A passion to help others is central to her own life, demonstrated in part through a willingness a few years ago to donate a kidney to her father who had end-stage renal disease, a condition in which the kidneys function below 10 percent of normal ability.

In June 2004, Fernandez stepped up to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, leaving for boot camp just 10 days after graduating high school. After this and follow-up training, she arrived at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay. During her assignment, Fernandez deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 (HMH-362), providing transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment during day and night operations.

During a later assignment in Montgomery, Ala., she was a part of an infantry company and oversaw training evolutions in preparation for combat operations, contingency operations, and humanitarian/peacekeeping operations, including national emergencies.

In 2012, Fernandez arrived at Parris Island, S.C., to support recruiting missions, and was selected to attend the University of South Carolina through the Marine Corps Degree Completion Program, receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Upon graduation, she was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Calif., where she worked at the Professional and Personal Development Branch assisting Marines on educational program opportunities and offering transitional counseling services.

Her next assignment was in New Orleans, La., supporting the Marine Corps Reserve Forces administratively. Following that three-year assignment, she moved to her current role, as a Course Chief for the Marine Corps Center for Learning and Faculty Development, where she teaches Marines to become curriculum developers for their formal schoolhouses.

Fernandez enrolled in UofL’s Online Master of Science in Social Work in fall 2022 after an extensive college search process. When looking for an institution, she said UofL’s reputation was a major influencer in her decision.

Not only did UofL offer the degree she wanted to pursue but, “the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science ranks in the top 17 percent in the nation,� Fernandez said. “UofL also is one of the few universities that matches the DoD Tuition Assistance cap per semester hour for a master’s program.�

Fernandez says she is impressed with the assistance from staff and faculty at UofL, pointing to Kent School program coordinators Holly Eckert and Connie Cox as being extremely helpful, saying “they carefully explained the process and requirements of practicum and the expectations as a graduate student.�

UofL honors and celebrates Fernandez for her military service and is proud to recognize the 247th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 10.

UofL researchers will use the microscopes to continue their close working relationship with the Clinical Research Foundation (CRF) at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center to understand how environmental exposures cause health effects in military veterans.

The multiphoton confocal microscopes, valued at nearly $2 million, will help the researchers discover the mechanisms behind health effects that have been documented by veterans and their health providers and finding ways to prevent or reduce their impact. The new instruments provide 3-D images of thicker tissue samples than were previously accessible, allowing the researchers to better see changes in biological tissues and metabolic functions in response to specific substances such as benzene and aldehydes.

The new microscopes are housed in spaces allocated by the UofL School of Medicine to the VA hospital, one in the (formerly the Diabetes and Obesity Center), part of the , where it will be used to study heart and vascular functions, as well as immune responses in animal models. The other is in the and will be used to understand the effects of environmental toxins on the liver.

“We are exceptionally grateful to the VA for providing this new technology, which will allow our researchers to have a greater understanding of the impacts and effects of wartime exposure on the health of our veterans,� said Toni Ganzel, dean of the UofL School of Medicine. “And we are pleased that the UofL School of Medicine is partnering with the VA and Clinical Research Foundation to improve care for our veterans as well as citizens of Kentucky and beyond.�

Most imaging methods enable scientists to see only small, thin sections of tissue at a time. The images from the larger, thicker samples captured by the new multiphoton microscopes allow scientists to study the metabolic processes taking place.

“The multiphoton microscope uses lasers that can penetrate more deeply into a much thicker section of tissue rather than a very thin slice,� said Steven P. Jones, director of the Center for Cardiometabolic Science and professor of medicine. “Using the system, we can look in real time at what is happening in immune cells that may be trafficking to the liver, skeletal muscle, adipose depots and the heart.�

Matthew Nystoriak, associate professor of medicine, investigates the effects of inhaled substances on the cardiovascular system.

“We can look at the molecular processes behind different disease development that affect a broad section of the population,� Nystoriak said. “One of the things we want to look at is vascular inflammation. With this instrument, we can track immune cells leaving the bloodstream and infiltrating the walls of blood vessels.�

The liver research, led by Matthew Cave and Craig McClain, both professors of medicine at UofL and physicians and researchers affiliated with Robley Rex VA Medical Center, will include evaluating the effects of environmental exposures on liver diseases and the metabolic syndrome, studying interactions of environmental exposures with nutrition and with alcohol intake, and investigating clinically-relevant exposures such as those related to Camp Lejeune and to burn pits.

