Behind the Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 1, 2025) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must:  Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2025: Matthew Kim, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Kim leads the Developing Minds Lab where his research, funded by the National Science Foundation, examines the nature and development of motivation and self-regulation skills in K-12 and postsecondary students. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 26, 2025) – When we think about children's health, we often picture check-ups, vaccinations, and the day-to-day care families receive from their pediatricians. But in Kentucky, the conversation goes much deeper. From rural access to care, to systemic poverty, to the lingering effects of the opioid epidemic, children across the Commonwealth face challenges that begin long before they step into a doctor's office. At the same time, Kentucky Children's Hospital and the University of Kentucky are stepping up with bold strategies aimed not just at treating illness, but at building healthier communities—starting from the ground up. Through statewide partnerships, data-driven interventions, and a renewed focus on population health, leaders are rethinking what pediatric care can and should be. On this episode of Behind the Blue, we speak with Dr. Scottie Day, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief of Kentucky Children's Hospital, and Dr. Bethany Hodge, Vice Chair for Population Health and Strategy in the Department of Pediatrics. They discuss the evolving needs of Kentucky's youngest patients, the launch of the KCH Affiliate Network, and how a commitment to upstream care and community collaboration is shaping the future of children's health across the state. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 19, 2025) – THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE. On January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the ‘Emancipation Proclamation', but it wasn't until June 19th, 1865 that the last remaining enslaved African Americans – men and women in Galveston, Texas – learned they were free. Since that time, June 19th, or “Juneteenth”, has been celebrated annually in various parts of the United States to commemorate emancipation as well as celebrate African-American culture. Still, it took until June 17th of 2021 for the day to be recognized as a federal holiday, after becoming more widely celebrated among African-American communities and gaining more and more mainstream attention in the US.  On this episode of Behind the Blue, we're presenting an encore interview with Dr. Anastasia Curwood, director of The Commonwealth Institute for Black Studies (CIBS) and African American and Africana Studies (AAAS) at UK. In this conversation, originally from June of 2022, Dr. Curwood discusses the Juneteenth holiday, from her personal feelings and reflections on the significance of the day, to the importance of observance of the holiday by the university, and more. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  For more information about CIBS, including ways you can support, visit https://cibs.as.uky.edu/.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 12, 2025) – As the University of Kentucky continues to evolve – whether through expanding student housing, major medical center construction, or increased sustainability initiatives – so too must the systems that help people navigate it all. With summer offering a brief window for more intensive work, University of Kentucky Transportation Services is executing projects ranging from garage expansions and surface lot renovations to shuttle route adjustments.  “The worst thing to do is wait until [something] hits you and then be reactive. [We] always try to be proactive,” says Lance Broeking, Director of Transportation Services at UK.  Among the more major updates are: A significant expansion of Sports Center Garage, adding over 1,200 spaces through both vertical and horizontal expansion The transition of the Prall Street lot into visitor-only parking, which Broeking hopes will reduce confusion and citation rates The introduction of flexible permit zones to help alleviate overcrowding and adapt to fluctuating parking demand around Kroger Field, especially during game day relocations A new Wildcat Wheels bike shop location, further enhancing UK's alternative transportation options The upcoming switch to virtual parking permits in fall 2026, allowing users to manage their parking entirely through license plate recognition and mobile technology On this episode of Behind the Blue, Broeking returns to provide insight into the planning and decision-making that affects how students, faculty, staff and visitors get to, from and around campus. He also discusses how his team stays proactive, responds to feedback, and prepares for a more connected, sustainable future. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.  Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 4, 2025) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must: Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2025: Gosia Chwatko, an assistant professor in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering. Chwatko's research lab focuses on understanding and developing sustainable separation processes and polymeric materials considering cradle-to-grave design. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 29, 2025) – Health isn't just about treating illness – it's about access. It's about education. It's about the quality of life in every community across Kentucky. In October 2024, the University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees made a bold statement: that UK should become the university that does more than any other in the country to improve the health of the state it serves.  The creation of a new initiative, the Advancing Kentucky Together Network, is the next step in UK's long-standing work to tackle health disparities, boost regional economies, and build a stronger, more resilient workforce—all through deep and sustained community partnerships.  The Network “builds upon years of work we've done on the healthcare side,” said Rob Edwards, UK's Vice President and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer for UK HealthCare, “building networks of healthcare providers and working together to improve clinical care for patients and to provide that care close to the patient's home.” The vision is rooted in Kentucky's land-grant mission and UK's history of stepping into real-world challenges with statewide impact. For Edwards, the concept is straightforward: “I would say we're taking a lot of long-time relationships that are built on trust…and so we've been able to find a model that works from both an expense standpoint and a health outcomes standpoint.”  On this episode of Behind the Blue, Edwards discusses the decades of partnership-building that laid the groundwork for this network, how strategic collaborations can meet local and statewide needs, and why UK is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 22, 2025) – As federal lawmakers continue to examine the future of Medicaid, universities and health systems across the country are monitoring potential policy shifts that could influence how care is delivered—especially in states like Kentucky, where Medicaid plays a foundational role in supporting healthcare access. At the University of Kentucky, Medicaid is more than a funding stream—it helps fuel a wide range of clinical services, community outreach programs, and care for underserved populations. Nearly 35% of patients served by UK HealthCare are Medicaid recipients, and many of them live in rural areas or face chronic health challenges that require consistent, high-quality care. Helping to lead the university's strategic and policy response is Mark Birdwhistell, UK's Senior Vice President for Health and Public Policy. With more than 45 years of experience in healthcare policy and administration, Birdwhistell has played a central role in shaping UK's efforts to communicate the value of Medicaid—not just in dollars, but in lives improved.  UK's participation in Kentucky's Medicaid Directed Payment program, which links funding to quality outcomes, has allowed the university to expand hospital access, reach patients in remote areas, and strengthen partnerships with providers across the Commonwealth. “We're using this opportunity to show accountability, improve outcomes, and demonstrate how a teaching hospital model can work,” Birdwhistell said. On this episode of Behind the Blue, Birdwhistell discusses how the university and its health system are adapting to a rapidly evolving Medicaid landscape, and why federal support remains essential to serving the state's most vulnerable.  ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 8, 2025) – THIS IS AN ENCORE PRESENTATION. The University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging is celebrating 40 years of research and community impact. The center is world-renowned for its significant contributions to the field through the decades. As the UK-ADRC celebrates this milestone, we reflect on how the Center has evolved over the years and highlight some of its notable achievements. This episode of Behind the Blue features a conversation with Dr. Linda Van Eldik, Director of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Center. Van Eldik highlights the 40-year journey of the Center, focusing on its origins, community engagement, and the evolution of Alzheimer's research.  The discussion covers the importance of understanding dementia through biomarkers, the significance of translational research, and the center's commitment to preventative strategies and lifestyle interventions. She emphasizes the need for community outreach, education, and the role of philanthropy in advancing research efforts.  Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 1, 2025) – As the University of Kentucky prepares to celebrate its newest alumni during Commencement ceremonies on May 9th and 10th, each student walking across the stage carries a unique story of transformation and impact shaped by their time on campus. Earning a degree in any field demands dedication, perseverance and countless hours of study, but the experience of UK often provides much more, equipping students with skills and perspectives gained through community engagement, hands-on research opportunities and impactful experiences with the wider world, allowing them to go on to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Two such students are graduating this spring from the UK College of Public Health, with journeys that show how UK's supportive environment, coupled with their own initiative, has prepared them to tackle complex health challenges on a broad, even global, scale. Sophia Goodin, a Lexington native, and Sophie Ciaverelli, who grew up partly in Texas and Germany, were drawn to public health for its focus on making a difference at a population level, rather than through solely individual patient care. They both held a desire to use their skills to help entire communities and appreciated the unique viewpoint Public Health provided in getting to the root causes and solutions of certain problems. Another cornerstone of their UK experience has been the supportive and close-knit community within the college, along with the accessibility and passion of the faculty and staff. Goodin describes the community as “super welcoming,” and noted the ease of having “personal conversations” due to the college's smaller size. Ciaverelli added that the college made strong impressions on them by helping students feel “they want me here, I belong here, and they are celebrating the fact that that I'm here” right from the start. On this episode of Behind the Blue, Goodin and Ciaverelli reflect on their time at UK, their unique research and international experiences, and what's next as they prepare for graduation and embark on their future paths in public health. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2025) – University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto often talks about the university's overarching mission to advance the state of Kentucky. A key part of that mission is educating more and more students to help expand the workforce across the Commonwealth.  Recent enrollment figures reflect this mission with record enrollment, as well as retention and graduation rates.  A team from the University of Kentucky recently earned the National Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) Excellence Award.  The presenting team — made up Dr. Kirsten Turner, Vice President for Student Success…Chief Analytics Officer Todd Brann…Dr. Molly Reynolds, Associate Vice President for Student Excellence…and Anne Marie Bickel, Student Analytics Team Lead, Institutional Research, Analytics & Decision Support (IRADS) — won the “Gold in 2025 Assessment, Persistence, Data Analytics and related category” for their Weekly Retention Meetings.  In this episode of Behind the Blue, two of those leaders, Molly Reynolds and Anne Marie Bickel, are taking a deeper dive into this unique strategy to explore how it works and why it's helping University of Kentucky students succeed. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 17, 2025) – THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE. For those who live and work in urban areas, transportation is often among the top challenges in their daily routines. For Lance Broeking, Director of Transportation Services at the University of Kentucky, addressing these challenges is a constant focus. He leads a department responsible for managing campus parking, transit, and alternative transportation options, working to navigate the complexities of a growing and evolving university environment. In this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', Broeking delves into the impact of campus growth and ongoing construction, the importance of collaborating with the city of Lexington, and the vital role communication and education play in addressing parking regulations, fees, and citations. He also explores the integration of new technologies within transportation services and the university's ongoing commitment to sustainability.  Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 10, 2025) – [THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE]  In the summer of 2020, UK Football player JJ Weaver lost both his father and high school football coach in successive months. Weaver, a graduate who plays outside linebacker, says he channeled his emotions into football until an injury later that fall sidelined him and left him with no outlet. Struggling with anger and grief, JJ began falling behind in class and regressing from his teammates, until the UK coaching staff pulled him aside to try and understand what was happening. From there, Weaver's path eventually led him to a senior capstone class with Nicole Breazeale, an associate professor of community and leadership development in the UK College of Agriculture, Food & Environment, where he shared his journey with fellow students.  As a final project in the class, Breazeale connected Weaver and two other students with Emily Johnson, the clinical programs manager at the Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families, where they developed a student-led peer support group, first with fellow athletes, and now moving out into pilot programs within the greater university community. On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', Breazeale, Weaver, and Johnson discuss the beginnings of the program, the overwhelming need for these types of groups on campus, and the legacy they hope build by serving students in need.  This episode contains discussions of loss and grief. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, or facing mental and/or substance use disorders, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page. To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 3, 2025) – The following episode deals with sensitive subject material involving sexual assault, rape, stalking, and intimate partner violence. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact the VIP Center at 859-257-3574 or email vipcenter@uky.edu. April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, a time dedicated to education, advocacy, and support for survivors. At the University of Kentucky, the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center serves as a confidential resource for students, faculty, and staff impacted by interpersonal violence—including sexual assault, rape, stalking, and intimate partner violence. The VIP Center provides a welcoming space for survivors, advocates, and anyone seeking to learn more about prevention and intervention. On this episode of Behind the Blue, two professionals dedicated to supporting survivors and preventing violence on campus discuss the work of the VIP Center and the vital role of advocacy in the campus community. Natalie Tate is the Victim Advocate for the University of Kentucky Police Department's Special Victims Unit (SVU). A mental health professional pursuing her M.S. in Family Sciences with an emphasis in Couple and Family Therapy, Natalie brings extensive experience in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and community engagement. She works closely with survivors, providing support and guidance if and when they choose to navigate the criminal justice system. Natalie also collaborates with the VIP Center to ensure survivors receive holistic care, connecting them with advocacy, counseling, and other essential resources. Lenzi Dodgen works with the VIP Center, where she helps survivors navigate their healing journeys and engages the campus community in education and prevention efforts. With both her bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from UK, Lenzi has devoted her career to advocacy and considers her work at UK a “dream job.” Together, they discuss the resources available at UK, the importance of trauma-informed care, and how we can all contribute to a safer and more supportive community. If you or someone you know has experienced interpersonal violence, know that help is available. The VIP Center is here to provide confidential support, advocacy, and education. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 27, 2025) – In December of 2024, long-time agricultural and extension services leader Laura Stephenson was named vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Martin-Gatton CAFE). With a career spanning decades in Cooperative Extension leadership in both Kentucky and Tennessee, Stephenson has worked at every level of the system—from county agent to state director—helping to connect research with real-world solutions for farmers, businesses, and communities.  Now, as Dean, she's leading the college through a period of transformation, overseeing major facility upgrades, expanding workforce development programs, and strengthening partnerships that bridge agriculture, education, and public health. On this episode of Behind the Blue, Stephenson discusses her vision for the college, the evolving role of UK Extension in supporting producers of all sizes, and how agriculture touches every aspect of life in the Commonwealth—from farm to table, rural to urban, and beyond.  Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 20, 2025) – Each year in the spring, hundreds of UK students gather to stand for an entire day to support the patients in the DanceBlue Kentucky Children's Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. This year, the organization will celebrate its 20th annual marathon. Students work all year to raise funds and share the mission to spread joy. On March 29-30 they will fill the floor of Historic Memorial Coliseum for 24-hours to participate in the no-sitting, no-sleeping marathon.   In 2006, the very first DanceBlue Marathon raised $123,323.16. The event has grown larger every year, becoming one of the greatest traditions at the University of Kentucky. In 2024, the organization raised $2.1 million, breaking the record for highest fundraising total. For 20 years, DanceBlue has strived to spread joy to those fighting, to persevere in memory of the lives lost, and to celebrate every victory until the battle against pediatric cancer is won. On this episode of Behind the Blue, two UK alumni who were previous members of DanceBlue's leadership committee share their thoughts and reflections on the program.  Amberlee Isabella, an entrepreneur in New York state, and Alex Wade, a Lexington native and local physician, both talk about the impact DanceBlue had on both their personal lives and professional careers, the importance of community service and support, and the emotional connections that have defined DanceBlue and the unique family it has created. