College of Health Sciences Faculty Member Named Red Cross Hero of the Year

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 19, 2014) − For the second year in a row, the UK HealthCare nominee submitted by the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences, has won the Red Cross Hero of the Year award. Lynn English, associate professor and director of clinical education in the Division of Physical Therapy, is this year's recipient.

 English's work with the Samaritan's Touch UK Student Physical Therapy Clinic and with Shoulder to Shoulder Global earned her the Red Cross 2014 "Hero of the Year" Award. The award was presented to her May 15 at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort following the seventh annual Heroes Campaign, sponsored by the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Samaritan's Touch UK Student Physical Therapy Clinic is led by UK physical therapy students and supervised by English two nights a week. The clinic offers free physical  therapy services to under insured and uninsured individuals. Previously located at the Salvation Army in Lexington, Samaritan's Touch UK Student Physical Therapy Clinic is currently located in UK HealthCare's  Samaritan Hospital Physical Therapy Center and works in collaboration with the Samaritan Rehabilitation Department.

English also supervises the coordination of the physical therapy component for UK's Shoulder to Shoulder Global efforts in Ecuador since 2008.  Shoulder to Shoulder makes three trips a year to Ecuador to work with community partners to provide physical therapy services to impoverished and underserved individuals. English says that seeing how repeat care has changed and improved the lives of others has inspired her to keep working.

"I have a strong sense that part of being a physical therapist should include being altruistic and thinking of those who don't have access to care," English said. "I encourage physical therapy students to consider the service component of their careers."

The Heroes Campaign is a community awareness and fundraising campaign that seeks to recognize those individuals who are making a difference in the community, while also supporting the local Red Cross through financial contributions.  “Our goals were to strengthen the local Red Cross chapter, educate our constituents about the programs and services offered by the American Red Cross, and recognize community heroes,” stated Terry Burkhart, chief executive officer of the Bluegrass Chapter.

A campaign team of 35 community leaders, led by co-chairs Lexington Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and her husband Charles, began work in February and successfully raised more than $106,000 to support local Red Cross programs and services.  Campaign donors were eligible to nominate 2014 Red Cross “Hero of the Year” candidates.

This was UK HealthCare's third year in a row to win the Hero of the Year Award. Last year's winner was Linda Allen from the Student Admissions Office and the 2012 winner was Vicki Blevins Booth with Kentucky Pink Connection.   

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at 759-323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu