xt79gh9b8d43 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt79gh9b8d43/data/mets.xml Lexington, Kentucky University of Kentucky Alumni Association 2016 journals  English University of Kentucky Alumni Association Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky alumnus Kentucky Alumni, vol. 88, no. 3, Fall 2016 text Kentucky Alumni, vol. 88, no. 3, Fall 2016 2016 2019 true xt79gh9b8d43 section xt79gh9b8d43 FA L L 2 0 1 6

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Athletics

* Fall 2016 • Volume 88 • Number 3

Dr. James W. May Jr. is a 2015 inductee of the UK
Alumni Association Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
Cover: Adam Kuykendall

16

Dr. James W. May Jr.: Groundbreaking
work in reconstructive surgery
As one of the world’s most accomplished plastic
surgeons, Dr. James W. May Jr. was at the forefront
of advancing a cutting-edge plastic surgery technique
known as microsurgery.
By Robin Roenker

12
20

Billy Harper: seeing blue and making a
difference
UK alumnus Billy Harper ’66, a Paducah native,
transforms his family’s business and channels his life
pursuits into philanthropy at UK.

Leading by example
Meet the 10 newest members serving for the first time
on the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors.
By Linda Perry

22
28
30

Our Wildcat Society members

The UK Alumni Association is thankful to all UK
alumni and friends of the association who have given
generously to the Wildcat Society this year.

SEC trailblazers

Nate Northington, Greg Page, Wilbur Hackett and
Houston Hogg paved the way for black student
athletes.

2016 UK Homecoming: ‘Going the Extra Mile’
Fellow alumni, students and friends will gather
Oct. 1 - 9 in Lexington for fun and fellowship to
celebrate the 2016 UK Homecoming.

Photo : Adam Kuykendall

Departments

Dr. James W. May Jr.

4	
7	
8	
11	
33	
34	
37	

Association President Message
Presidential Conversation
UK News
Blue Horizons
Sports
Association News
Alumni Clubs

39	
40	
52	
54	
55	
56	

College View
Class Notes
In Memoriam
Creative Juices
Retrospect
Quick Take

www.ukalumni.net

1

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2

Fall 2016

* Board of Directors

Kentucky Alumni Magazine
Vol.88 No. 3
Kentucky Alumni (ISSN 732-6297) is
published quarterly by the University of
Kentucky Alumni Association, Lexington,
Kentucky for its dues-paying members.
© 2016 University of Kentucky Alumni
Association, except where noted. Views and
opinions expressed in Kentucky Alumni do
not necessarily represent the opinions of its
editors, the UK Alumni Association nor the
University of Kentucky.

How To Reach Us

Kentucky Alumni
UK Alumni Association
King Alumni House
Lexington, KY 40506-0119
Telephone: 859-257-8905
1-800-269-ALUM
Fax: 859-323-1063
Email: ukalumni@uky.edu

Update Your Record
UK Alumni Association
King Alumni House
Lexington, KY 40506-0119
Telephone: 859-257-8800
Fax: 859-323-1063
Email: ukalumni@uky.edu
Web: www.ukalumni.net
For duplicate mailings, please send both
mailing labels to the address above.
Member of the Council for Advancement
and Support of Education

Association Staff

Publisher/Executive Director: Stan Key ’72
Editor/Associate Director: Jill Smith ’05, ’11
Managing Editor: Linda Perry ’84
Graphic Designer: Laura Banik
Publications Production Assistant: Hal Morris
Brenda Bain ’15: Records Data Entry Operator
Linda Brumfield: Account Clerk III
Sara-Elizabeth Bush ’13: Program Coordinator
Nancy Culp: Administrative Services Assistant
Jenny Dreaden: Staff Support Associate I
Caroline Francis ’88, ’93, ’02: Alumni Career Counselor
Jack Gallt ’84: Associate Director
Leslie Hayes: Membership and Marketing Specialist
Kelly V. Hinkel ’11: Staff Support Associate I
John Hoagland ’89: Associate Director
Diana Horn ’70, ’71: Principal Accountant
Katie Jennings ’11: Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Albert Kalim ’03 ’16: Webmaster
Kathryn Kearns ’12: Staff Support Associate I
WIlliam Raney ’14: House Support
Darlene Simpson: Senior Data Entry Operator
Frances White: Data Entry Operator

