Faculty, Staff and Students,

Greetings again.

We have made our way to the month of June, which is Pride Month, dedicated to the celebration and commemoration of the LGBTQ+ community, and — while I hope we are reaching out and celebrating these groups all throughout the year — I want to direct your attention to our web page and social media.

There, each week you will find tips, facts and stories from each of our departments focusing on the importance of inclusion and diversity for these populations.

You’ll also find examples of inspirational students doing amazing things, like PA student Pris (pronounced like “kiss”) Garcia, who grew up in Mexico, where the majority of her family still lives.

She and her parents, who are social workers, traveled the world before she settled in Kentucky for college. (https://www.uky.edu/chs/about/news/pride-month-2023-pa-student%E2%80%99s...).

Pris says she has a goal of becoming a healthcare provider so she can “make bridges,” which to her means developing connections with her patients, especially with ones who share her characteristics — her ethnicity, her race and her sexuality, as well.

You see, Pris identifies as part of the LQBTQ+ community. She is married, and she sees the importance of healthcare providers who look like, speak like, and represent their communities. A year from now, she will graduate and take with her all the talents and knowledge we can provide.

But she’ll also take her motivation to make bridges with others. It’s a wonderful story, and it reminds us that we can all make those connections with our patients, our students and our colleagues.

No matter the month of the year.

Continue to stay well,

Dean Lephart