HEALTH & MEDICINE EXPERTS AT UK

Faculty and research experts at the University of Kentucky (UK) are available to speak to the news media about a variety of topics ranging from finance and economics to literature and the arts. Members of the media wishing to interview or consult with these individuals should call (859) 257-1754.

Categories:

Aging & Genetics

 

Animal Disease

 

Alzheimer's Disease

Deborah D. Danner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Behavioral Health
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: dddann00@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. African-American Dementia Outreach Partnership
    Emotional lives of older persons
    Alzheimer's education and outreach

Linda J. Van Eldik, Ph.D., Director, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Director, University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Center, Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: linda.vaneldik@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. General Alzheimer's disease research
    Role of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease

Gregory Jicha, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: gajich2@email.uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Clinical treatment of Alzheimer's disease
    Alzheimer's clinical trials
    Brain donation study

Peter T. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director, Neuropathology Division
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: pnels2@email.uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease
    Brain donation study

Stephen Scheff, Ph.D., Associated Director, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: sscheff@email.uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease
    Brain donation study

Arthritis & Rheumatology


Cancer

John Hayslip, M.D., Hematologist and medical oncologist, UK Markey Cancer Center
Contact phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Cancer clinical trials
    Lymphoma
    Leukemia
    Cancer quality of life research

 Suleiman Massarweh, M.D., breast oncologist, UK Markey Cancer Center
Contact phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Breast cancer
    Breast cancer in young women
    Locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer
    Targeted therapy
    Clinical trials

 Ronald McGarry, M.D., PhD, Clinical Associate Professor and Vice Chairman, Radiation Medicine
Contact phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Lung cancer
    Radiation treatment of lung cancer
    Stereotactic body radiation treatment for organs including lungs, liver, kidney and brain

Cardiology

Louis I. Bezold III, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics; Chief of Pediatric Cardiology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: libezo2@email.uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Pediatric Cardiology

Mark Plunkett, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Surgery; Chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: mark.plunkett@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery
    Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Sibu Saha, M.D., M.B.A, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Surgery; Chairman, Executive Council,  International College of Angiology Chairman; Chairman, Directors Council, Gill Heart Institute University of Kentucky Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery; Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cancer Therapy
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: saha@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Cardiovascular surgery
    Adult vascular disease
    Lung cancer

Dentistry

 

Diabetes & Obesity

 

Diet & Fitness

Kenneth S. Campbell, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology
Contact phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Skeletal muscle
    Cardiac muscle
    Heart failure
    Biophysics
    Mathematical modeling
    Scientific computing

Karyn Esser, PhD, Director, Center for Muscle Biology
Contact phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Muscle biology

Electronic Health Records

Carol Steltenkamp, M.D., M.B.A., Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pediatrics; Chief Medical Information Officer and Director of the Kentucky Regional Extension Center
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: steltenkamp@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. General Pediatrics
    Electronic Health Records

Food & Nutrition

Sandra Bastin, Extension professor for Nutrition and Food Sciences
Contact Phone(s): 859-257-1812
Email: sbastin@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Farmers markets
    Nutrition
    Lemon Tree student restaurant

Karina Christopher, RD, LD, Clinical Dietician, UK Markey Cancer Center
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Oncology nutrition
    Nutrition support
    Nutrition research
    Nutrition care process

Janet Mullins, Associate extension professor, Nutrition and Food Science
Contact Phone(s): 859-257-1812
Email: janet.mullins@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. School nutrition
    Healthy weight

Tammy Stephenson, Senior lecturer, Nutrition and Food Science
Contact Phone(s): 859-257-2353
Email: tjhann00@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Sports nutrition

Infectious Disease

Christopher T. Nelson, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pediatrics
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: cnelson@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Pediatric Infectious Diseases
    Pediatrics
    Influenza A Virus, Subtype H1N1

Neurology

John T. Slevin, M.D., Professor of Neurology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: jslevin@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Parkinson's disease
    Movement disorders

Phillip Tibbs, M.D., Professor of Neurosurgery, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, Director of The Spine Center
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: patibbs@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Spines
    Neurosurgery

Joseph Berger, M.D., Ruth L. Works Professor of Neurology, Chairman, UK Department of Neurology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: jrbneuro@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Neurological Aspects of AIDS and HIV Infection
    Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System
    Neurologic Complications of Systemic Illness
    Multiple Sclerosis

Michael Dobbs, M.D., Associate Professor of Neurology, Medical Director of Stroke Care, Stroke Care Affiliate Network Director
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: mrdobb0@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Stroke

Edward D. Hall, Ph.D., Director, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: edhall@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. All facets of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury
    Secondary injury process following mechanical trauma to the brain or spinal cord

James W. Geddes, Ph.D., Associate Director, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: jgeddes@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Mechanisms implicated in the secondary neurodegeneration following spinal cord injury

Jonathan Lifshitz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Core Faculty, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: jlifshitz@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Neurological dysfunction after brain injury
    "Fencing response"
    Sports injuries to brain

Alexander "Sasha" Rabchevsky, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Core Faculty, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2394 or (859) 323-6363
E-mail: agrab@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Molecular biological and biochemical approaches for treatment of spinal cord injury
    Autonomic dysreflexia

Nursing

 

Obstetrics/Gynecology

Kathryn Dillon, M.D., Assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology
Contact phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Menopausal and midlife issues
    Hormone use in menopause/bio-identical hormones

Bryan K. Rone, M.D., OB/GYN Faculty and Medical Director of Ambulatory Information Technology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. General obstetrics and gynecology
    Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery
    Robotic gynecologic surgery
    Uterine fibroids
    Medical information technology

Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

W. Scott Black, M.D., Medical Director, Employee Health Service; Associate Professor and Associate Sports Medicine Program Director, Department of Family & Community Medicine; Co-medical Director, UK Runner’s Clinic, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Contact phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Sports medicine (special interest in endurance sports)
    Exercise physiology
    Wellness and illness prevention

Steven J. Lawrence, M.D., Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery; Head of Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgery
Phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specializations:

  1. Foot and ankle injuries
    Biomechanics of the foot

Tammy Stephenson, Senior lecturer, Nutrition and Food Science
Contact Phone(s): 859-257-2353
Email: tjhann00@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Sports nutrition

Pediatrics

Hubert Ballard, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Director of ECMO, Kentucky Newborn Screening Taskforce
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Newborn care and critically ill neonates
    Chronic lung disease of premature infants
    Sepsis
    Newborn screening
    ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation)

Louis I. Bezold III, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics; Chief of Pediatric Cardiology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: libezo2@email.uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Pediatric Cardiology

Paul Glaser, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Anatomy, and Neurobiology; Vice-chair of Research in the Division of Psychiatry and Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: paul.glaser@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Autism
    Child Psychiatry
    Developmental Pediatrics
    Neuroscience Research
    Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Donna Grigsby, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pediatrics and Medical Director, Reach Out and Read Kentucky
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: donna.grigsby@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Pediatrics
    Childhood Obesity

Jamshed F. Kanga, M.D., Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pediatrics and Chief, Pediatric Pulmonology
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: jfkk@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Apnea of Infancy
    Asthma
    Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
    Cystic Fibrosis
    Pediatric Bronchoscopy
    Reactive Airway Disease

Joseph A. Iocono, M.D., Associate Professor in the Division of Pediatrics; Associate Professor in the Division of Surgery; Chief in the Division of Pediatric Surgery; Medical Director, Pediatric Trauma Program; Assistant Medical Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery Center; and Appointed member of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS). 
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: jiocono@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Invasive Surgery of Infants and Children
    Laparoscopy
    Neonatal and Congenital Anomalies
    Pediatric Oncology
    Pediatric Tumors
    Trauma

Hatim A. Omar, M.D., FAAP, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pediatrics; Professor of Medicine in the Division of Obstetrics/Gynecology; Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine; Medical Director, UK Young Parents Program and Children's Miracle Network Chair
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: haomar2@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Adolescent Medicine
    General Pediatrics
    Weight Management and Fitness (TEAMS Clinic)

Carol Steltenkamp, M.D., M.B.A., Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pediatrics; Chief Medical Information Officer and Director of the Kentucky Regional Extension Center
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: steltenkamp@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. General Pediatrics
    Electronic Health Records

Carmel Wallace, M.D., F.A.A.P., Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pediatrics and Interim Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: carmel.wallace@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Acute Pediatric Care
    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or AD/HD or ADD)

Pharmacy

Public Health

Janet S. Kurzynske, Professor and department chair, Nutrition and Food Science
Contact Phone(s): 859-257-3800
Email: jkurzyns@email.uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Obesity
    The built environment
    Public policy
    Food safety

Rural Medicine

Emery Wilson, M.D., Professor of Medicine in the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director, Office of Health Research and Development 
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: ewilson@email.uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Rural Medicine and Health Research

Surgery & Transplantation

Charles W. Hoopes, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery; Director, Heart and Lung Transplant and Director, Ventricular Assist Devices
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: charles.hoopes@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Artificial Lung and Heart Mechanical Devices
    End-Stage Lung Disease
    Heart and Lung Transplantation

Jonathon C. Hundley, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Surgery
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: jonhundley@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Liver, Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation

Joseph A. Iocono, M.D., Associate Professor in the Division of Pediatrics; Associate Professor in the Division of Surgery; Chief in the Division of Pediatric Surgery; Medical Director, Pediatric Trauma Program; Assistant Medical Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery Center; and Appointed member of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS). 
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: jiocono@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Invasive Surgery of Infants and Children
    Laparoscopy
    Neonatal and Congenital Anomalies
    Pediatric Oncology
    Pediatric Tumors
    Trauma

Amit Patel, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Surgery
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: amitpatel@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Facial Rejuvenation Surgery (Facelift, Eyelift, Neck Lift, Forehead Lift)
    Lip Augmentation and Facial Contouring
    Minimally Invasive Facial Rejuvenation Techniques (Botox, Fillers)
    Reconstruction after Facial Skin Cancers
    Rhinoplasty (Nasal Contouring Surgery)

Henry C. Vasconez, M.D., Director, Burn and Wound Clinic; William S. Farish Chair of Plastic Surgery; Professor of Medicine in the Division of Surgery; Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pediatrics
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: hcvasc@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Aesthetic Surgery
    Breast Reconstruction
    Cleft Lip and Palate
    Craniofacial Surgery
    Microsurgery
    Pediatric Plastic Surgery

Joseph "Jay" Zwischenberger, M.D., Johnston-Wright Professor of Medicine in the Division of Surgery; Chairman, Department of Surgery; Associate Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program; Director, University of Kentucky Transplant Center; and Surgeon-in-chief, UK HealthCare
Contact Phone(s): (859) 323-2395 or (502) 321-6227
E-mail: j.zwische@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Cardiothoracic Surgery
    General Surgery

Women's Health

Deidra Beshear, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Center for the Advancement of Women's Health
Contact phone: (859) 323-2399
E-mail: allison.perry@uky.edu
Specialization:

  1. Menopause and perimenopause
    Preventive medicine
    General women's health
    Female sexual dysfunction
    Obesity in women
Updated December 15, 2011 by Web Administrator