The VA has increased this research as a result of the PACT Act, recently signed into law to help veterans suffering negative health effects from war and peacetime exposures related to burn pits and other service-related activities. The act improves access to medical care for conditions resulting from these exposures through VA Medical Centers and helps the VA improve research, staff education and treatment related to those exposures.

“The VA enjoys a close relationship with UofL researchers, and this state-of-the-art equipment will be utilized to advance the research agenda of the VA , including allowing VA-affiliated researchers to apply the latest scientific methods to the investigation of respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and metabolic diseases that commonly affect veterans,� said Gerald Dryden, professor of medicine at the UofL School of Medicine and associate chief of staff for research and development at Robley Rex VA Medical Center. “This will be especially important as we begin to look into the causes and effects of chronic burn pit and other environmental exposures on veterans’ health.�

The CRF is a nonprofit corporation that provides the administrative infrastructure dedicated to Robley Rex VA Medical Center researchers under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The CRF also works with UofL to provide groundbreaking research opportunities to veterans and active military in the Louisville area.

Nonprofit corporations (NPCs) such as CRF were established to provide a more efficient mechanism for VA researchers to participate in research and educational programs funded by private and non-VA public sources. There are more than 80 NPCs nationally, each affiliated with a VA medical center, who collectively have a resource and voice through the National Association of Veteran Research and ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ Foundation.

Michael Book, executive editor of the CRF, underscored what this investment means for the partnership in the future.

“These microscopes further advance the research capabilities of the incredible investigators in our region,� said Michael J. Book, executive director of the CRF. “The equipment will aid in attracting other investigators to the groundbreaking work being done at Robley Rex VA Medical Center and the University of Louisville. Beyond the technological advancement, the investment also signifies the importance of the strong relationship between VAMC, the University of Louisville and the Clinical Research Foundation. We are excited to be a part of the innovation that lies ahead.�

“UofL is so pleased by these accomplishments, knowing there is more work to be done – but let’s celebrate success steps as we continue to break down barriers where they exist,� said Lee A. Gill, UofL vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “The hard work of so many people across our campuses are leading DEI initiatives, and we thank them for their efforts over the years.�

“I’d like to give special recognition to Faye Jones and her team at HSC for providing innovative health equity programs; Marian Vasser and the entire Cultural and Equity Center for creating a national model for cultural centers; and Diane Whitlock, our division chief of staff for compiling and submitting data to the INSIGHT committee. All have been excellent stewards of UofL’s journey toward inclusive excellence,� he said.

Among the DEI efforts recognized by the award are:

• UofL’s Cultural and Equity Center.
• Louis D. Brandeis School of Law’s participation in the Kentucky Legal ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ Opportunity Summer Institute, a program toÌıprepare students from low-income or historically marginalized backgrounds for the rigors of law school.
• Workshops led by the Graduate School, including Creating a Harassment-Free Lab; Attracting, Retaining and Supporting International Students; and Inclusive Teaching Strategies.
• Programs in the College of Business, including the Skills and Professional Development program for minority-owned businesses in collaboration with One West, and the Kentucky Distillers’ Association/University of Louisville Scholars Program.
• The School of Public Health and Information Sciences’ seriesÌı“Cardinal Conversations: Racism as a Public Health Issue.â€�
• The Summer Health Professions ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ Program for first- and second-year college students interested in exploring a career in the health professions.
• UofL’s new Asian American Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group.

Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity, presented the HEED Award to UofL on Nov. 9 during the inaugural President’s Inclusive Excellence Forum, featuring keynote speaker , former president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.Ìı

• .

Hardin will start on Aug. 13, serving as acting dean until the UofL Board of Trustees approves her appointment.

“I am excited to join UofL,� Hardin said. “The School of Nursing has an exemplary leadership team, nationally-renowned faculty and an outstanding cadre of staff, students, distinguished alumni and supporters who are well positioned to impact the health of individuals, families and communities.�

Hardin will replace Marcia J. Hern, who in 2017 announced her plan to retire from the school after an 11-year tenure as dean.

“Dr. Hardin will expand upon the advancement that has occurred in the past decade at the School of Nursing, which has seen growth in programs, learning space and student enrollment,� said Greg Postel, MD, executive vice president for health affairs at UofL.

“Many thanks to Dr. Hern for agreeing to remain as dean during the search process. Under her leadership, the school added two graduate programs, established the only traditional nursing baccalaureate program in Owensboro and underwent significant classroom and clinical simulation lab expansion. Student standards have risen and pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses exceed the national average.�

Hardin is a nurse practitioner specializing in care for older adults, and her research has focused on symptom management and issues surrounding inpatient critical care of the geriatric population.

