Special Services
If you require special assistance to attend this event contact Amanda Rist at (859) 323-1116 or amanda.rist@uky.edu.
An Equal Opportunity University.
Speakers
Peter Akpunonu, Theresa Baker, Catherine Barber, Henrik Berdel, Andrew Bernard, Deborah Berry, Anthony Bottiggi, Patricia Cooper, John Draus Jr, Richard Falcone, Colin Fath, David Fifer, David Foley, Justin Fraser, Leslie Fryman, Gregory Gramelspacher, Michael Hackett, Jacob Higgins, John Holcomb, Christina Howard, Paul Kearney, Julia Martin, John May, Susan McDowell, Douglas Oyler, Sara Parli, Jessica Reynolds, Yvonne Rice, Jeanette Richards, James Richardson, Mark Spivak, Colleen Swartz, Zachary Warriner, Matilda Wright
Peter Akpunonu, MD, FAAEM, FFSEM, FACEP
Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine & Medical Toxicology
Co-Medical Director, Emergency Medicine
Director, Medical Toxicology
Director, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine
University of Kentucky Hospital
Dr. Peter Akpunonuearned his medical degree from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and completed his Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Kansas Hospital. He went on to complete a fellowship in Medical Toxicology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. Currently, he is an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Kentucky and is the medical director of the KY Poison Control Center. In addition to his teaching and clinical responsibilities, he is interested in medical toxicology and further research opportunities to explore opioid use treatment options.
Theresa Baker, RN, BSN
Trauma Outreach and Prevention Coordinator
Trauma Institute
University of Louisville Hospital
Louisville, Kentucky
Catherine Barber, MPA
Senior Researcher/Research Manager
Harvard Injury Control Research Center
Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health
Boston, Massachusetts
Catherine Barber is a senior researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health’s Injury Research Center where she led the effort to design and test the pilot for the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System. She is the founding director of Means Matter, a project to disseminate research and interventions aimed at reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal suicide methods. She is the recipient of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Allies in Action Lifetime Achievement Award. Recent work focuses on collaborating with gun owner groups on suicide prevention initiatives. Her MPA is from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Andrew Bernard, MD, FACS
Professor of Surgery
Paul A. Kearney, MD, Endowed Chair in Trauma Surgery
Trauma Medical Director
Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Andrew Bernard, MD, FACS is a Frankfort native. He was educated entirely at UK-undergraduate, medical school, student fellowship in pathology, general surgery residency, research fellowship and trauma fellowship. He currently serves as the Trauma Medical Director for UK Healthcare and Section Chief for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery in the Department of Surgery in the College of Medicine. He's President of the Medical Staff. He chairs the ICU Committee and Organ Donation and Transplantation Action Council and Co-Chairs the Transfusion Safety Committee. He's past President of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the nation's largest organization of trauma providers. His favorite activities are taking care of patients, teaching and mentoring-faculty, fellows, residents and students. His motto, for patients and providers, is 'Better every day'.
Deborah Berry, A.S., B.A., NRP
Training and Education Coordinator/Paramedic
Madison County EMS
Richmond, Kentucky
Deborah graduated from EKU in 1984 with an A.S. in Emergency Medical Care. She has worked as a paramedic for 35 years and was a flight paramedic for 19 years. She received her B.A. degree in Healthcare Administration from Midway College.
Anthony Bottiggi, MD
Assistant Professor, Surgery
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Bottiggi earned an MD from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He completed residency and a fellowship at the
University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center in Lexington.
He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care.
Clinical interests include acute care surgery and virtual ICU.
John Draus Jr, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery/Pediatric Surgery
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
John M. Draus, Jr, MD, is a native of Kentucky. He completed his medical school, general surgery, and a research fellowship at the University of Louisville. He completed his pediatric surgery fellowship at Riley Children’s Hospital at Indiana University.
Dr. Draus joined the Division of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Kentucky in 2010. His clinical interests include pediatric oncology, minimally invasive surgery, and thoracic and neonatal surgery.