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2025) – Last summer, University of Kentucky archaeologist Paolo Visonà, Ph.D., an adjunct associate professor in the University of Kentucky's School of Art and Visual Studies, announced a major archaeological discovery in Calabria, Italy.  Visonà and his team discovered Spartacus' first battlefield in southern Italy and Roman fortification systems built by Crassus to blockade Spartacus' army.  Through fieldwalking and geophysical and remote sensing techniques, Visonà's team followed the Roman lines for more than 1.6 miles in a dense forest and collected numerous fragments of broken weapons. Visonà has conclusively identified some of the weapon fragments as originating in the first century B.C. Visonà's team also found a complete bronze stud inside the wall at a depth consistent with Roman military equipment.  On this episode of Behind the Blue, Visonà discusses the path to his discovery and what it means for the field of archaeology and the University of Kentucky. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 5, 2025) — It's hard to believe it's been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic officially arrived in the Commonwealth – but on Friday, March 6, 2020, Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed the state's first COVID-19-positive patient and declared a state of emergency in Kentucky. And that first case was tested and diagnosed right here at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital. That day began a grueling, years-long grind for medical professionals across the state, the country, and the world. Hospital systems struggled to keep up with surges of severely ill patients coming through their doors. Shortages of personal protective equipment, ventilators, ECMO machines, inpatient beds, and even health care providers themselves led to a type of global health crisis not seen in more than a century.   In today's episode of Behind the Blue, you'll hear from eight longtime employees from the medical side of UK's campus, ranging from administrators to frontline health care providers to researchers. We asked them to reflect on those scary, early days of the pandemic, how it impacted their professional and personal lives, and some of the lessons learned from living through such a significant moment in history. Let's meet our guests for this oral history of the COVID-19 pandemic at UK and in the Commonwealth.   Jenn Alonso has been at UK HealthCare for 13 years and has worked in the medicine intensive care unit (MICU) as a registered nurse since 2014. As a MICU nurse, she works alongside a team of physicians, nurses, therapists and other providers to take care of some of the most critically ill patients who come to UK HealthCare. Alonso was working in the MICU the day UK's first COVID-19 patient was admitted and was directly involved in frontline care for the sickest COVID-19 patients day in and day out.   Kim Blanton, D.N.P., is the chief nursing officer for UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. Blanton began her nursing career at UK in 1998 in the neuro-trauma ICU and worked her way up through several nursing positions, including rapid response nursing, working as a division charge nurse and managing the cardiovascular stepdown unit. After briefly leaving UK to help create and run an ICU at a local rural hospital, she returned in 2011 as a hospital operations administrator before becoming the UK HealthCare enterprise director for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Quality and Safety. Blanton was serving in her IPAC role when the COVID-19 pandemic began and was instrumental in UK's COVID-19 response: She helped bring home UK students from abroad, called COVID-19 patients to help them navigate their care and quarantine, developed plans and processes for patient surges and PPE needs, and much more.   Kevin Hatton, M.D., Ph.D., is the chief medical officer for UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. An anesthesiologist by training, he earned both his medical degree and doctorate of philosophydegree from UK. Including his time in residency, Dr. Hatton has worked at UK HealthCare for 21 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles in anesthesiology in critical care medicineprimarily for neurology and cardiovascular ICUs. When the pandemic began, he was serving as senior medical director for critical care services as well as was interim director for ECMO services. Initially, Hatton's role focused on training and preparing the anesthesia critical care team to help provide care for non-COVID ICU patients, as much of the medicine ICU staff's time was spent caring for COVID-positive inpatients. ECMO, the highest form of life support, is a machine that takes over function of a patient's damaged heart and/or lungs by removing a patient's blood, oxygenating it, and returning it into the body. Though ECMO is used on a daily basis at UK HealthCare, its use skyrocketed during the pandemic as patients whose lungs were severely damaged by the virus needed this highest form of life support. As interim director for ECMO services, Hatton and his team had to rapidly develop protocols and processes to use the limited number of ECMO machines to help the most patients possible.   Ashley Montgomery-Yates, M.D., has been physician in the UK Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine since 2013. As a critical care physician, she works primarily in the MICU setting taking care of the sickest patients – people on ventilators, with multi-organ failure, post-operative complications, and more. In 2013, she launched UK HealthCare's ICURecovery Clinic, which helps patients who have been in the ICU navigate the follow-up care and resources they need to recover. At the time, UK HealthCare's ICU Recovery Clinic was just one of three in the nation. Montgomery-Yates is currently the senior vice chair for the Department of Internal Medicine. When the pandemic began, she had recently become the interim chief medical officer for inpatient and emergency services. In this role and as an ICU physician, Montgomery-Yates and her colleagues were heavily involved in the day-to-day care of inpatients with COVID-19. She was part of the team that launched UK's successful Mass Vaccination Clinic out at Kroger Field, and her ICU teams also helped guide the creation of UK HealthCare's brand-new MICU, which opened January 2024.   Meg Pyper is a division charge nurse with the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital Emergency Department and has been with UK HealthCare Emergency Medicine since 2010. As a charge nurse, her role is like air traffic control for the ED — taking calls from EMS and local hospitals about incoming patients and transfers, determining what services that patient will need upon arrival, and notifying interdisciplinary team members to be prepared when those patients arrive. As a nurse, she was drawn to emergency medicine after seeing her favorite nurse mentors be “the calm in the chaos.” Pyper began in this role just weeks before the pandemic arrived in Kentucky, and she and her team were the first line of care COVID patients received when they arrived at UK Chandler Hospital.   Lindsay Ragsdale, M.D., is the chief medical officer for Kentucky Children's Hospital and chief of the Division of Pediatric Palliative Care. Since arriving at UK in 2013, she has worked to build a robust program that helps seriously ill young patients and their families by caring for them holistically – looking at their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, and helping them navigate the experience of being severely ill.  Ragsdale became the KCH CMO in 2021, right when the COVID-19 delta variant was beginning to affect children much more than previous variants had. She helped set up both the pediatric monoclonal antibody clinic that provided infusions to help protect high-risk pediatric patients, as well as the successful pediatric vaccine clinic, which provided COVID-19 vaccines for children in a playful, engaging environment.   Rob Sprang is the director of Kentucky TeleCare, a role he's held at UK since 1996. UK first began using telehealth services in 1995. Since then, telehealth has grown by leaps and bounds, but its use skyrocketed during the pandemic. Earlier days of telehealth were usually done facility-to-facility — however, the vastly improved technology and public acceptance of telehealth, along with new, more relaxed regulatory laws around its use has allowed telehealth to explode in popularity. When the pandemic hit Kentucky, Sprang and his team — along with countless ambulatory providers and staff – worked 24/7 for more than a week to get UK HealthCare clinics set up to offer telehealth so that patients could still see their providers without needing to go into the hospital or clinic. Telehealth was a critical element in helping to protect both patients and providers from potential exposure to COVID-19.   Vince Venditto, Ph.D., is an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the UK College of Pharmacy with a background in chemistry, drug delivery, and vaccine development. In the early days of the pandemic, his work in blood analysis – looking for biomarkers for cardiovascular disease in up to 1,500 samples at a time – was adapted to do mass testing for COVID antibodies as a means of diagnosis. After PCR tests became the gold standard for diagnosing the disease, his work shifted again — this time to working with local pharmacies for surveillance of COVID out in Kentucky communities. Post-COVID, this project has evolved to include other infectious diseases and inflammatory conditions, and it focuses on increasing access to health care through Kentucky's network of pharmacies. It also has a new name: Pharmacy-based Recruitment Opportunities To Enhance Community Testing and Surveillance (PROTECTS). Venditto co-directs this project along with Brooke Hudspeth, Pharm.D., an associate professor of pharmacy practice and science. Venditto is also part of The Consortium for Understanding and Reducing Infectious Diseases in Kentucky (CURE-KY), which fosters multidisciplinary collaborations to address the burden of infectious diseases in the Commonwealth and beyond. This consortium was built on the heels of UK's COVID-19 Unified Research Experts (CURE) Alliance, which was quickly assembled in 2020 to support a full range of COVID-related research. -- Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.  

