UK College of Medicine

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UK College of Medicine

Reaching beyond as Kentucky's flagship medical school to train the best physicians and researchers.

09/04/2026

Last week our M1 students at the Northern Kentucky Campus walked into their first exam and the walls were plastered with encouraging notes and drawings from their M2 classmates.

Dean Holly Danneman, MD said it best. She says "When people think about medical school, they sometimes picture competition and one-upmanship. That simply isn’t the culture here at University of Kentucky College of Medicine –Northern Kentucky. Here, our students cheer for one another. They celebrate each other’s successes, pick each other up during the hard moments, and understand that someone else’s success does not diminish their own."

We love seeing all the ways our students support one another on this journey to becoming a doctor! 💙🥼

09/03/2026

We cannot wait to welcome the classes of 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 back to Lexington for a memorable Alumni Weekend! We hope you can join us in the fall for what promises to be a lovely weekend in horse country.

Register here: https://bit.ly/3UmcVkV

09/01/2026

A day of connection, collaboration and recognition for Graduate Medical Education. 💙

Last week program directors, associate program directors, program administrators and GME staff gathered for the GME Retreat — a half day focused on strengthening the people and programs that support our residents and fellows.

During this time we recognized three outstanding educators whose dedication makes a difference for our learners:

🏆 Community Preceptor Award: Dr. Syed Rizvi, psychiatry, New Vista
🏆 Program Director Excellence Award: Dr. Sameer Desai, Emergency Medicine
🏆 Faculty Teaching Award: Dr. Denise Fabian, Radiation Oncology

Their leadership, mentorship, professionalism and commitment to learner success reflect the very best of GME!

Thank you to everyone who continues to invest in the education, growth and future of our residents and fellows. Together, we are strengthening medical education and preparing physicians to serve Kentucky and beyond.

08/31/2026

🌟 Resident of the Month: Dr. Mario Yepez

A passionate educator. A compassionate physician. A leader who makes everyone around him better.

Dr. Mario Yepez has made a lasting impact on learners at every level through his commitment to teaching, mentorship and leadership. From guiding medical students through vascular neurology consults and stroke alerts to teaching MRI interpretation and supporting his fellow residents, Dr. Yepez makes education a priority.

Learners describe him as encouraging, enthusiastic and inspirational — someone who creates a supportive learning environment, sets clear expectations, provides meaningful feedback and gives learners the autonomy to grow with the right level of guidance.

As a neurology chief, his leadership extends beyond the classroom. He is known for being the first to lend a helping hand on a busy service, supporting his co-residents and leading with kindness, compassion and a smile.

His passion for neurology and joy in caring for patients and teaching others are infectious. Congratulations to Dr. Yepez on being recognized as our Resident of the Month! 👏

08/26/2026

Meet Heba H. Qaissi. A UK College of Medicine medical student selected for the Carolyn L. Kuckein Research Fellowship, a prestigious opportunity to pursue mentored research alongside medical training. 🔬

Her work with the REBOUND Lab focuses on bone health and long-term recovery after critical illness. As she begins her fellowship, she shares what inspired her research journey, what she hopes to learn and her advice for students interested in research.

Q: What led you to pursue the fellowship?
A: My work with the REBOUND Lab sparked my interest in bone health and recovery after critical illness. The fellowship was a natural next step.

Q: What are you most looking forward to?
A: Continuing to work with this patient population and contributing to their recovery. As a Kentucky native, serving patients in my home state is especially meaningful.

Q: What has been the best part of medical school?
A: The community and mentors who have challenged and encouraged me to grow.💙

Q: What advice do you have for students interested in research?
A: Be curious and reach out. A meaningful opportunity can start with a simple question or email!

08/25/2026

From childhood dreams of finding the “Fountain of Youth” to pioneering Alzheimer’s research, Pinar Coskun, MD, has built a career at the intersection of science, clinical care, teaching and mentorship.

At the UK College of Medicine, she is helping advance research that could change how we understand and treat Alzheimer’s disease — including efforts to determine whether early intervention can prevent the disease before symptoms begin.

Her story is a powerful reminder that curiosity can spark discovery, and that knowledge grows when it is shared.

Read more about Coskun’s journey from mitochondrial scientist to clinician-scientist and mentor to the next generation of physician-scientists. Link here: https://bit.ly/4gy2wty

08/20/2026

Katherine Hartmann, MD, PhD, is joining a select group of national leaders tasked with guiding the next chapter of one of the country’s largest health data resources, the National Clinical Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4iiDf9c

08/17/2026

What if virtual reality could help people feel less alone?

Researchers at the UK College of Medicine are exploring that question through collaborations that bring together neurology, critical care, technology, design and music therapy.

Amanda Glueck, PhD, associate professor of neurology, is partnering with Lexington-based VRTogether to explore how immersive virtual experiences could support people living with cognitive decline. Through “SingTogether,” participants and their loved ones gather in a shared virtual space to sing familiar songs, creating opportunities for connection, engagement and joy.

That same focus on connection is being explored in the intensive care unit. Anna Kalema, MD, associate professor of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, is partnering with VRTogether on PARTNER, a virtual reality program designed to reduce isolation, anxiety and depression among ICU patients.

From cognitive health to critical care, this work demonstrates how transdisciplinary research can bring innovative ideas together to meet real human needs.

08/13/2026

Jessica McFarlin, MD, has been selected as UK’s Bell Addiction Medicine Scholar for the current academic year. 📚🏅

During her fellowship year, McFarlin will lead a quality improvement initiative to improve communication about substance use and expand harm reduction practices such as naloxone education and safer opioid prescribing. McFarlin also plans to create a framework that other palliative care programs could adapt. We look forward to hearing about the impactful work she will pursue as the Bell Addiction Medicine Scholar!

Read more >>> https://bit.ly/45v8Ixs

08/12/2026

Training physicians is about more than building clinical expertise. It is about preparing the next generation to serve.

Through residency education, residents gain the knowledge, skills, mentorship, and experience to provide exceptional patient care while helping advance the health of their communities. At the UK College of Medicine, that commitment to education, clinical care, and service is central to our mission — and our residents are an important part of carrying it forward.

These are the physicians who will shape the future of health care in Kentucky and beyond. (Shoutout to for the stunning photos!)

Address

780 Rose Street, MN 150
Lexington, KY
40536

Website

http://medicine.uky.edu/

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