Richard Falcone, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Surgery
Division of Pediatric and Thoracic Surgery
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dr. Falcone is currently an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Pediatric and Thoracic Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He is the director of the Level I pediatric trauma program at Cincinnati Children’s as has been actively involved in simulation training to improve teamwork and communication while improving safety for the past 8 years.
Colin Fath, MD
Acute Care Surgery Fellow
Department of Surgery
Division of General Surgery
College of Medicine
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Colin Talanda Fath, MD, received his degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. He completed general surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clincs. Dr. Fath is currently an Acute Care Surgery Fellow at the University of Kentucky.
David Fifer, M.S., NR-P, FAWM
Assistant Professor
Paramedic Science
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky
Paramedic
Powell County EMS
Stanton, Kentucky
Emergency Response Coordinator
US Dept. Health and Human Services
Washington, DC
David Fifer is a Paramedic with Powell County EMS and the Coordinator of RedSTAR- the Red River Gorge Special Treatment, Access and Rescue wilderness EMS team. He holds a Master of Science in Safety and Emergency Management from Eastern Kentucky University, and is a Fellow of the Wilderness Medical Society’s Academy of Wilderness Medicine. He is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medical Care in EKU’s baccalaureate Paramedic program, and since 2013 has responded to major national healthcare disasters and national security events as a part-time Emergency Response Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Emergency Management and Medical Operations.
David Foley, MD FACS
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Surgery
Department of Surgery
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Director of Trauma and Burns,
Kosair Children’s Hospital
Louisville, Kentucky
Associate Professor, Pediatric Surgery
Expertise:
Surgical Laparoscopy, Surgical Critical Care, Pediatric Trauma
M.D. :
State University of New York at Buffalo
Residency:
Wake Forest University School of Medicine in General Surgery
Fellowships:
University of Michigan, Clinical & ECMO Research Fellow
Wake Forest University, Bradshaw Research Fellow
Children’s Hospital at Oklahoma University Medical Center, Oklahoma City
Research Interest:
GI Complications of ECMO, Cystic Lesions of the Diaphragm, Trauma Injury Prevention
Dr. Foley joined the University of Louisville in 2003. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery. Outside interests include music, athletics and spending time with his wife and three children.
Selected Administrative/Leadership Roles:
Director of Trauma, Kosair Children’s Hospital
Member – Kentucky State Committee on Trauma (COT)
Medical Director, 7E/4W Medical Surgical Unit, Kosair Children’s Hospital
Peer Reviewer, American Surgeon
Associate Professor, Pediatric Surgery
Cancer Liaison Physician to the American College of Surgeons, Kosair Children’s Hospital
Justin Fraser, MD, FAANS, FAHA
Vice Chair, Department of Neurological Surgery
Associate Professor of Cerebrovascular, Endovascular, and Skull Base Surgery
Director, Cerebrovascular Surgery and NeuroInterventional Radiology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Justin F. Fraser, MD, FAANS, FAHA graduated from Princeton University with a degree in public policy. His Princeton thesis discussed the American healthcare system, focusing upon the effect of managed care on the physician-patient relationship. He obtained his medical degree from the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He completed residency in neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, where he also completed a fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery/interventional neuroradiology. He is currently Vice-Chair, and Director of Cerebrovascular Surgery and NeuroInterventional Radiology in the Department of Neurological Surgery at University of Kentucky, where he specializes in cerebrovascular, endovascular, skull base, and endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. He focuses on treating stroke, carotid stenosis, intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformation, pituitary tumors, and other skull base tumors. He routinely performs acute stroke interventions, and is Surgical Director of the University of Kentucky Comprehensive Stroke Center. In his administrative role as Chair of the Standards and Guidelines for the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Dr. Fraser has overseen publication of practice standards and guidelines for neuroendovascular surgery. His academic research focuses upon the further understanding stroke pathology, and developing neuroprotective/neuroreparative therapies for acute ischemic stroke. He has been Principal Investigator on several investigator-initiated clinical studies (eg. SAVER-I, STABILISER, MAVARIC), as well as a site-PI for multiple industry-led clinical trials (eg. PREMIER, FEAT), and is currently PI for a tissue bank for ischemic stroke (BACTRAC). He and his stroke research team are funded through both intramural and extramural grants primarily through the NIH and American Heart Association.