Officers
Peggy S. Meszaros ’72 ED - President
Susan V. Mustian ’84 BE - President-elect
J. Fritz Skeen ’72 ’73 BE - Treasurer
Stan R. Key ’72 ED - Secretary
District
Michelle Bishop Allen ’06 ’10 BE
Jeffrey L. Ashley ’89 CI
Robert Price Atkinson ’97 CI
Dr. William G. Bacon Jr. ’82 ’85 MED
Trudy Webb Banta ’63 ’65 ED
Heath F. Bowling ’95 BE
Erin Burkett ’01 EN
Emmett P. Burnam ’74 ED
John S. Cain ’86 BE
James E. Cantrell ’76 EN
Shane T. Carlin ’95 AFE
Rebecca F. Caudill ’72 ’76 ED
Dr. Michael A. Christian ’76 AS, ’80 DE
Judith G. Clabes ’67 AS
Shannon R. Corley ’98 BE
William “Bill” M. Corum ’64 BE
Elizabeth “Betsy” Coleman Cox ’69 AS
D. Michael Coyle ’62 BE, ’65 LAW
Robert “Rob” L. Crady ’94 BE
Rebecca “Becky” Hall Caudill ’72 ’76 ED
Bruce E. Danhauer ’77 AFE
Ruth Ceclia Day ’85 BE
Eugene L. DuBow ’53 AS
Phillip D. Elder ’86 AFE
Abra Akers Endsley ’98 ’01 CI
Robert Michael Gray ’80 ’81 BE
Austin H. Hays ’03 BE
Wallace E. Herndon Jr. ’67 BE
Vicki S. Hiestand ’93 BE
Derrick C. Hord ’83 CI
Lee A. Jackson ’70 SCC, ’73 AS
Dr. Frank Kendrick ’90 ’92 DE
Shelia M. Key ’91 PHA
Susan L. Liszeski ’84 AFE
Thomas K. Mathews ’93 AS
James D. McCain ’81 BE
Herbert A. Miller Jr. ’72 AS, ’76 LAW
Matthew “Matt” C. Minner ’93 AS
Sherry Remington Moak ’81 BE
Ashley S. “Tip” Mixson III ’80 BE
Sherry R. Moak ’81 BE
Dr. W. Mark Myers ’87 DE
Will L. Nash ’06 AS
Abigail O. Payne ’05 CI
Quintissa S. Peake ’04 CI
Ronald “Ronnie” M. Perchik ’82 BE
Nicholas C. Phelps ’08 BE
Charles “Chad” D. Polk ’94 DES
Robert J. Riddle ’11 AFE
John D. Ryan ’92 ’95 BE
Philip Schardein,’02 BE
Sharon Lee Sears ’80 CI
Mary L. Shelman ’81 EN
Marian Moore Sims ’72 ’76 ED
George B. Spragens ’93 BE
R. Michael Stacy ’95 BE
Reese S. Terry Jr. ’64 ’66 EN
Peggy T. Tudor ’73 ’83 NUR, ’07 ED
Quentin R. Tyler ’02 ’05 AFE, ’11 AS
Kendra Lorene Wadsworth ’06 ED
Craig M. Wallace ’79 EN
Rachel Watts Webb ’05 CI
Scott Wittich ’75 BE
At Large
Jo Hern Curris ’63 AS, ’75 LAW
Dr. Michael H. Huang ’89 AS, ’93 MED
Antoine Huffman ’05 CI
Jane Cobb Pickering ’74 ED
Amelia Brown Wilson ’03 ’06 AFE, ’11 ED
Nicholas D. Wilson ’03 AS, ’05 GS

College
Michelle McDonald ’84 AFE, ’92 ED
	
- Agriculture
Winn F. Williams ’71 AS - Arts & Sciences
James Brownlow Bryant ’67 BE
- Business & Economics
Jeremy L. Jarvi ’02 CI
- Communication & Information
Dr. Clifford J. Lowdenback ’99 AS, ’03 DE
	
- Dentistry
Lu Ann Holmes ’79 DES - Design
Martha Elizabeth Randolph ’83 BE, ’87 ’92 ED 	
- Education
Taunya Phillips ’87 EN, ’04 BE - Engineering
Kim A. Baker ’92 FA - Fine Arts
Barbara R. Sanders ’72 AS, ’76 ED
	