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 26, 2025) – As Lexington commemorates its 250th anniversary and the University of Kentucky marks its 160th, UK Libraries' Deirdre Scaggs helps listeners explore the intertwined history and evolving relationship between the city and its university.  Scaggs is associate dean for research and discovery and director of the Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center in UK Libraries' Special Collections Research Center. She helps navigate UK's origins in Lexington, the challenges of growing UK and Lexington's symbiotic relationship, and the importance of the community built between the two.  A key part of that is UK's mission and charge as the Commonwealth's land-grant institution.  “Having a land-grant institution in your city is a big draw for development, for businesses to want to come here and invest in the area,” Scaggs said. “The public service mission of a land-grant institution is something that I think the university has always followed through with and has made such a difference — from the early days of agricultural extension to all of the health care, innovations and opportunities that exist here to help the entire state.” Learn more from Scaggs on the captivating history, challenges and triumphs that have shaped Lexington and UK, as well as the historical insights and pivot points that define the relationship between the two. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 20, 2025) – THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE. Fans, dressed from head to toe in their team's colors, swarm the stadium chanting fight songs and waving banners. It's game day, and the stakes feel monumental.  Sports rivalries are a cornerstone of athletic culture — sparking packed bleachers, passionate debates and unforgettable moments.  But what drives the fervor that fans feel for their team and the disdain for their rivals? Experts suggest the answer lies not just in the scoreboard, but in the human psyche.  According to Matt Moore, associate professor in the College of Social Work(CoSW) and Tarkington Newman, director of CoSW Sport Social Work Research Lab, rivalries are more than competition; they're a powerful blend of identity, emotion and instinct. The CoSW recently announced the launch of The Sport Social Work Collaborative — a partnership between the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports (ASWIS), the Sport Social Work Journal and the college's Sport Social Work Research Lab. The goal is to advance sport social work as a distinct specialization within the social work profession. The collaborative is focused on leading research, teaching and outreach efforts that seek to promote the healthy development of athletes, coaches and communities. The CoSW is also home of the International Institute on Sport Social Work. “The collaborative spans everything from community-based youth development programs, high school sports, to collegiate athletics,” Newman said. “But ultimately, the lab is committed to maximizing sports and promoting healthy experiences and development. It's a place for exploration — understanding what sports are, what they can be, and giving students the opportunity to engage and lead research experiences.” On this edition of “Behind the Blue,” Moore and Newman, who are both part of the collaborative, explore the psychology behind sports rivalries — why we love our teams as fiercely as we loathe the opposition, and why this drama keeps us coming back for more. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 14, 2025) – It seems like foreshadowing that they met while playing the board game Life. Marietta Barton was 19 years old; Jeff Baxter was 21. Despite both growing up in London, Ky., they never crossed paths until they moved to Lexington for college. But within a few weeks of their chance meeting, they were in love—and engaged.   Now, 35 years into their marriage, Jeff has published a book chronicling their whirlwind romance, the life-altering health struggles they faced soon after, and their enduring commitment to one another.   He originally wrote the book, “Ten Dates Later: The Story of an MS Caregiver,” as a surprise gift for Marietta (now Barton-Baxter) in 2023. But after sharing the text with a few friends, they were encouraged to publish it to help others facing the challenges of chronic illness and caregiving. They also decided to donate the proceeds from the book to multiple sclerosis research at the University of Kentucky, where they both earned their degrees, and where Marietta has worked in health research for 37 years. She currently serves as the regulatory program director and biobank project director in the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Jeff recently retired after serving for 28 years as a physical education teacher in the Fayette County Public Schools.  On this episode of Behind the Blue, Jeff and Marietta tell their story, which is inextricably intertwined with the University of Kentucky; from the beginnings of their romance, to their college educations, to the diagnoses and care for both of them, and to Marietta's impactful 37-year career in health research at UK.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 6, 2025) – [THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE] For over three decades, Everett McCorvey has been the driving force as director of UK Opera Theatre, which is part of the School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts. The school has earned a national reputation for excellence in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as in music education, music therapy, composition, theory, and music history. As the first African American to earn a doctoral degree in music from the University of Alabama, McCorvey is personally committed to creating opportunities for UK students from diverse backgrounds to thrive. One of McCorvey's most renowned projects is ‘It's A Grand Night for Singing!', a vibrant, high-energy musical showcase featuring hits from Broadway and beyond. Since its inception in 1992, ‘Grand Night' has captivated audiences with its Emmy Award-winning performances, highlighting the best of Broadway both past and present. On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', McCorvey shares insights into his upbringing in Montgomery, Alabama, the experiences that motivated him to pursue both performance and teaching and offers a preview of this year's ‘Grand Night' lineup. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 29, 2025) – The University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging is celebrating 40 years of research and community impact. The center is world-renowned for its significant contributions to the field through the decades. As the UK-ADRC celebrates this milestone, we reflect on how the Center has evolved over the years and highlight some of its notable achievements. This episode of Behind the Blue features a conversation with Dr. Linda Van Eldik, Director of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Center. Van Eldik highlights the 40-year journey of the Center, focusing on its origins, community engagement, and the evolution of Alzheimer's research.  The discussion covers the importance of understanding dementia through biomarkers, the significance of translational research, and the center's commitment to preventative strategies and lifestyle interventions. She emphasizes the need for community outreach, education, and the role of philanthropy in advancing research efforts.  Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 23, 2025) – This week's episode of Behind the Blue features an episode of the Talking FACS podcast. Hosted by Mindy McCulley of the UK Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Program, Talking FACS is a production of the UK College of Agriculture, Food & Environment. On this special guest episode, Dr. Alex Elswick, Extension Specialist for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, discusses a critical and timely issue—the alarming rise of stimulant use alongside the ongoing opioid crisis, a phenomenon some experts refer to as a "twin epidemic." In this interview, Dr. Elswick unpacks startling data: stimulant use, particularly methamphetamine and cocaine, has spiked dramatically across the nation and here in Kentucky, becoming a major contributor to overdose fatalities alongside opioids. This conversation sheds light on evolving drug use patterns, including the shift from injection to smoking, and explores the social perceptions and challenges surrounding treatment for stimulant addiction. It's a sobering yet vital discussion that underscores the complexities of substance use disorders and the urgent need for innovative solutions. You can find more episodes of the Talking FACS podcast through a variety of podcast providers, such as Spotify and Amazon Music. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 16, 2025) – For over 50 years, the city of Lexington, Kentucky, has honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with one of the longest-running celebrations in the country. This year, thousands of community members will come together once again to reflect on Dr. King's vision for racial equality, social justice and service to others —values that remain as relevant today as they were during his lifetime. The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encompasses influential decisions, monumental actions and steadfast progressions of humanitarian rights that reach far beyond the civil rights movement. A leader of all people, Dr. King never chose fear but always chose courage and determination when fighting for civil rights in the face of oppression, ignorance and violence - providing a model for how we still must work to combat inequality today.  