Leslie Fryman, MS, NREMT-P
Paramedic
University of Kentucky Emergency Department
Captain, EMS Training Coordinator, Tactical Medic
Lexington Division of Fire and EMS
Lexington, Kentucky
Leslie is a 20+ year veteran of the Lexington Fire Department currently assigned to the Training Academy. He currently has the position as the EMS Training Coordinator for the entire division encompassing approximately 560 personnel.
Leslie has also worked in the ED at University of Kentucky for over 5 years as a Paramedic. Prior to coming to the ED at UK, he was a flight paramedic for Air Methods for over seven years.
He earned an MS in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management.
Gregory Gramelspacher, MD
Professor
Internal Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, Indiana
Dr. Gregory P. Gramelspacher is a Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM). Dr. Gramelspacher received his undergraduate degree in government and international relations from the University of Notre Dame and his medical degree from Indiana University. Following an internal medicine residency at the University of Michigan, Dr. Gramelspacher served for two years with the National Health Service Corps in Appalachia. He then completed a fellowship in medical ethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago. He joined the Department of Medicine at Indiana University in 1989.
In addition to founding the Program in Medical Ethics at IUSM, Dr. Gramelspacher established the Palliative Care Program at Wishard Health Services in 1999. He also established the Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2005. His interests include medical professionalism and the doctor-patient relationship, palliative care, health care for the underserved, addiction medicine and global health. Dr. Gramelspacher served as the team leader of the IU-Kenya program in Eldoret, Kenya from 1996 to 1997. In July 2017, he stepped down as the Director of the Palliative Care Program at Eskenazi Health in order to devote his clinical time to expand addiction medicine services.
Michael Hackett, RN, MSN, CRNA
Nurse Anesthetist
St. Elizabeth Medical Center
Edgewood, Ft. Thomas and Florence, Kentucky
Deputy Chief Wolfe County Search and Rescue
Red River Gorge, Wolfe County and surrounding USFS land
Stanton, Kentucky
Wolfe County
Michael D. Hackett is a Nurse Anesthetist with Seven Hills Anesthesia at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Northern KY. He works regularly in Prthopedic, Thoracic, Neuro and General Surgery cases. Michael received his Master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. He has been a part of Wolfe County Search and Rescue for four years and is also a Wilderness First Responder. Michael is heavily involved in technical rope rescue, swift water rescue, and back country navigation for work in the Red River Gorge.
Jacob Higgins, Phd, RN, CCRN-K
Assistant Professor
College of Nursing
University of Kentucky
Nurse Scientist
UK HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky
Jake Higgins, PhD, RN is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing with a joint appointment as a Nurse Scientist on the Trauma-Surgical Service Line at UK HealthCare. His clinical background is rooted in Trauma-Surgical Critical Care. Dr. Higgins received his PhD in Nursing from UK College of Nursing in 2019. His research interests surround functional recovery of patients after trauma and mitigation of hospital-related complications that impact return to function in trauma patients.
John Holcomb, MD
Professor
Surgery, Acute Care
University of Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
John Bradley Holcomb received his M.D. from the University of Arkansas Medical School in 1985. Dr. Holcomb entered the U.S. Army in 1985, and completed his general surgery training in 1991. Dr Holcomb then deployed with the Joint Special Operations Command for the next decade. From 2002 to 2008, COL Holcomb was the Commander of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research and Trauma Consultant for the Army Surgeon General. Over the years he has deployed in multiple real world operations. He is a three time recipient of the Army’s Greatest Invention award. COL Holcomb retired from active duty in 2008 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Trauma Resuscitation Science from the American Heart Association, the United States Special Operations Command Medal, and the Service award from the American College of Surgery. He has been a member of the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care since 2001. From 2008-2019 Dr. Holcomb worked at UT Health, Houston, as a Professor of Surgery. In 2016 he received the MAJ Jonathan Letterman award from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. In 2019 Dr Holcomb joined the University of Alabama, Birmingham as a Professor of Surgery. Dr. Holcomb is actively involved in clinical medicine, education, research, entrepreneurship and is a founder of a small health IT company. He reviews papers for more than 25 journals, has published > 600 peer reviewed articles and serves on multiple boards.