- Health Sciences
Janis E. Clark ’78 GS, ’85 LAW - Law
Dr. Emery A. Wilson ’68 ’72 MED - Medicine
Patricia K. Howard ’83 ’90 ’04 NUR - Nursing
Lynn Harrelson ’73 PHA - Pharmacy
Vacant - Public Health
Willis K. Bright Jr. ’66 SW - Social Work
Alumni Trustees
Cammie DeShields Grant ’77 LCC, ’79 ED
Kelly Sullivan Holland ’93 AS, ’98 ED
Appointed
Katie Eiserman ’01 ED - Athletics
Thomas W. Harris ’85 AS
- University Relations
Terry B. Mobley ’65 ED - Honorary
D. Michael Richey ’74 ’79 AFE
- Philanthropy
Bobby C. Whitaker ’58 CI - Honorary
Benjamin George Childress
- Student Government Association
Vacant - University Senate

	

	

Past Presidents
George L. Atkins Jr. ’63 BE
Richard A. Bean ’69 BE
Michael A. Burleson ’74 PHA
Bruce K. Davis ’71 LAW
Scott E. Davis ’73 BE
Marianne Smith Edge ’77 AFE
Franklin H. Farris Jr. ’72 BE
Dr. Paul E. Fenwick ’52 AFE
William G. Francis ’68 AS, ’73 LAW
W. P. Friedrich ’71 EN
Dan Gipson ’69 EN
Brenda B. Gosney ’70 HS, ’75 ED
Cammie DeShields Grant ’77 LCC, ’79 ED
John R. Guthrie ’63 CI
Ann B. Haney ’71 AS
Diane M. Massie ’79 CI
Robert E. Miller
John C. Nichols II ’53 BE
Dr. George A. Ochs IV ’74 DE
Sandra Bugie Patterson ’68 AS
Robert F. Pickard ’57 ’61 EN
Paula L. Pope ’73 ’75 ED
David B. Ratterman ’68 EN
G. David Ravencraft ’59 BE
William Schuetze ’72 LAW
David L. Shelton ’66 BE
J. Tim Skinner ’80 DES
James W. Stuckert ’60 EN, ’61 BE
Julia K. Tackett ’68 AS, ’71 LAW
Hank B. Thompson Jr. ’71 CI
Myra L. Tobin ’62 AFE
J. Thomas Tucker ’56 BE
Henry R. Wilhoit Jr. ’60 LAW
Elaine A. Wilson ’68 SW
Richard M. Womack ’53 AFE

www.ukalumni.net

3

* Pride in Blue

Letter from UK Alumni Association president
Peggy S. Meszaros ’72 ED

“The
pessimist
complains
about the
wind; the
optimist
expects it
to change;
the realist
adjusts the
sails.”
William Arthur Ward