This year's theme, “Where do we go from here?” emphasizes where we are today and where we need to go. A message the Lexington MLK Day committee believes to be more pertinent than ever.  Ja'Mahl McDaniel, director of UK's Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, joins this episode of Behind the Blue to talk about his work with the MLK Day planning committee, how the program adapted to honor the loss of Nikki Giovanni, the importance of student involvement in the Lexington community, and more. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 9, 2025) – As the new year begins, the University of Kentucky is welcoming back students for the spring 2025 semester—a time to reflect on the strides made in the past year and to look forward to the opportunities ahead. On this episode of Behind the Blue, UK President Eli Capilouto reflects on 2024, highlighting the achievements of a campus community deeply committed to care—care for students, for discovery, and for the Commonwealth. “The most important question we should ask ourselves every day,” he notes, “is, did we care? And then, how we care. That makes me most proud of our faculty, because resoundingly, you can say they care. They care about our students—not just their educational experience,” but also how they're prepared to serve the future. President Capilouto also discusses the Board of Trustees' directive for UK to strengthen partnerships across Kentucky to advance health and prosperity. With a mission to make the state “healthier, wealthier, and wiser,” the university is tackling challenges like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease through groundbreaking research while preparing students and communities for opportunities in energy, advanced manufacturing, and the arts. From its growing network of partnerships with hospitals and clinics across the state to a campus transformed by $6.5 billion in investments, UK continues to pull the levers of change, fulfilling its land-grant mission to serve and uplift the people of Kentucky. Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

 LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 23, 2024) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must:  Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2024: Kayla Johnson, an assistant professor in the UK College of Education. Johnson doesn't hesitate to tell her students that she was a first-generation college graduate, is from Appalachia, was low-income and faced housing insecurity as a child. In fact, she believes that sharing that information can help them. Johnson also serves as director of Graduate Global Learning Initiatives, where she aims to provide graduate students with international experiences. In 2016, she co-founded a non-governmental organization that facilitates access to culturally grounded and community-driven educational opportunities for Indigenous children and adults in the Peruvian Andes. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 12, 2024) – On Friday, December 20th, the University of Kentucky will honor its newest alumni during the December Commencement ceremonies. On this episode of Behind the Blue, we're spotlighting a few of those graduates, hearing their stories about their time at UK, the memories they'll carry forward, and how they're ready to apply what they've learned to the next exciting chapters of their lives. Jayla McCoy, a graduating senior from Cleveland, Ohio, is earning her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. A standout leader at the University of Kentucky, Jayla conducted undergraduate research, served as a Lead College of Engineering Ambassador, and was Chapter President of the National Society of Black Engineers.  With internships at Toyota and GE, as well as significant recognitions like the Lyman T. Johnson Torch Bearer Award, Jayla is poised to make a remarkable impact in her field. Nathan Reynolds found his calling through personal experiences with his sister's spina bifida and his mother's dedication as a nurse. After a pandemic detour led him to UK, he pursued a career in nursing with extraordinary focus, earning scholarships and interning in advanced pain management and AI applications in anesthesia.   From enduring a 30-degree house during the 2022 ice storm to planning a future as a nurse anesthetist, Reynolds' UK story exemplifies resilience and compassion, offering an inspiring look at a young professional ready to transform health care. He will graduate  with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 12, 2024) – Fans, dressed from head to toe in their team's colors, swarm the stadium chanting fight songs and waving banners. It's game day, and the stakes feel monumental.  Sports rivalries are a cornerstone of athletic culture — sparking packed bleachers, passionate debates and unforgettable moments.  But what drives the fervor that fans feel for their team and the disdain for their rivals? Experts suggest the answer lies not just in the scoreboard, but in the human psyche.  According to Matt Moore, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Social Work(CoSW) and Tarkington Newman, director of CoSW Sport Social Work Research Lab, rivalries are more than competition; they're a powerful blend of identity, emotion and instinct. The CoSW recently announced the launch of The Sport Social Work Collaborative — a partnership between the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports (ASWIS), the Sport Social Work Journal and the college's Sport Social Work Research Lab. The goal is to advance sport social work as a distinct specialization within the social work profession. The collaborative is focused on leading research, teaching and outreach efforts that seek to promote the healthy development of athletes, coaches and communities. The CoSW is also home of the International Institute on Sport Social Work. “The collaborative spans everything from community-based youth development programs, high school sports, to collegiate athletics,” Newman said. “But ultimately, the lab is committed to maximizing sports and promoting healthy experiences and development. It's a place for exploration — understanding what sports are, what they can be, and giving students the opportunity to engage and lead research experiences.” On this edition of “Behind the Blue,” Moore and Newman, who are both part of the collaborative, explore the psychology behind sports rivalries — why we love our teams as fiercely as we loathe the opposition, and why this drama keeps us coming back for more. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 5, 2024) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must: Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2024: Mark Fillmore, a research professor in the Department of Psychology in the UK College of Arts and Sciences. Fillmore is a member of the behavioral neuroscience and psychopharmacology area. The overarching theme of his research is understanding the role that cognitive processes have in promoting risk-taking behavior, with emphasis on recreational drug use including alcohol abuse and dependence. He is recognized as one of the world's leading scholars in the examination of the effects of alcohol on human cognitive information processing. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (November 28, 2024) – [THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE.] On July 30, UK HealthCare opened a new emergency unit dedicated to the treatment of patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The unit, known as EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing), is the first EmPATH unit in Kentucky.  Pioneered by internationally known emergency psychiatry expert Scott Zeller, M.D., only about 30 EmPATH units currently exist in the U.S. Rather than going to a traditional emergency room, where patients seeking care for a behavioral health issue may be waiting for hours in a stressful environment before being evaluated, EmPATH units were created to provide immediate support for patients in a carefully designed, calming environment. UK HealthCare and New Vista have collaborated with leadership from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to bring this new, evidence-based model of emergency behavioral health care to Kentucky. In this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Eastern State Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Lindsey Jasinski and Chief Nursing Officer Marc Woods explain why the EmPATH model is so effective, how psychiatric treatment has evolved over the years, and how Eastern State Hospital has been a leader in psychiatric care for more than two centuries. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (November 21, 2024) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must: Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2024: Bradley Elliott, a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics in the UK College of Arts and Sciences.  In the mathematics classes Bradley Elliott teaches, he focuses on active learning and student collaboration. He designs lessons and assignments that develop students' problem-solving skills, so students are better prepared to solve novel problems in the future. During the summer, he is a faculty member at the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, working with high-achieving high school seniors. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (November 14, 2024) – In September 2022, the University of Kentucky launched a groundbreaking initiative: UK Invests.  Designed to help students become healthier, wealthier, and wiser, UK Invests is a first-of-its-kind financial literacy program aimed at building a foundation of financial wellness for all students — undergraduate, graduate, and professional.  