Christina Howard, MD, FAAP
Child Fatality and Injury Prevention Pediatric Consultant
Maternal and Child Health Division, Department for Public Health
Chief of Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine
Assistant Professor
UK Healthcare Department of Pediatrics
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Howard is a board-certified Child Abuse Pediatrician. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Georgetown College prior to starting medical school training including medical school, residency and fellowship in Child Abuse Pediatrics at the University of Louisville. Upon completion of her training she joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky. She is Division Chief of the Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine that is the program responsible for evaluating and supporting suspected victims of child maltreatment. In addition to these activities, she also serves as faculty with the UK School of Public Health Kentucky Injury Prevention Research Center (KIPRC) and is consultant for the Department of Public Health for Child Fatality Review and Pediatric Injury Prevention.
She received the Kosair Charities' Roger Fox Award, given to a physician whose dedication to children provides hope that all kids can lead a safe and healthy childhood.
Paul Kearney, MD
Professor, Surgery
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Paul Kearney received his MD in 1980 (AOA) from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. . Following completion of General Surgery Training at the University South Florida Hospitals (1986), he completed a two year Trauma Fellowship at the University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor. While there, he obtained a Master’s (1986) in clinical experimental design and biostatistics from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Dr. Kearney joined the University of Kentucky in 1988 as an Assistant Professor, Regular Title Series in the Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma and Critical Care. He has spent his entire academic career at the University of Kentucky rising to the rank of Full Professor with Tenure, Regular Title series. Dr. Kearney is Board Certified and Recertified in both general surgery and surgical critical care. He served as Director of the Surgical and Trauma intensive care units from 1988-2011 and was chief of the Section of Trauma and Critical Care from 1991-2011. He started and served as medical director (1989-2008) for the first Nutrition Support Service at UK hospital. He was part of the team that successfully obtained ACS Level I trauma center status for the University of Kentucky. When he stepped down as Section chief in 2011, the UK Level I trauma center was ranked in the top five trauma centers in the US with the third lowest adjusted mortality, lowest ICU mortality, and the shortest length of stay among US Trauma centers. Dr. Kearney brought local, regional, and national recognition to the UK Trauma Program. Dr. Kearney has a 2 million dollar Endowed Chair in his name that is currently assigned to Andrew Bernard MD, FACS. Over his career he has 29 teaching awards including the Richard Schwartz Award. He has twenty "America's Top Physician" awards and 16 "America's Top Surgeons" awards. One hundred peer reviewed manuscripts in the scientific literature, over 100 abstracts, four book chapters. Well over 300 invited lectures in addition to 10 invited visiting professorships at other Academic Medical Centers. Dr. Kearney belongs to the most prestigious surgical organization in the United States. Surgeons, both male and female, that he trained direct Trauma Programs here at UK, Georgetown University, East Carolina, and University of Missouri. In recognition for his lifetime achievement he received an Honorary Doctorate of Science in 2013 from his undergraduate Alma Mater, Providence College. Doctor has been a volunteer surgeon at Surgery on Sunday since inception in 2005 providing free outpatient surgery for those who cannot afford the procedure. For that service, he was recognized by the State of Kentucky as the Senior volunteer of the year (2019).
Julia Martin, MD
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Martin earned an MD from the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown and completed residency at the
West Virginia University Hospital.
Clinical interests include Air Medical Care and Transport, Pediatric Emergency Care, and Prehospital Care.