As another fall semester dawns at our beloved University of Kentucky, campus is filled with
students anxious to learn. Not only does the start of fall remind us of the transition into another
academic year, but the anticipation of the beautiful fall foliage reminds us that in this season, change
will be upon us. In addition, the cranes, altered routes, new buildings and construction workers also
remind us that our campus is in a time of transformation — an exciting time to celebrate as UK
alumni. Your UK Alumni Association is also changing. We are adjusting our sails.
As president of the UK Alumni Association for 2016-2017, I am taking this opportunity to
announce a recent reporting change for the association: the UK Alumni Association is now
reporting to the UK Office of Philanthropy (formerly known as the UK Office of Development).
This move will further help the association to focus on new alumni engagement initiatives.
The association has reported to University Relations for many years, and we’ve benefited by
its guidance. But many of our benchmark alumni associations are aligned with the university’s
foundation or development offices. Now our reporting move to Philanthropy will more closely align
UK’s two units that have missions of alumni engagement.
Each unit on its own has worked to advance UK’s interests and missions; now both will do so
together. Both areas represent alumni and friend engagement. And there is no doubt that both
divisions engage with activities that connect alumni and friends to UK. Both have a shared vision
of making “UK Great” and have a cohesive tie in to UK’s Strategic Plan goals. From a practical
standpoint, the two units already share a common alumni database, so the move is a no-brainer.
Just as our UK campus has changed over the last several years through construction projects, our
alumni association is also changing. But some things will stay the same.
The structure of the association will continue to maintain its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and the
association will continue to be governed by its board of directors. And most important, the vision
of the UK Alumni Association will continue to be a connection for alumni and friends to the
University of Kentucky, as it has been since 1889. The association will continue to enhance the lives
of alumni, the university and its students. We will provide opportunities for increased engagement by
current and future alumni in service to each other, to the university and to the communities that the
university serves across the Commonwealth and beyond.
The UK Office of Philanthropy will continue to be the office identified with, and leading, the
university’s fundraising and gift stewardship efforts.
There are opportunities to be had by this new reporting collaboration, including efficiencies of
staffing and operations between the two units similar to how we have always shared the alumni/
philanthropy database. So while we previously worked together as colleagues on campus, now we will
work together as colleagues within the same reporting line.
By working more closely together, there is opportunity for collaborative performance metrics. For
example, an effort will be launched to find new ways to measure alumni engagement. We will initiate
new efforts to better understand the nature and extent of alumni engagement and how alumni feel
about the university and its initiatives.
The results of this work will help the UK Alumni Association be more effective in our
communications and engagement with you — our alumni and other key audiences. As we adjust
our sails in 2016-2017, I look forward to working with you for an even more effective UK Alumni
Association.
Sincerely,

Peggy S. Meszaros
UK Alumni Association President

4

Fall 2016

* WHEN INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE
THEIR DREAMS, EVERYONE BENEFITS.

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www.ukalumni.net

5

* The University of Kentucky is home to the popular Hilary J. Boone Center,
located in the heart of campus. The Club features beautifully appointed
space for business and social events from corporate dinners to elegant
weddings. Members may book any of our eight private rooms, including
the courtyard and gated terrace with outstanding food and service
delivered by the award-winning culinary staff and club service team.
The Boone Center also staffs a special events and wedding coordinator,
and because we are a private club, Members enjoy special attention. As the favorite gathering place at
UK, the Boone Center is proud to offer memberships to members of the UK Alumni Association.

Hilary J. BooneCenter

EIGHT GREAT REASONS TO JOIN THE BOONE CENTER AT UK
• Excellent Daily Lunch Dining Monday through Friday
• Value-priced Buffet on Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Membership in the Association of College and University Clubs entitles Members to reciprocal privileges
at nearly 80 university- related clubs across the globe
• Discounted Golf Opportunities at the University Club of Kentucky and Other Area Courses
• Best Place to Connect with Campus Constituents in a Central Location
• FREE and Convenient Parking During Events
• Year-round Club Events Including Special Holiday Buffets
• Lunch Available at the Terrace Grill or “To Go” Monday through Friday in Warm Weather Seasons
RATES
• Personal Memberships at Only $20 Per Month, $100 Enrollment Fee
• Affordable Corporate Memberships Vary with No Enrollment Fee
www.uky.edu/boonecenter

UK Alumni Association Lifetime
Members Pay No Enrollment Fee!

Email holly.clark@uky.edu or call 859.257.1133 for
more information on how you may become a valued Member of
the Hilary J. Boone Center at the University of Kentucky.

MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE TO UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI, AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE UK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION – CLUB MEMBERSHIPS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL.

