kingery, D.O., KYCOM ’06, MBA ’18, FACOFP, FAAFP. “As you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become outstanding osteopathic physicians, your experiences, both academic and clinical, will shape you into the compassionate healers you were meant to be.”
Click here to view more photos from KYCOM's White Coat Ceremony.
UPIKE welcomes new Vice President of Academic Affairs
UPIKE recently appointed Marisa Greer, Ed.D., as the new vice president for academic affairs. With 24 years of experience in higher education, Greer brings a proven record of leadership and a deep commitment to academic excellence. In her new role, she oversees undergraduate programs and is responsible for curriculum development, faculty recruitment and growth, accreditation and retention efforts. Greer’s focus on fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion will shape the university’s academic future.
“I am deeply honored to join UPIKE, an institution with a rich history and steadfast dedication to excellence,” Greer said. “We are embarking on an exciting journey of exploration, growth and impact, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.”
American Heart Association awards $154,000 research grant to KYCOM professor
UPIKE hosted representatives from the American Heart Association (AHA) to award Professor of Physiology Guichun Han, Ph.D., a significant research grant totaling $154,000. The event celebrated Han as the first-ever recipient of an AHA research grant in Eastern Kentucky. Han’s research focuses on the effects of estrogen on heart disease and stroke, specifically examining how these effects vary among women of different ages. This critical project is expected to shed light on important gender-specific health issues. Han expressed her gratitude to her students for their contributions to her research and the university for creating a supportive environment in which to work.
“It is a huge opportunity for our team to be involved in the great mission of the American Heart Association to be part of the relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives,” said Han. “Our team will be contributing to lowering the vascular death rate in Eastern Kentucky, in the nation and across the world.”
Champion for Social Work
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order appointing Professor of Social Work and Chair of the School of Social Work Genesia Kilgore-Bowling, Ph.D., MSW, CSW, to the Kentucky Board of Social Work. Kilgore-Bowling, a dedicated social work professional and academic leader, will represent certified social workers on the board. As a new member, she will contribute to the board’s mission of promoting and protecting the practice of social work in Kentucky through effective regulation, policy development and advocacy.
“I am deeply honored that Governor Beshear has appointed me to serve on the Kentucky Board of Social Work,” said KilgoreBowling. “Over the past two decades, I’ve been privileged to contribute to the field in a variety of roles, and I’m excited to continue that service as a regulator. My experiences as a leader, practitioner and social work educator in Eastern Kentucky have shaped my commitment to the profession, and I look forward to advancing the field of social work across our commonwealth.”
Enhancing Vocational Exploration
UPIKE was awarded the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) Vocation Across the Academy Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) this summer. Administered by CIC with generous support from the Lilly Endowment Inc., the NetVUE grant, along with money raised through the donor match, will provide seed money potentially totaling $90,000 over the next three years.
These funds support the development of a comprehensive exploration of vocation program that will be a part of the UPIKE Center for Career, Vocation and Leadership initiative directed by Kay Webb, Ph.D. Webb, who led the successful grant application, expressed excitement about weaving the exploration of vocation into all aspects of university life.
“Our goal is not only to help students develop their career-ready skills and prepare them to be leaders within their communities, but to do this under the overarching vision of considering their ‘WHY’…why they are motivated to serve in a particular profession, why they are drawn toward particular populations, why they choose to develop some skills and knowledge areas over others. It is within this ‘why’ that vocation and calling can be found,” said Webb. “We are eager to involve all aspects of the campus community in this conversation surrounding vocation, and I’m deeply grateful to NetVUE and UPIKE’s leadership for supporting this vision.”
To make a gift toward matching the NetVUE grant, in support of the Center for Career, Vocation and Leadership, please visit upike.edu/give.
Keeping Our Mountains Healthy
UPIKE’s Clean Paws club is making strides toward a greener campus, spearheading initiatives that focus on sustainability. With 20 dedicated members and a mission to expand, the club has partnered with campus groups like the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Kentucky College of Optometry to strengthen its efforts.
“Anyone can join,” said Valerie Kendrick, senior and vice president of Clean Paws. “We have members from undergrad, KYCO, undergraduate professors and even professors from the professional schools.”
Over the past few years, UPIKE has implemented several recycling programs. The campus now offers cardboard and plastic recycling, as well as water bottle filling stations.
“It wasn’t easy to find people to collect the recyclables, but we figured out a system last spring,” said Kendrick. “Now, there’s at least one plastic recycling bin in each building, and most buildings have them on every floor.”
The new recycling program utilizes QR codes placed on the bin lids. Once a bin is full, students scan the code, prompting a student worker to collect and sort the recyclables. UPIKE measures its progress through the cost savings generated by the cardboard baler and bottle recycling each month. The club is exploring more options for campus, including a biodigester to manage food waste.
“These sustainability efforts mean a lot to me,” said Kendrick. “Coming from an area without many sustainability options, I see what UPIKE has started as the first step toward keeping our mountains healthy.”
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