John May, WCSAR/WFR
Chief
Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team
Red River Gorge and Surrounding Areas
Campton, Kentucky
John May graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a BS in Industrial Electronics. He is currently employed as Manager of Administrative services for Licking Valley RECC. John is the Chief of Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team and has been a member of the team for 15 years. During his tenure as a volunteer for WCSAR, he has responded to 600+ rescues and 13 fatalities. John received his Wilderness First Responder certification from Wilderness Medical Associates & Sierra Rescue. He is a technical rope rescue instructor and swift water rescue instructor for Kentucky Emergency Management.
Susan McDowell, MD
Chair, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Medical Director
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. McDowell earned an MD from the Medical College of Georgia. She is board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation with a sub-specialty certificate in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. She has served in numerous other leadership roles within the Department of PM&R and the College of Medicine including the former Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education.
Dr. McDowell has served on or been a member of numerous regional and national academic societies. In addition, she has presented both regionally and nationally with publications in educational and clinical areas. Her primary interests are in leadership, team, and interprofessional education and care.
Douglas Oyler, PharmD, BCCCP
Director, Office of Opioid Safety
UK HealthCare
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Science
University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Oyler leads UK HealthCare's opioid stewardship program, including development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies to improve safe opioid use within the health system. He has collaborated with the Kentucky Hospital Association, KASPER, and numerous other state and local entities to improve opioid use throughout the state. His work in opioid stewardship has been featured in the American Journal of Health System Pharmacy, the Journal of Opioid Management, and the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, among others.
Dr. Oyler earned a PharmD from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy and then completed a pharmacy practice residency, a critical care specialty residency, and a fellowship in academia.
Sara Parli, PharmD
PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Resident
College of Pharmacy
University of Kentucky
Dr. Parli, originally from Harrisburg, PA, received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May of 2010 from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 residency at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia and is currently a PGY2 resident in Critical Care. Dr. Parli’s current practice interests include sepsis, delirium in the ICU, and neurotrauma. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Parli is a member of the residency program’s Recruitment and Kentucky Konnection committees. Further, she is actively involved with the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, serving as a preceptor for fourth-year pharmacy students on clinical rotations, facilitating small group discussions, and providing lectures. Dr. Parli recently received a teaching certificate through completion of the Teaching and Learning Development Series at South University School of Pharmacy. Upon completion of her PGY2 residency, Dr. Parli hopes to obtain a position at an academic medical center that combines clinical responsibilities with teaching and research opportunities.
Yvonne Rice, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC
Visiting Professor
Family Nurse Practitioner
College of Nursing
Chamberlain University
Lead APP II, Supervisor
General Surgery
Acute Care Surgery, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Yvonne Rice, DNP is an advanced practice provider (APP) with trauma surgery at University of Kentucky. She also serves as Lead APP, supervisor, for the 8 member trauma surgical APP team. Dr. Rice earned her family nurse practitioner degree at Eastern Kentucky University, as well as her doctorate. She obtained a post master's certification in acute care. She is a visiting professor at Chamberlain University's family nurse practitioner program.
Jeanette Richards, BSN, RN,TCRN
Trauma Divisional Charge Nurse
Trauma Surgical Services
University of Kentucky Hospital
Lexington, Kentucky
Jeanette Richards is a clinical Registered Nurse and Divisional Charge Nurse of Trauma Surgical Services at the University of Kentucky Hospital. She earned her Bachelor degree in nursing at the University of Kentucky. Jeanette is a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse and an ACLS and TNCC instructor for the University of Kentucky Hospital.
James Richardson, MD
Professor and Vice Chairman for Academic Affairs
Department of Surgery
University of Louisville
Chief of Surgery
Director of Emergency Surgical Services
University of Louisville Hospital
Louisville, Kentucky
Dr. J. David Richardson is a native Kentuckian who received his M.D. degree from the University of Kentucky and did his general surgery and thoracic surgery residencies at the University of Texas in San Antonio. Currently, he is Chief of Surgery and Director of Emergency Surgical Services at University Hospital, and Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Richardson has held several of the most important positions in American Surgery. He has served as President of the American Association for Surgery of Trauma, Southeastern Surgical Congress, Western Surgical Association and the Southern Surgical Association. He has also served as Chair of the American Board of Surgery and Vice Chair of the Residency Review Committee for Surgery. In 2012, he served as Chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeon. In October 2015, he was named President of the American College of Surgeons which has over 85,000 surgeon members.