6

Fall 2016

* Presidential Conversation

UK’s foundation for the future
This institution, and the members of the UK family, have
boldly confronted challenges, risen to meet new opportunities
and redefined what it means to be the university for Kentucky
over the last 150 years.
The university was guided through substantial financial challenges by President James Patterson. Presidents Frank McVey
and Herman Donovan helped navigate two world wars, meeting the calls to support our collective national effort. Though
not soon enough, we opened our doors to all people, fulfilling
the lofty intention of our establishing land grant legislation.
Throughout history, our mission has been to teach, discover,
heal and serve.
Indeed, what the UK family was able to overcome through
its history illustrates the extent to which our people define this
place and its purpose. Today, faced with a new array of complex questions and issues, we find the university again climbing
an increasingly steep mountain.
In the last five years, we initiated or approved some $2.1
billion in capital investments to improve student success, instruction, research and discovery, quality of life and health care.
Approximately 91 percent of that investment is the result of
public-private partnerships, philanthropy, strategic use of university resources or other collaborations such as unprecedented
support from UK Athletics for the Academic Science Building.
We welcomed successive record-setting, first-year classes that
have joined the UK family and moved total enrollment past
30,700 — the largest in our history. And these students are
succeeding at higher levels. UK’s retention rates have increased
more than six percentage points in the last decade to record
levels, which are projected to continue climbing. This trajectory
translates to record degree attainment, including more than
6,600 over the last academic year.
Since 2011, we’ve invested more in UK-funded student
financial aid and scholarships that did not have to be repaid
by our students. Over the last five years, we’ve increased UK’s
investment in student financial aid and scholarships by $60
million — now up to $117 million — doubling the investment
in the last decade.
Faculty and staff researchers added to a growing portfolio of
transformative research, discovery, and creative scholarship. In
fiscal year 2015-2016, UK received $316.5 million in external
research grants and contracts — signifying that we are a major
player among research institutions in the country. In October
2015, we broke ground on a $265 million, multidisciplinary
research facility to advance discovery and address critical Kentucky needs.
UK HealthCare continued to meet the needs of patients and
families who require complex, quality health care through our
network of providers and state-of-the-art academic medical
center. Annual patient discharges have grown by more than 95
percent since 2003, and UK HealthCare is now a $1.5 billion
enterprise that cares for patients throughout Kentucky and,
increasingly, the region.
New partners joined in our progress as the university reached
unprecedented levels of success in private philanthropy. Last
year, UK received more than 95,000 gifts from more than

50,400 donors. As a
result, our total work
product exceeds
$207 million doubling UK’s philanthropic outcomes in
the last five years.
In total, our work
fueled Kentucky’s
economy by providing a 12-fold return
on the Commonwealth’s $267 million
investment in its
flagship university.
UK employees pay
more than $90 million annually in state/local taxes, and UK’s research enterprise
has a more than $580 million impact on Kentucky’s economy.
Two-thirds of graduates are employed in Kentucky after graduation. UK’s capital improvements create tens of thousands of
direct and indirect construction, contracting and supplier jobs.
Over the last five years, the university has made extraordinary
progress and developed considerable momentum. The new
2015-2020 Strategic Plan is a pivot point in the transformation
of the university in which we build upon the foundation created
in the past four years with bold strategic thinking about the
future.
Endorsed by the UK Board of Trustees in October 2015,
the Strategic Plan embraces the institution’s mission as a public
flagship and land-grant research university. A university — by
its design and the opportunities we have to teach, to share, to
explore, to serve, to challenge, to question and to comfort — is
the place where we can, must, and will make progress on the
complex questions of our day. The Strategic Plan will help us
build on an extraordinary foundation.
But our work today — and our focus on the future — reminds us in compelling ways of our legacy, our history of
confronting and overcoming challenges to meet the needs of
those we serve.
In the wake of the First World War, amid a tumultuous period
in our history, President Frank McVey believed that the university needed to be viewed “as more than an economic asset. It
served, in fact, as an essential component of the well-being of
the state, and in that position it needs to be free to seek truth.”
In his words, he concluded that “what will save this nation after
the war are the universities.”
Each day we are, together, grappling with how we continue
to fulfill this vision. We are working with a sense of common
purpose at an uncommon and distinctive place to find those
answers.
As part of our alumni family — a Big Blue Nation united — I
look forward to sharing that future with you.

