CPH was proud to celebrate National Public Health Week 2023 with a series of fun and informative events, service activities, and more that promote public health's passion, purpose, and pathway for a healthier life. Thank you for celebrating this week with us!

Dean Heather Bush shares her journey from statistics to public health, the variety of disciplines in the college and how their work impacts our daily lives, and what the college has planned to continue to fulfill the mission of developing health champions in Kentucky and beyond.

UK researchers are creating an innovative statewide surveillance system to inform prevention and response efforts aimed at reducing the burden of opioid use disorder in Kentucky. The Rapid Actionable Data for Opioid Response in Kentucky (RADOR-KY) will use data from federal, state, and local sources to guide evidence-based practices aimed at preventing opioid overdoses in the Commonwealth. Phase one of the project is supported by a three-year $3.1 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Environmental scientist Erin Haynes, DrPH, is taking steps to learn more about the health symptoms and exposures faced by the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, by launching an online health tracking survey. Haynes, the Kurt W. Deuschle Professor of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, director of the UK Center for the Environment and deputy director of the UK Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES), leads the research team for this project.

FindHelpNow is a near-real-time substance use disorder treatment locator created by the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC). While the substance use disorder (SUD) treatment locator website started in Kentucky, Tennessee recently launched its own FindHelpNow website, and three other jurisdictions are in the process of joining.

“What we’ve seen happen with colorectal cancer rates in Kentucky over the past two decades is truly a public health success story,” said Thomas Tucker, Ph.D., UK Markey Cancer Center’s senior director for cancer surveillance and faculty at CPH. “It goes to show that significant change can happen when we work together and coordinate our efforts.”

UK researchers are studying the changes in the illicit fentanyl market that occurred around the time of the COVID shutdown in Eastern Kentucky by going to the source: collecting data from and interviewing law enforcement, harm reduction specialists, and people who sell and/or use illicit drugs.

CPH’s undergraduate research program fosters student curiosity and development through mentored, self-directed work. Many students, like Grace Mullikin, begin their research with CPH 395, Undergraduate Independent Studies in Public Health.

Alum, Dr. Angelica Geter (DrPH, ’15), is a 15-year public health expert and currently serves as Executive Vice President (EVP) of Strategy and Business for the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI), the only national nonprofit solely dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the nation’s Black women and girls—physically, emotionally, and financially. 

First-generation graduate Cecelia Yeary (MHA, ‘15) is currently the Vice President Cardiovascular, Oncology, & Clinical Support at Baptist Health Lexington. Cecelia leads key service lines and core services which are vital to the health of Kentuckians, which is her joy and passion.

The 18th Annual Spring Conference of UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), which included the College of Public Health Research Day, drew nearly 1,000 participants. Clinicians, researchers, trainees, undergraduates, high school students, and community partners gathered to share research and foster collaborations.

The Wyatt symposium, on April 20th, continues to honor the legacy of John P. Wyatt and his pioneering environmental clinical research on air pollution and lung pathology. Universities and agencies from across the state have partnered to present research and practice on the environment and its impact on health.

The Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (KY FACE) program, part of the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), investigates work-related fatalities in Kentucky that were caused by an injury, including drug overdose. KY FACE recently released its annual report for 2021, which provides descriptive analysis of Kentucky occupational fatalities for the reporting year.

The 2023 TCOM (Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management) Conference, Oct 4-6, provides a platform for the field to develop their skills, and share their knowledge with TCOM and it’s applicable tools. We invite all that are interested in TCOM or curious about this work to attend this annual event and consider showcasing their work.