While at East Carolina University, she led a three-year, $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services titled the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, which created a comprehensive approach to caring for older adults in the eastern region of North Carolina. Working with community partners, the initiative established an interprofessional education model, trained primary care providers to meet the needs of older adults and created community-based programs for rural older adults and their families.

Hardin has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and three books with topics focusing on geriatric care, critical care for older adults and chronic disease. In 2017, she became a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, one of the highest honors in the profession.

Incorporating entrepreneurship and technology into practice, Hardin worked with an engineer team at East Carolina University to create a device that quantitatively measures edema in the lower extremity. The group has received a provisional patent on the device.

“Dr. Hardin is an innovative leader with a proven record of providing strategic direction at academic medical centers and nursing schools,� said Toni Ganzel, MD, MBA, dean of the UofL School of Medicine, who led the School of Nursing dean search committee. “She brings a unique skill set to bolster the research mission and visibility of the School of Nursing, build robust partnerships and advance the school in educating the next generation of nurses.�

Hardin joined the nursing college at East Carolina University in 2013, where she started the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program and oversaw accreditation of the doctor of nursing practice, certified registered nurse anesthetist and midwifery programs. She previously had faculty positions at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Lenoir Rhyne College. Hardin started her career in 1982, working as a critical care staff nurse in several North Carolina hospitals and earned her adult nurse practitioner license in 2009.

Hardin has a PhD in nursing from the University of Colorado and master’s degrees in business and health administration from Pfeiffer University in North Carolina. She earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She also completed post-doctoral fellowships at Stanford University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Patients experienced a positive and robust response to online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), equaling a traditional in-person CBT treatment course with three times more therapist contact, according toÌı, which published in the March issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

While one of the most effective non-pharmacological treatments for depression, traditional in-person CBT poses barriers to those who need treatment.

“Traditional CBT takes a fair amount of time, money and resources, and there aren’t enough cognitive behavioral therapists,â€� said Jesse Wright, MD, PhD, director of theÌı, Gottfried and Gisela Kolb Endowed Chair in Outpatient Psychiatry in the UofL School of Medicine, and an author of the study. “The technology delivers treatment more efficiently and reduces cost by allowing many more people to be treated by the same therapist.â€�

For the study, more than 150 medication-free patients with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of either traditional CBT, which entails up to 20 sessions of 50 minutes each, or computer-assisted CBT using theÌıÌıand 12 abbreviated therapy sessions.

The program, which Wright helped develop, consists of nine Internet-based modules that use video, psychoeducation, mood graphs to measure progress and interactive skill-building exercises that help users apply CBT methods in daily life. A dashboard allows clinicians to assess progress and coordinate aspects of treatment.

Both treatment groups experienced significant improvements and similar rates of symptom reduction across the 16 weeks of treatment. Patients with chronic and severe depression benefitted from both treatment courses.

The research was funded by grants totaling more than $2.5 million from the National Institute of Mental Health, the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders and part of the National Institutes of Health.

UofL HospitalÌı, according toÌı, a website that posts nursing jobs, compiles hospital reviews by nurses and maintains nursing career resources.

From 2015 to 2017, the website analyzed more than 1,000 surveys of nurses from 87 hospitals in Kentucky, basing its ranking on average ratings and the percent of nurses who would recommend their hospital.

Uofl Hospital received an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, with 81 percent of nurses recommending the hospital.

Comments about the hospital included “Pay is good and to grow as a nurse, this is the place you need to be� and “Excellent education opportunities. A place for learning and perfecting new skills. Lots of available overtime and a variety of unit specialties.�

“UofL Hospital strives to provide a stellar work environment that allows our nurses to have a voice in the care they deliver,� said Shari Kretzschmer, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer of UofL Hospital and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. “Patients and families benefit from our excellent level of nursing care.�

The group was a part of the Innovative Partnership Program (IPP) created through XPRIZE andÌıSingularity University in alliance with Deloitte. According to IPP program director Sean Watson, the goal of the two-day tour isÌıto help senior business executives from leading companies explore the future of manufacturing and product development, as well as discover new ecosystems and partnerships that they can tap into to thrive in the emerging agile manufacturing paradigm.Ìı

“As we looked at the lay of the land in manufacturing, we saw that Louisville was doing some really special things and a lot of it centered around the capabilities of the university,� Watson said. “We wanted to expose these companies to an industrial ecosystem outside Silicon Valley – the places you typically think of as centers of innovation in the world – and to introduce them to places doing dynamic things and are emerging as new centers and new ‘brain belts’.�

While the tour was created for informational and educational purposes, UofL Senior Director of Research Support & Development William A. Metcalf says he is hoping that the exposure will lead to additional public-private partnerships.