www.ukalumni.net

7

* UK News

Five residence halls get new ‘old’ names

Photo: Explore UK

The UK Board of Trustees has apDean Paul P. Boyd in 1906, and they
proved the renaming of five residence
moved to Kentucky. She was a teacher
halls in honor of the achievements of
of the classics, Greek and Latin. An
prominent leaders in UK’s history.
active member of the UK community,
Five years ago, much of UK’s campus
Boyd was president of the UK Woman’s
infrastructure was in need of improveClub and the Board of Control of Womment as it did not serve the technology
en’s Dormitories for 25 years. Because of
and learning needs of students. Now,
her service to women’s residence halls,
physical spaces across the campus are
the original Boyd Hall was named for
changing to meet the demands of a 21st
Boyd around 1933.
century living and learning experience.
Limestone Park II will be named CleoUnder the leadership of President
na Belle Matthews Boyd Hall.
Eli Capilouto, and with the support of
Francis Jewell McVey was a native
the Board of Trustees, UK has been
Kentuckian and graduate of Vassar Colable to execute a $1.9 billion transforlege and Columbia University. Beginning
mation. The vast majority of that transas an instructor at UK in the English
formation has been paid for through
Department from 1915-1921, Jewell
a combination of university resources,
served as dean of women from 1921
partnerships with private businesses and
until she married President Frank McVey
UK Athletics, and private giving.
in 1923 and ended her employment with
Today, campus looks far different.
the university. However, she became well
Champions Court I will be named
However, that transformation does not
known across the state as an ambassador
Frances Jewell Hall.
change the university’s history.
for UK. She opened Maxwell Place to
“Even as we are focused on the future and the transformathe campus and community for various social and cultural
tion that continues to take place on our campus, we also must
events and remained engaged in campus and civic life.
ensure that we honor our history and the legacy of accomChampions Court I will be named Frances Jewell Hall.
plishment that has helped shape this special place,” said UK
Georgia M. Blazer served continuously on the UK Board
Board Chairman Britt Brockman. “Renaming these residence
of Trustees from 1939 to 1961. The current Blazer Hall is no
halls for those who made UK’s mission of education for all
longer in service as a residence hall and will be razed in 2018.
of Kentucky possible is just one way we remind ourselves and
After the new Blazer Hall is dedicated, the current Blazer Hall
those we serve of the path we have taken and the work by so
will be known simply as Blazer Dining until it is decommismany to help make this institution the university for Kentucky.”
sioned. The original Blazer Hall was named to recognize BlazThat is especially true on north campus where a number of
er’s long service to the UK Board of Trustees and the Blazer
previous residence halls held the names of many of the univerfamily’s support of the university.
sity’s mothers: Holmes, Boyd, Jewell and Blazer. Those names
Champions Court II will be named Georgia M. Blazer Hall.
are now returning to campus — to the new residence halls —
On central campus, a dormitory formerly known as Donthose opened two years ago and others scheduled to open this
ovan Hall was demolished to accommodate the construction
fall across Avenue of Champions and around Patterson Hall,
of the new Academic Science Building. Donovan Hall will
which was the first women’s residence hall on campus.
return, as well.
Following are the new names of the residence halls and
Herman Lee Donovan, UK’s fourth president (1941information about the people of significance for whom the
1956), guided the university through World War II and desegbuildings are being named:
regation. He focused much of his energy on postwar planning
Sarah Bennett Holmes served as UK’s dean of women
for UK, which witnessed an influx of returning service men
from 1942 until 1957. She defended the rights and welfare of
and women. Donovan pushed for the opening in 1955 of the
female students. Holmes earned two degrees from the Univernorthern Extension Center in Covington, the establishment
sity of Kentucky and, in honor of her service, was named state
of new academic programs and made preliminary plans for
mother of Kentucky and received the Sullivan Medallion. The
the establishment of a medical school. In retirement, Donooriginal Holmes Hall was named in honor of Sarah Bennett
van published “Keeping the University Free and Growing.”
Holmes on May 25, 1958.
Born in 1887 in Mason County, Donovan died on Nov. 21,
Limestone Park I will be named Sarah Bennett Holmes Hall.
1964.
Cleona Belle Matthews Boyd, a native of Missouri, taught
Central Hall II will be named Herman Lee Donovan Hall.
Greek and Latin at Park College Academy until she married

8

Fall 2016

* Photo: UK Public Relations & Marketing

Four-legged Gill staffer helps patients
walk back to health

Carmine pauses with handler Katelyn King.

