UK Board: University must move quickly with partners to advance health of state

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 18, 2024) — The University of Kentucky should work with partners to become the institution that does more than any other in the country to advance the health of the state it serves.

That direction was the driving sentiment of a resolution adopted with strong support Friday by the UK Board of Trustees at the conclusion of its annual retreat.

“As Kentucky’s university, we have the distinctive capacity — and singular opportunity — to do more, to be more, for our state and all those we serve,” said UK Board Chairman Britt Brockman. “We also have a special responsibility to do that in partnership with others — providers and caregivers, community leaders and policymakers -- those who have expertise and perspectives that we don’t have. It is acknowledgment that there is much more that we can do together than we can ever accomplish on our own or apart from one another.”

Specifically, the resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees following more of a day-and-a-half of meetings directed UK President Eli Capilouto and the campus to:

• Develop a specific growth strategy aimed at responding to the health-related workforce needs and shortages in Kentucky.
• Formally launch and expand statewide the Advancing Kentucky Together Network. This is the evolution of the academic health system’s affiliation model, applied not only to providers but to communities — their holistic health, workforce and education needs.
• Formalize, launch and expand deeper connections with communities, the University, UK HealthCare and UK’s Cooperative Extension Service.
• Develop the plan for a second Healthy Kentucky Research Building facility along with the talent necessary to support it.

“Advancing health means continually assessing and addressing the holistic health needs of the state. All of this is predicated on the idea of what we can do together,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “We are excited about this direction. We believe it speaks to what Kentucky wants and what communities and partners need if we are to do more — together — to advance the health of Kentucky.”

One new initiative resulting from the Board’s resolution is the activation of the Advancing Kentucky Together Network. For more than two decades, UK HealthCare has established and worked with affiliates – hospitals, clinics and providers – across the state to open greater access to specialty care, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The Advancing Kentucky Together Network takes that affiliate model a step further. It will continue to work with providers and partners to increase access to care and help improve clinical outcomes. But it will also work with other partners across the state on other issues related to overall health, such as education and workforce needs and training.

The network will invest millions of dollars in new resources and intellectual property by UK HealthCare as part of the establishment of the new model – health care outcomes, workforce training and education – across the state. The Advancing Kentucky Together Network will start with clinical partnerships and then expand into other areas, depending upon the needs of partners.

Pikeville Medical Center, a long-time partner of UK HealthCare, was announced Friday as the first member of the Network.

“This is the evolution of our affiliation model,” Capilouto said, “applied not only to providers but to communities — their holistic health, workforce and education needs.”

“So much of what we will do to meet this moment returns to the seminal question we have asked so often of ourselves over the last several years: 'Do we care?'” Capilouto told Board members. “The resolution before you resoundingly answers 'Yes.'”