Advancing Kentucky Together: Scottie Day’s commitment to children’s health
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 20, 2025) — Looking to fulfill his passion for serving others, Scottie B. Day, M.D., knew since he was a child that he wanted to become a physician at Kentucky Children’s Hospital (KCH).
Day is a respected clinician who specializes in pediatric critical care. He is the physician-in-chief at KCH, where he has been a team leader for the ECMO team and pediatric cardiology strategic planning.
One of his favorite things about working at KCH is the sense of togetherness among staff. The teamwork that goes into the care of each patient makes it feel like a “family taking care of another family.”
This year’s institutional TV commercial focuses on the people across all of campus — and our Commonwealth — who work to advance Kentucky. They all reflect UK’s mission to teach, care, serve and discover.
Day and other members of the university’s community — who are also working to help improve the state — shared their voices for both the 30-second and 60-second spots. While we hear only a few seconds from each of them, they have powerful stories to tell.
UKNow asked Day a few questions about what it means to be part of the UK community — and of a legacy — of people who are working to advance Kentucky.
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UKNow: What makes the University of Kentucky special?
Day: The University of Kentucky is more than just a place of learning. It’s a community built on family, friendship and support. It’s where people come together to take care of one another creating lifelong connections that extend far beyond the campus. For me, it’s the first place I attended college and medical school before I moved away for residency. It’s the place where I met and began my life with my wife, Kristi Day, making it not just an alma mater but a foundation for the future. Over a decade later, we found ourselves drawn back here, returning to the place that shaped our journey. Coming back has been a reminder of the bonds we formed, the memories we created and the values that continue to define our lives. UK isn’t just where our story started — it’s where it continues to grow.
UKNow: What does “advancing Kentucky” mean to you?
Day: “Advancing Kentucky” in the context of a children’s hospital means improving the future of the Commonwealth by investing in the health and well-being of its youngest residents. It signifies a commitment to providing world-class pediatric care, innovative treatments and life-changing research that give children the best chance at a healthy future. We are not just caring for patients but strengthening families, empowering communities and ensuring that Kentucky’s next generation can thrive. To quote a friend, it's not about saving lives but saving lifetimes. It’s ensuring that Kentucky’s next generation has the opportunity to thrive.
UKNow: How has your time at UK helped you be part of UK’s mission to advance Kentucky?
Day: My journey has been deeply intertwined with its mission to advance Kentucky. From my time as a student to returning over a decade later, I have been a part of a community dedicated to education, health care and service. From my first role as director of transport, I got to see expansion of the team to care for those across the state, including my hometown in Leslie County. I have had the chance to lead in a variety of positions from chief of critical care, chief medical officer, to now chair/physician-in-chief. In these roles, I have had the opportunity to serve so many faculty and staff. The greatest honor has been being a physician caring for so many patients and families.
UKNow: What is your hope for UK’s next 160 years?
Day: Building on a legacy of excellence in education, research and health care, UK will continue to push boundaries, drive innovation and serve as a beacon of progress for Kentucky and beyond. With investments in cutting-edge medical research, transformative research and world-class academic programs, UK is poised to shape the future of all aspects of health in our state. It’s not just about the development of our next generation of leaders, but also solving the state’s pressing challenges to improve lives. Nowhere is this commitment more evident than in our commitment to child health at Kentucky Children’s Hospital, where every day, hope is restored and futures are rewritten. Although every outcome may not be the optimum, love and passion for people are our driving force. The next 160 years will be defined by a relentless dedication to give every child a healthier, brighter tomorrow.
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As we look forward to UK celebrating its 160th birthday, UKNow is sharing more about these members of our community and what inspires them to do more and be more for the people of Kentucky. Learn more about their stories here.
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns, the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and Kentucky’s top hospital ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.