At 85 pounds, Carmine is one of the smallest visitors to the
UK Gill Heart Institute’s inpatient unit. As a therapy dog, the
English Labrador retriever does what dogs do best — make
people happy — but he is not just any therapy dog. He is one
of the few unit-specific therapy dogs in the United States. His
assignment is simple: get patients up and walking.
As transitions of care coordinator for Gill, Katelyn King is
Carmine’s handler when he’s on the unit. King visits with patients before they are discharged, using the time to explain what
to expect in rehabilitation and to encourage them to make lifestyle adjustments at home. Part of that recovery begins almost
as soon as patients are admitted to the hospital, since the unit
philosophy is to walk every patient, every day — regardless of
how sick they are.
Carmine is on duty every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
mornings. King ultimately hopes to expand Carmine’s skill set
to help patients in other areas of recovery. “If I can get him to
play volleyball with a balloon, for example, he can help patients
with balance and reaction times,” she said.
As Carmine walks the unit, it’s clear he’s a popular attraction.
Staff and families roaming the halls stop to say hello and pat
Carmine’s massive, blocky head. His first order of business:
licking the shoes of everyone who greets him.
“We’re not exactly sure why he does that,” King laughs. “We
think that’s his way of checking people out.”

College of Pharmacy names new dean
R. Kiplin Guy, a renowned researcher who specializes in the development of drugs to combat pediatric diseases, has been named
the dean of the College of Pharmacy, assuming the position Oct. 1.
He is chairman of the Department of Chemical Biology and
Therapeutics at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and held the
Robert J. Ulrich Endowed Chair. He also has held secondary appointments as adjunct professor of pharmaceutical chemistry for
the University of California San Francisco; adjunct professor of
biochemistry for Vanderbilt University in Nashville; and adjunct
professor of pharmaceutical sciences and pathology for the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
His research focus is chemical biology and preclinical drug discovery and development for neglected diseases, especially those
that affect children. In recent years, he has led the team that discovered and developed a new drug candidate for malaria that is
currently in Phase 1 trials. The Chemical Biology and Therapeutics
group, built and led by Guy, has collaboratively repurposed drugs
for clinical trials for ependymoma, leukemias, medulloblastoma and
other pediatric cancers.
Guy earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Reed College
in Portland, Oregon. He earned a doctorate in organic chemistry at
the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, followed by a
postdoctoral fellowship in cellular biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Trustees approve fit-up of 12th floor in
Chandler Hospital Pavilion A
The UK Board of Trustees approved a plan to fit up the 12th
floor in the Albert B. Chandler Hospital Pavilion A. Since the
opening of the first two patient care floors in Pavilion A in May
2011, substantially increased patient volumes have strained UK
HealthCare’s patient care capacity. Fitting out the top floor of
Pavilion A is intended to ease some of that pressure with a 64bed inpatient unit dedicated to acute and critical care.
Opening the top floor of Pavilion A is part of Phase I-I of
the HealthCare Facilities Development Plan. With the board’s
approval of this latest phase, total investment in UK HealthCare
facilities has topped $1 billion.

New drone policy to ensure safety, compliance

Photo: UK Public Relations & Marketing

The use of drones for recreation or by hobbyists is prohibited on the UK campus under a new policy regarding drones or unmanned aircraft systems. Drone use
requests for research or instructional purposes must be registered and approved by
the UK Event Management Office.
“Our first and most important priority is the safety of our UK community and
those who visit us,” said Eric N. Monday, the university’s executive vice president
for finance and administration. “At the same time, we want to ensure that any policy we adopt is in full compliance with federal aviation requirements and the law.”
One of the chief concerns about drone use has been the proximity of any campus flight to a heliport located at the UK HealthCare A.B. Chandler Hospital, as
well as Commonwealth Stadium. Federal Aviation Administration regulations generally restrict flights of unmanned aircraft systems near airports.
The new UK policy, adopted after recommendations by a committee that met
multiple times over the last several months, is posted on the UK website.
www.ukalumni.net

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Fall 2016

* Blue Horizons

Study links tobacco microbials, carcinogens
UK researchers have found a link between changes in microbial communities on tobacco leaves and the development
of carcinogens during the curing process. A team led by Luke
Moe, a microbial ecologist in the UK College of Agriculture,
Food and Environment, found that the microbial community
on the tobacco leaf changes during the air-curing process, especially during high heat and high humidity. Under these conditions, microbes that convert nitrate to nitrite appear to increase.
Nitrate to nitrite conversion is key in forming carcinogenic
tobacco-specific nitrosamines, referred to as TSNAs.
In the field, tobacco contains really low TSNA levels. For
many years, UK tobacco researchers and tobacco farmers in
the state have noticed that hot, humid conditions increase the
amount of TSNAs that