Through UK Invests, students can open a brokerage account, access financial wellness resources, and earn rewards for taking steps to improve their financial, physical, and mental health. The program is designed to help students become equipped to make smart financial moves that benefit them now and in the future. Here's how it works: students can earn up to $500 per year through activities like attending financial literacy classes, participating in wellness events, and engaging with career-building opportunities. And the impact is clear — students in the program show higher GPAs and retention rates compared to those not enrolled, proving the long-term benefits of financial literacy on their college experience and beyond.  On this episode of Behind the Blue, UK students Kylie Lessenberry and Silas Moffitt share how UK Invests has helped them navigate personal finance, sharpen their investment skills, and enhance their overall student journey. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.   To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (November 7, 2024) – The interconnectedness of Black arts and cultural institutions is essential to the mission of community impact and affecting change. That's one of the observations made by University of Kentucky Assistant Professor Jaleesa Wells, Ph.D., from the Department of Arts Administration. For 12 months — from June 2023 through May 2024 — Wells explored the relationships between three East Okland, California, arts organizations: Artist as First Responder, Black Cultural Zone and Eastside Arts Alliance.  “The crux of my project was interviewing the stakeholders, interviewing their community members, board members, artists and the community that they interacted with,” Wells said.  Those groups were cultural institutions, she said, that went beyond the confines of their respective physical spaces.  On this edition of “Behind the Blue,” Tom Musgrave of UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications and Shauna Morgan, Ph.D., an associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in UK's Department of English Creative Writing Division, join Wells to discuss her exploration of those three groups and how she is applying what she's learned to her work at UK.  ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 31, 2024) – In today's political landscape, the power of a single post, tweet or video can shift public opinion, drive movements and even shape policies. From trending hashtags to viral tweets, social media isn't just an accessory in politics anymore — it's a microphone, a platform and, at times, a battleground. In the social media arena, candidates and voters engage in real-time debates, raise awareness for causes and rally support. But as its role in politics continues to grow, so do questions about its influence. How did we get here? And where is this headed? On this edition of “Behind the Blue,” Annelise Russell, an associate professor in the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, and Maggie Macdonald, an assistant professor of political science in the UK College of Arts and Sciences, explore the impact of the stories lighting up our feeds — and what they mean for the future of democracy. Their research focuses on the complex relationship between social media and politics — unpacking its benefits, pitfalls and what it truly means to be “political” in the digital age. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 24, 2024) – As the 2024 election approaches, voters across the country are preparing for a pivotal year in American politics. While the Presidential race naturally dominates headlines, many states, including Kentucky, are also focusing on crucial down-ballot races that will shape the future of local and national governance.  From state legislative battles to key Congressional seats, the outcome of these elections will influence everything from healthcare to education policy. Cultural issues and voter turnout are expected to play significant roles, with both parties working hard to mobilize their bases in what is sure to be a contentious and highly watched election cycle.  On this episode of 'Behind the Blue', Stephen Voss, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky, discusses the dynamics of the 2024 elections, including the lack of competitive races at the federal level, the impact of turnout on election outcomes, and key state-level amendments. Voss also explores the national political climate, voter motivations, and the influence of cultural issues in shaping the political landscape. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 17, 2024) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must: Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted.  This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2024: Zada Komara, a lecturer in the Lewis Honors College. An affiliate faculty member in the Appalachian Studies Program and the Department of Anthropology, Komara teaches interdisciplinary social science, material culture, archaeology of the recent past, Appalachia, oral history and the social impacts of pseudoscience. Her research focuses on archaeologies of gender, race and class and their intersection with the consumer revolution in Appalachian coal towns and on modern material culture studies on UK's campus. She administers the UK Appalachian Center's Coal Camp Documentary Project, a collaborative documentation effort focusing on company coal towns in Kentucky's 54 Appalachian counties. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 10, 2024) – In the summer of 2020, UK Football player JJ Weaver lost both his father and high school football coach in successive months. Weaver, a graduate who plays outside linebacker, says he channeled his emotions into football until an injury later that fall sidelined him and left him with no outlet. Struggling with anger and grief, JJ began falling behind in class and regressing from his teammates, until the UK coaching staff pulled him aside to try and understand what was happening. From there, Weaver's path eventually led him to a senior capstone class with Nicole Breazeale, an associate professor of community and leadership development in the UK College of Agriculture, Food & Environment, where he shared his journey with fellow students.  As a final project in the class, Breazeale connected Weaver and two other students with Emily Johnson, the clinical programs manager at the Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families, where they developed a student-led peer support group, first with fellow athletes, and now moving out into pilot programs within the greater university community. On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', Breazeale, Weaver, and Johnson discuss the beginnings of the program, the overwhelming need for these types of groups on campus, and the legacy they hope build by serving students in need.  This episode contains discussions of loss and grief. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, or facing mental and/or substance use disorders, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page. To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 3, 2024) – For over a century, starting in 1915, the University of Kentucky has celebrated Homecoming week – a time for students and alumni to uphold the Wildcat spirit and traditions. Numerous groups, including the UK Alumni Association, Student Organizations and Activities, Black Student Union, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Student Activities Board, and the Office for Student Success have worked hard to make this a memorable week for all who take part. This year, the UK Alumni Association will also honor the Golden Wildcats from the Class of 1974, with a series of events marking their 50th reunion. For a complete schedule of Golden Wildcat Society reunion activities and details on how to register, visit the UK Alumni Association's website. Homecoming week runs from October 7-13, 2024 and offers a range of events for the entire UK community, culminating in the Homecoming football game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 12. Highlights leading up to the game include annual events like the Lyman T. Johnson Awards Luncheon, the DanceBlue Silent Auction, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show. These long-standing traditions have made Homecoming an integral part of campus life for over 100 years.  On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', UK Alumni Association Executive Director Jill Smith and this year's Alumni Association President Rob Crady discuss the significance of alumni engagement, the evolution of campus, and what's in store for this year's Homecoming. They also reflect on the importance of maintaining traditions and strengthening the sense of community at UK. ‘Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page. To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 26, 2024) – Part of the UK College of Fine Arts, the University of Kentucky Art Museum fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of art from a wide variety of cultures and historical periods, offering meaningful experiences for audiences of all ages. With a permanent collection of around 5,000 objects, the museum serves as a rich resource for the campus community and a cultural hub for citizens of the Commonwealth and beyond.  Rachel Hooper is the new curator of the UK Art Museum. A seventh-generation Kentuckian and native of Lexington, Hooper says a school field trip to the museum was the early catalyst for her love of art.  