“Hopefully, they see some of the exciting things happening here and want to get involved, whether that’s research or to co-locate here and hire our students,� Metcalf said. “We’re not selling anything today, per se, but we’re talking about what we do. Hopefully, they find that interesting and want to be a part of it.�

More photos from the tour are .Ìı

As dignitaries gather at Arlington National Cemetery and towns across the nation this weekend to remember the men and women who have died in military service to the United States, it will be the continuing culmination of the vision of UofL law alumnus John Alexander Logan.

Logan, an 1851 law graduate, designated May 30 as a day to remember the nation’s war dead in 1868 when the physical and emotional scars of the Civil War were still fresh.

Local remembrances of the war’s dead had started even during the war, especially in the South, but Logan, a Union veteran and commander in chief of the veterans group the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), envisioned an observance that would be annual and national in scope.

In General Order No. 11 of the GAR, Logan called for the “strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land.� Hence the day became known as Decoration Day.

Logan also asked that the observance “be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades,� and he called upon the press to help notify people in all parts of the country so everyone could take part in the remembrance on the same day.

New York officially recognized Decoration Day as a holiday in 1873, and it had become a holiday in all northern states by 1890. The South, however, did not adopt May 30 as its day of remembrance until after World War I when, with the number of Civil War veterans dwindling and that war fading from current memory, the holiday changed to one that honored Americans who died fighting in any war.

The National Holiday Act of 1971 set Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. The act provided a three-day weekend for all federal holidays. According to the U.S. Memorial Day organization, some Southern states continue to honor Confederate war dead on a separate day.

That’s what Mark Hogg, CEO and founder of WaterStep, saw when his Louisville-based nonprofit in Mocoa, Columbia. The disaster had also affected the city’s infrastructure, limiting access to safe drinking water.Ìı

“The only thing that we saw was our bleach maker being able to make a difference,� he said.

The machine can produce medical-grade bleach on-site using a car battery as a power source. But those batteries are bulky, and need to be constantly recharged.Ìı

WaterStep enlisted a cross-disciplinary team of engineers and designers enrolled in Dr. ’s design course at the University of Louisville’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering, along with business students at Bellarmine University, to develop a tool that could use a solar panel instead of a car battery.

Under the name “Sun Bleach,â€� the students developed the product alongside WaterStep’s own engineering team.ÌıOther students developed marketing materials and a business plan, which made a strong showing in the statewide entrepreneurship competition,Ìı.

WaterStep now plans to incorporate the bleach maker into another project called the “Water on Wheels,â€� or the “W.O.W.â€� The tool-laden cart aims to allow people in disaster areas or developing countries to manufacture both safe drinking water and medical-grade bleach.Ìı

But design student Emily Braun said the implications of improving access to safe, sanitary water and bleach stretch far beyond a class project or competition — it’s about saving lives.Ìı

“I know I am just a small pawn in this big game,â€� she said. “And to be able to work with these people who are implementing this type of change is incredible.â€�Ìı

UofL connects campus with industry to solve problems and create experiential learning opportunities through its Institute for Product Realization.Ìı

“We have to go at this entire project as a whole in order to be successful,”Ìısaid Andrew Callahan, a mechanical engineering student who helped lead the product’s research and development.

More information about this project is included in the video below:Ìı

SPHIS received a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2015 toÌı, led by Monica Wendel, DrPH, MA, associate dean for public health practice.

Through this center,ÌıÌıwere hired to help create and test the media/social media campaign aimed at reducing violence by opposing the perception that violence is normal, accepted and expected, particularly among African American youth. The campaign aims to combat violence by making youth aware of their own pride and history. It also seeks to foster community dialogue around difficult issues such as racial and social injustices. In doing so, the YVPRC hopes to raise critical consciousness in an effort to promote racial justice and reduce youth violence.

The media campaign features the youth fellows in YouTube videos, television commercials, radio ads, neighborhood billboards, bus shelters, print ads,Ìı,Ìıand social media platforms using #YVPRC. This particular media effort concludes at the end of December 2017; the overallÌıÌıcampaign continues through spring 2020.

from the campaign kick-off held at the Louisville Central Community Centers on Saturday, May 20.