Campus News

'Behind the Blue': Fran Feltner on 30 Years of UK’s Center of Excellence in Rural Health

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 1, 2021) — Thirty years ago, the University of Kentucky and its College of Medicine established the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health.

Since that time, CERH, which also serves as the federally designated Kentucky Office of Rural Health, has been supporting the health and well-being of rural Kentuckians by promoting access to health services and educational opportunities.

Headquartered in Hazard and with employees located across the Commonwealth, CERH is directed by Fran Feltner. On this episode of the "Behind the Blue" podcast, UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications' Carl Nathe talks with Feltner about the important work being carried out by the center, the challenges of working in rural health versus being in more populous areas, how that work has adapted to change over three decades, and more.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of "Behind the Blue" can be downloaded from the show’s blog page. You can watch a video version of this podcast here.

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As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

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