On this episode of Behind the Blue, UKPR's Tom Musgrave sits down with Hooper and Art Museum Director Stuart Horodner to discuss the nature of curatorial work, what the mission of the museum is from both educational and cultural perspectives, the significance of student involvement, and much more. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 19, 2024) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students.  To receive the award, a candidate must: Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years.  A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2024. Eric Thomas Weber is an associate professor in the department of educational policy studies and evaluation in the College of Education. He specializes in the philosophy of education, ethics and public policy, political philosophy and American philosophy. In addition to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, Weber is co-chair of the faculty and student recognition committee for the College of Education and has served as a member of the Honors College's faculty council.  Weber received his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University with a double major in philosophy and communication studies, his master's in philosophy from Ohio University and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Southern Illinois University. He joined the faculty at UK in 2016 as a visiting associate professor in the department of philosophy and then in 2018 as an associate professor of educational policy studies and evaluation in the College of Education. His published academic work consists of five books, 36 articles or essays, 56 popular media publications and 151 presentations. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2024) – For Savannah Robin and Ilka Balk, what began as a "happy accident" turned into a major opportunity for students and employers alike. Robin, a lecturer in career and professional development for the University of Kentucky's Ag Equine Programs, received an email from Balk, associate director of the university's James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, noting that both had scheduled career fairs at the Gatton Student Center on the same date and time. Instead of seeing it as a conflict, they recognized it as an opportunity to showcase two of Kentucky's signature industries—equine and spirits—in a single, unified career fair. The Kentucky Signature Industries Career Fair will bring together members from the equine and spirits industries to educate students on post-graduation career options on September 26, 2024. The collaboration also supported ongoing cross-disciplinary efforts between the Equine Programs and the Beam Institute, as students from the Gatton College of Business and Economics, the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Communication and Information were already engaging with the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “We're starting to see the trend that people will understand that farms don't just need farm managers; they need accountants, they need photographers,” Robin said. “We cross lots of different spaces, but we have places for all of the UK students and really career interested folks in any of these areas.” She added that they hope to build on the momentum from last year's fair to continue serving a broad range of Kentuckians – from students to alumni, employers and stakeholders – while highlighting how agricultural industries can benefit from diverse expertise.  On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', Robin and Balk discuss the university's symbiotic relationship with Kentucky's signature industries, the crucial role of alumni in connecting employers with UK, and the potential for students to discover career opportunities in fields they may never have previously considered.  For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 13, 2024) – For those who live and work in urban areas, transportation is often among the top challenges in their daily routines. For Lance Broeking, Director of Transportation Services at the University of Kentucky, addressing these challenges is a constant focus. He leads a department responsible for managing campus parking, transit, and alternative transportation options, working to navigate the complexities of a growing and evolving university environment. In this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', Broeking delves into the impact of campus growth and ongoing construction, the importance of collaborating with the city of Lexington, and the vital role communication and education play in addressing parking regulations, fees, and citations. He also explores the integration of new technologies within transportation services and the university's ongoing commitment to sustainability. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2024) – Every year, on Sept. 10, World Suicide Prevention Day renews our commitment to addressing the growing mental health crisis affecting millions around the globe.  Established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), World Suicide Prevention Day aims to raise awareness about the prevalence of suicide, promote effective prevention strategies and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.  The day has grown significantly in scope and impact over the years — reflecting a broader recognition of suicide as a critical public health issue that requires universal attention and efforts.  According to WHO, an estimated 703,000 people die by suicide each year. And for every person who dies by suicide, there are many more who attempt it or experience suicidal thoughts.  This year's theme, "Building Hope Through Action," emphasizes the importance of collective efforts in creating a supportive environment for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.  The University of Kentucky is committed to championing the conversation surrounding mental health and well-being. In doing so, the latest episode of “Behind the Blue” features conversations with key mental health advocates at UK.  Together, along with various UK community members, they play pivotal roles in spreading awareness and providing lifesaving well-being resources across the Commonwealth.  Julie Cerel, Ph.D., a professor in the College of Social Work and expert in suicidology, conducts research centered on suicide prevention and its impacts. “There's still a lot of stigma,” she said. “So, being able to have these conversations allows others to know — they are not alone.”  In the podcast above, Cerel and Avery Powers, a criminal justice, psychology and social work student, discuss their work with the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab (SPEL). Their efforts focus on suicide prevention and help raise awareness and support for those impacted.  “In Kentucky, we lose almost 800 people a year to suicide. So, throughout my career, I've been focused on suicide prevention, but also in this idea that every suicide leaves not a broad range of people,” Cerel explained. “For everyone that dies by suicide, about 135 people are left behind. The lab looks closer at suicide post-function, which is helping people after someone has died.”  The second portion of this episode of “Behind the Blue” includes a conversation with Jenni Jenright, director of the Healthy Initiative Program with UK HealthCare, who highlights the significance of community-based wellness and prevention efforts.  “Where you live, learn, work, play, impact your ability to live your healthiest life,” she said. “Our team works outside of direct patient care in the community to increase wellness and prevention. We do a lot of health promotion and awareness, help create resources and increase access to tools and programing in support of whole person health.”  Through a collaboration with the College of Social Work and the College of Communication and Information, they are working to raise awareness about the online QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training, which is free to those living in Kentucky  QPR training is a widely recognized approach to suicide prevention — designed to equip individuals with the skills to recognize and respond to signs of suicidal behavior.  The training focuses on teaching participants how to ask someone directly about suicidal thoughts (Question), persuade them to seek help or stay safe (Persuade) and refer them to appropriate resources or professionals (Refer).  By emphasizing these critical steps, QPR training aims to increase awareness and preparedness among community members — enabling them to provide timely and effective support to those in crisis. This proactive approach helps bridge the gap between those in need and the professional help required to prevent suicide.   “Think of QPR as CPR for suicidal ideation. It really addresses those misconceptions about suicide, including, you do not need to be a medical or mental health professional to help during a mental health crisis,” Jenright said. “One thing I really like about the training is, it empowers everyone to really pay attention to the people around them and to recognize and respond to those in need.”  The QPR training, which takes less than an hour and is entirely free, can be accessed here.  Additionally, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, there is help available. You can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 988.  If you are a UK student, the TRACS (Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support) hub is a physical and virtual one-stop shop where students can come for a quick referral to support services or receive direct clinical support for a range of mental health needs, basic needs and crises. You can show up in-person (third floor, east wing of the Gatton Student Center), call 859-21TRACS (859-218-7227) or fill out this form for assistance. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 4, 2024) – For Eric Monday, the start of a new fall semester is marked by the dynamic energy of returning students, along with the opportunity — and challenge — of creating a lasting first impression as an educator. Beyond his role as UK's executive vice president for finance and administration, Monday also continues to teach an undergraduate course on personal investing and financial planning. Through this teaching role, he directly witnesses the importance of infrastructure investment in fostering student success and supporting the university's growth. Monday describes the university's record-setting budget for the fiscal year as a reflection of its values and its mission to advance the Commonwealth. These investments touch every facet of the institution, from academics to health care, underscored by a strategic refresh of the UK HealthCare system. In this initiative, Monday serves as co-executive vice president for health administration alongside Provost Robert DiPaola.  On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue,' Monday discusses how the university is working to best support its student population, the vital need to invest in faculty and staff, and UK HealthCare's goals for delivering advanced specialty care while developing a true academic health system. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 26, 2024) – The Office of the Provost serves as the primary resource at the University of Kentucky for faculty, colleges and their leadership to support the core missions of excellence in teaching, research, service and care. Housed within the Office of the Provost are departments and individuals dedicated to supporting faculty as they continue inspiring students in the classroom, pushing the boundaries of knowledge with their research and building up our communities in new and innovative ways. These departments and offices, such as the Office for Faculty Advancement, provide the university's faculty with the resources necessary to continue advancing Kentucky  UK Provost Robert DiPaola, M.D. leads these initiatives to support faculty with a focus on transdisciplinary efforts, where experts from across disciplines come together early on to not only solve problems and issues, but also identify potential ones. In addition, DiPaola also serves as Co-Executive Vice President for Health Affairs for UK HealthCare.  On this episode of 'Behind the Blue,' DiPaola talks about UK's mission, as the flagship university for Kentucky, to leverage the collective strengths of the faculty to solve society's problems of tomorrow, as well as efforts to continue UK HealthCare's essential work for all of Kentucky. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 26, 2024) – This year marks the 14th fall semester on campus for UK President Eli Capilouto, serving in a position he says he's never considered as a job, but instead a life of meaning and purpose. On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', Capilouto takes time at the beginning of the new academic year to discuss the momentum of the entire campus to advance Kentucky through teaching, service, research, and care. He shares why this is one of his favorite times of the year and talks about both the aspirations and challenges ahead for UK in 2024-25.  "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 22, 2024) – From college and professional football to thoroughbred racing and basketball to summer and winter Olympics, legendary sports broadcaster Tom Hammond's voice has painted the picture of some of the most historic and iconic moments of the past 40 years of sports. Now retired, the University of Kentucky alumnus remains involved with projects with personal meaning. He recently served as a member of the Kentucky Can: The 21st Century Campaign committee, which oversaw efforts to raise $2.1 billion dollars to support all parts of the institution's mission: education, research, service and care. On August 20th, Hammond released his new book – “Races, Games, and Olympic Dreams: A Sportscaster's Life” – a look at his early life and storied career, co-written by Lexington Herald-Leader sportswriter Mark Story. On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', Hammond talks about his lengthy career, the new book, and how the University of Kentucky remains an important part of his personal and professional life. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 15, 2024) – The summer break is nearing its end, and soon the University of Kentucky campus will once again be bustling with activity with the start of the Fall 2024 semester. For many UK students, however, their ambition and drive didn't stop because it was summer break. Across the nation and world, undergraduate and graduate students alike have been working on expanding their experiences and education. Regardless of whether they've been traveling or staying close to home, students have been enhancing what they have already learned at UK, and making plans to bring back their experiences to better their campus and communities. Summer is an ideal time of opportunity for students to take a leap into an experience within their college careers that will propel them into their chosen career field. These experiences can be catalysts in their personal lives, exposing them to new people, environments, and ideas they wouldn't have been able to explore during the school year. On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue', Vendela Norris, a recent graduate from UK's College of Communication and Information spoke with two such students about their summer experiences. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 8, 2024) – On July 30, UK HealthCare opened a new emergency unit dedicated to the treatment of patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The unit, known as EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing), is the first EmPATH unit in Kentucky.  Pioneered by internationally known emergency psychiatry expert Scott Zeller, M.D., only about 30 EmPATH units currently exist in the U.S. Rather than going to a traditional emergency room, where patients seeking care for a behavioral health issue may be waiting for hours in a stressful environment before being evaluated, EmPATH units were created to provide immediate support for patients in a carefully designed, calming environment. UK HealthCare and New Vista have collaborated with leadership from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to bring this new, evidence-based model of emergency behavioral health care to Kentucky. In this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Eastern State Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Lindsey Jasinski and Chief Nursing Officer Marc Woods explain why the EmPATH model is so effective, how psychiatric treatment has evolved over the years, and how Eastern State Hospital has been a leader in psychiatric care for more than two centuries. "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.  

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 1, 2024) – Katherine Hartmann, M.D., Ph.D., is the new director of the University of Kentucky's Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). Hartmann is an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), epidemiologist and health services researcher, in addition to leading the UK CCTS.  She graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's epidemiology Ph.D. program and Johns Hopkins University's M.D. program. Hartmann comes to UK from Vanderbilt University where she recently served as associate dean for clinical translational scientist development. As a physician scientist, Hartmann has years of expertise with research involving large community-recruited cohorts, behavioral interventions and clinical trials. Her work includes groundbreaking results that have answered key questions for women's health during pregnancy.  Asking questions and finding answers is what initially sparked her interested in health research. Her goal is to improve the quality of health care for all people — a goal that aligns with the UK CCTS. The mission of the UK CCTS is to accelerate discoveries to improve health through a multi-faceted approach to support research from bench to bedside to community.  Hartmann said the reach of the University of Kentucky and the teamwork between disciplines to find answers to pressing health questions is why she was drawn to Lexington.   Learn more about her research and her goals while leading the UK CCTS on this episode of “Behind the Blue.” "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

 LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 25, 2024) – This year marked Kentucky Gymnastics 50th season. Fans were able to watch some incredible talent during the historic season, including the incredibly decorated Raena Worley.   The 2024 SEC Floor Co-Champion graduated in May with a dual degree in Communications and Kinesiology. She is now an assistant coach for Kentucky Gymnastics. Worley is the second-most decorated gymnast in the history of U-K's program with a long list of accolades. Some highlights include earning five perfect tens this past season of competition — four on floor exercise and one coming on the uneven bars.   Worley also qualified as a national championship individual competitor this year and finished as runner-up on the floor exercise.  Now, the world turns its attention to the Paris Olympics and once again gymnastics will be a must-watch event.   On this episode of “Behind the Blue” we pick Worley's brain about competing at such a high level and see who she's eyeing in the competition.  "Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover what's wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.