A prolific scholar, Dr. Richardson has contributed 358 peer-reviewed articles, 51 book chapters and two books to the surgical literature. He has delivered numerous named lectureships and over 90 visiting professorships. He received the University of Louisville Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching, the School of Medicine Distinguished Educator Master Teacher Award, the Alumnus Association Red Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching at a University Level, and the Ephraim McDowell Kentucky Physician of the Year 2011. He recently received the University of Louisville 2016 Distinguished Faculty Award in Service for Career of Service. He has been honored as outstanding teaching faculty within the Department of Surgery on four occasions. In 2005, Dr. Richardson assumed the editorship of THE AMERICAN SURGEON journal in 2005.
Mark Spivak, MSN, RN, BCEN
Community Outreach Liaison
University of Louisville Hospital
Louisville, Kentucky
Mark Spivak graduated from the University of Louisville School of Nursing with a BSN in 2000 and later earned his MSN in 2013. Mark began his career at University of Louisville Hospital in Psychiatry, initially on the in-patient unit and then in the Emergency Psychiatric department. After five years in Psychiatry, Mark transitioned to the Emergency Department and in 2008- Mark accepted the role of Advanced Practice ED Educator. In 2019 Mark became Community Outreach Liaison where he continues his career at University of Louisville Hospital. Areas of focus in Mark’s work have included community outreach, serving as Chairman of the Board for the Harambee Health Center, a nurse led clinic providing for the needs of the underserved in our community as well as educating about illness prevention & wellness promotion. Mark has helped coordinate many community health fairs to reach this population, providing screenings, flu shots, education and physicals. In the clinical setting Mark was a Board-Certified Emergency Department Nurse and worked diligently with his staff to promote their certification as well. Mark is well published and has had several posters accepted for presentation. Most recently Mark was involved in coordinating and implementing medication assisted treatment with wrap around services for the opioid addicted patient population in our community.
Colleen Swartz, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP
Vice President, Hospital Operations
UK HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky
Dr. Swartz is responsible for overseeing strategic and administrative leadership for the entire UK HealthCare enterprise, ensuring alignment of operational structure, commitment to organizational goals and enhancement of overall patient experience. She partners with UK College of Medicine Dean Robert S. DiPaola, MD, and other COM leadership to develop a community presence and build connections with leaders of other academic institutions.
She provides leadership in clinical service areas, elevates nursing practice standards, and implements evidence-based programs and protocols to enhance the work environment and improve patient outcomes.
She is a vital member of the team in the Office of Healthcare Operations. Colleen also provides leadership and strategic planning for UK HealthCare to ensure patients receive the highest quality of clinical care.
Dr. Swartz began this position at UK HealthCare after serving as the Nursing Operations Administrator and Capacity Command Center Director. She also has served as Interim Director of the Critical Care Division. Before her current roles, she was chief nursing officer of a regional hospital and has served the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital in nursing and administrative positions including the emergency department, trauma and air medical service.
Zachary Warriner, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Surgical Critical Care, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
University of Kentucky
College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky
Zachary D. Warriner, MD was born and raised in Barbourville, KY. He completed his medical school education and general surgery training at the University of Kentucky. He completed his surgical critical care fellowship at the LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. He spent a year as a Clinical Instructor of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at the University of Southern California Keck Medical Center prior to returning home to Kentucky. Dr. Warriner is now an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care.
Matilda Wright, BSN, RN, CNML
Trauma Program Manager
Pediatric Trauma Coordinator
Trauma/Acute Care Surgery
UK HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky
