The university and UofL Health joined Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana to enhance students’ understanding of health care, financial literacy and career pathways in the health care industry.

The interactive exhibit at JA Finance Park includes real-life scenarios and will highlight the journey from being a UofL student to becoming a professional in the health care industry, with UofL Health serving as a key employer in the region.

According to Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana, UofL and UofL Health are joining a network of community-minded organizations committed to equipping young people with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in an ever-evolving economy.

“We are excited to work with the University of Louisville and UofL Health to provide students with a unique and inspiring learning experience,” said Jennifer Helgeson, president of Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana.

took a moment to talk with UofL News about the community impact of UofL’s School of Nursing. From her entrance into the school as a 17-year-old nursing student in 1976 to being named interim dean in 2022, the school has served as�� bookends for DeLetter’s dedicated nursing career.

UofL News: Your history with the School of Nursing is almost as long as the school’s history. Tell us more about that.

DeLetter: I started at UofL as a first-year associate degree nursing student at age 17 in 1976. I stayed in the program two more years and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1980. After my graduation, I did work at different hospitals in Louisville, then moved to North Carolina where I obtained my master’s degree. I returned to Kentucky and after working in Lexington for many years, I was recruited to UofL in 2017, where originally, I taught part-time. I then became director of the RN to BSN program, then associate dean for academic affairs, and in 2022, was asked by the provost to serve as interim dean. As of 2024, that’s a span of 46 years in nursing.

It’s been a huge honor and privilege to have been in this School of Nursing at the beginning – two years into the start – and now to have held this position. For me to have come in this big circle and to be able to close the loop on my career, having had the privilege to serve at this level, is something I will always treasure.

UofL News: What makes UofL’s School of Nursing distinctive?

DeLetter: From the very beginning, expectations of students were high; we were strong, and our faculty were strong. We were right on the cusp of a shift in the profession from subservient to autonomous.

We were guided to really use our knowledge, our science, our critical thinking, our assessment skills to make decisions. I don’t think all schools were there yet.��

We were encouraged to push forward in our education so that we would have a seat at the table with other health care professionals.

I learned at an early age that the patient’s family is whoever the patient says they are. It was the mid-70s and people didn’t all talk like that, but we were very open to diversity. We were ahead of our time. Today, we still have that vitally and strong commitment to our students and to the community.

UofL News: In addition to the massive technological and digital advancements from the ’70s through today, what are some of the most significant changes in the field?

DeLetter: I sometimes wonder how students still do it in a four-year degree. They’re spending the same amount of time now that we spent 40 years ago to learn so much more.

There are so many more drugs, medications, treatments, types of surgeries. When I first became a nurse, patients were admitted the day before a surgery, it could be something as simple as a carpal tunnel surgery, and they stayed for two or three days afterward. Now of course, for that and much bigger surgeries, they don’t stay.

We also have so much more knowledge about pathophysiology and treatment and outcomes. An important thing that’s changed for nurses is our ability to monitor what we do and how we have an impact on the patient. We have evidence-based protocols, and nurses are now expected to monitor and prevent conditions from developing like pressure ulcers, falls, infection from urinary catheters or central line IV access or ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Simulation education is hugely different. We practiced injections on each other. Today, students have excellent training in simulation. We also have a more collaborative health care team than 40 years ago.

Another momentous change in nursing has been the educational level of the faculty. Years ago, a new dean came and told everyone they needed to get doctoral degrees. It was pivotal in reframing the School of Nursing to be recognized as a credible discipline in higher education.

UofL News: What challenges do today’s nurses have that they didn’t have years ago?

DeLetter: The acuity of illnesses is greater. We are more challenged by societal problems of gun violence and domestic violence. Bills have gone before the state to decriminalize errors by nurses and to hold patients criminally liable when they assault nurses or other health care providers. The world is busier and more complicated.

Some students have bigger burdens to carry. Some are single parents or living in domestic violence situations. We have a student loan debt crisis. There’s discussion everywhere about the mental health crisis of many students on college campuses, not just ours, but across the nation.

UofL News: In what positive ways have you seen our nursing students change over the years?

DeLetter: Students have a broader view because of their access to the world, so they have a better understanding of global health. Also, they have a better understanding of the impact of the health of the community. We think broadly about social determinants of health that affect patients across the continuum of their health care. ��

UofL News: How has our nursing program impacted our community?

DeLetter: We’ve graduated over 7,000 nursing students in the last 50 years so there’s no question our graduates are everywhere.

We are well known in hospitals and other agencies for our quality graduates. We contribute to dozens of community activities every year. We provide service to people through our community health courses, we have students in schools, homeless shelters and in all kinds of agencies providing care to clients. When you have students doing something for them, and they wear that UofL shirt, that’s going to have a positive impact. The university is socializing students to care about others.

UofL News: What is one thing that you hope to see happen in nursing in the next 50 years?

DeLetter: I hope we reach a point where the workforce shortage is not so dire.
Another thing I would like to see is the continued proliferation of the research and evidence-based practice changes in patient care. We continue to give diligent care as bedside clinicians; we continue to advance the science and we continue to serve the communities where we live and work.

The STEM+ Hub is equipped to facilitate a variety of K-12 student enrichment opportunities, as well as activities such as hackathons, junk bot racing, rocket building, VEX and First Robotics competitions, mentoring, learner workshops and teacher workshops. The suite consists of a large makerspace with 12 3D printers, instructional space, a conference room and two offices.

“This space, which already has hosted summer camps and after-school enrichment activities for hundreds of local students, is dedicated to welcoming those who aspire to be the next generation of engineers, computer scientists and technicians. It also provides UofL students and prospective students with access to advising, makerspace technology and other resources to help them pursue their dreams,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel.

This engagement is critical to increasing the pipeline of students interested in working in STEM and health care disciplines in engineering and other academic areas and will help recruit undergraduate students to the STEM+H degree programs at UofL.

“The STEM+ Hub is something we are very excited about at Speed School. Though it is an outgrowth of our outreach activities, we want the UofL community to know that this is not a “Speed School space” but one that is available to the entire UofL community,” said Emmanuel Collins, dean of engineering. “It is our experience that the type of activities that STEM+ Hub hosts can have a lasting impact on the young people who participate. We look forward to seeing and hearing about the life transformations this space helps facilitate.”

Through outreach initiatives such as those taking place in the STEM+ Hub, Speed School exposes and engages students in various areas of engineering careers and provides them with a boost in their preparation for these STEM careers.

To reserve the STEM+ Hub, visit the .

View the photo galleries from the Sept. 8 ribbon-cutting on and .��

Kindred Hospitals, a division of ScionHealth, invested $900,000 to renovate and build-out the new facility at the university’s Health Sciences Center. The new Student Collaboration Center has become the heart of the student educational program in the School of Nursing.

“Our nurses are frontline heroes, and these new facilities will only improve their experience and training. Thank you to our partner ScionHealth for investing in UofL’s School of Nursing and our community’s next generation of nursing leaders,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel.

The Student Collaboration Center opened for student use in fall 2022. The 3,485 square foot space positions UofL nursing students for success by encouraging them to engage with one another, share ideas, study in groups and socialize.

“We are proud to support the development and training of the next generation of nurse leaders through our investment in UofL’s School of Nursing. Our intention is to support well-trained caregivers and positively impact the health and well-being of our entire community,” said Rob Jay, ScionHealth’s chief executive officer. “We are fortunate in this community to have UofL’s School of Nursing, and we are confident that their programs will benefit our Specialty and Community Hospitals nationwide.”

The new Student Collaboration Center features spaces to support collaboration in both open and private places, including an open kitchen area built to resemble a modern café. The area allows students an area to rest, eat and engage in between long classes, as well as study for exams.

“At the UofL School of Nursing, we are committed to providing our students with the right academic environment for studying and collaborating,” said Mary DeLetter, interim dean of the School of Nursing. “This investment from ScionHealth helps us to provide students with an unrivaled nursing education environment. We can attract and retain the best nursing faculty to guide our students through today’s healthcare challenges. Great cities have great health sciences complexes, and this project is a catalyst for the University of Louisville School of Nursing to contribute excellent graduates to the community.”��

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“The Central High School Pre-Medical Magnet Program is what I’ve dreamed of being able to create since I graduated medical school,” said , assistant professor and director of maternal fetal medicine at UofL and provider with UofL Physicians – OB/GYN & Women’s Health. “This is a chance for students in west Louisville to not only know doctors that look like them, but to call them a mentor and friend.”

“UofL Health is proud to support Central High School and inspire the next generation of health care workers,” said Tom Miller, UofL Health CEO. “This program complements our commitment to reduce barriers to care by reducing barriers for employment. Together, with our , we are investing to ensure our community is well prepared for the future.”

The pre-medical pipeline program launched in August and offers educational opportunities, mentorship, college credit and hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships. Its creation is in partnership with UofL Health, the UofL School of Medicine, Falls City Medical Society and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS).

“I am so proud of our students and so excited to see their success,” Central High School Principal Dr. Tamela Compton said. “Our first pre-medical magnet class has already learned so much – from gaining hands-on first aid and emergency response experience in Central High School classrooms to scrubbing into surgeries at the hospital. Just two months into the program, these students are flourishing.”

More than 20 Central High seniors are currently rotating through different specialties, including OB/GYN, anesthesia and cardiothoracic surgery, while learning from UofL Health physicians and local physicians through the Falls City Medical Society. The Falls City Medical Society is committed to advancing the art and science of medicine for people of African descent and is playing a key role in ensuring student experience in the Pre-Medical Magnet Program is integrated into the Louisville physician community. Students shadow these physicians twice a week, earning college credit.

Later this month, the program will open up to Central High School juniors, who will rotate through each of the 10 core specialties.

“We are proud of our continued and strengthened partnership with Central High School and the opportunities it provides our faculty and students,” said Toni Ganzel, dean of the UofL School of Medicine. “Working alongside school administrators to enact quality learning for underserved youth is a strategic goal of the School of Medicine. We aim to fill our classrooms with diverse and talented students that reflect the world around us, and it is partnerships such as this that will create that transformative change.”

Students in the Central High School Magnet Career Academy (MCA) are selected for admission through a competitive process that includes achievement test scores, grade point average (GPA), personal essays and other teacher recommendations. Central has the second-highest number of Governor’s Scholars in the district. Central is one of two high schools in Kentucky to offer Montessori education.

“This program is already changing lives,” JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said. “Central’s pre-medical magnet students will graduate with knowledge many don’t gain until college. Opportunities like this are what we are working hard to provide to all JCPS students, so they graduate college and career ready.”

Backed by a new roughly $500,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the center will provide research, assessment, recommendations and workforce development to industries looking to adopt — or adapt to — the disruptive technology at the core of the fourth industrial revolution.��

UofL researcher Faisal Aqlan, who runs the center with colleagues Lihui Bai, Kunal Kate and Will Metcalf, said this revolution — also known as or Enterprise 4.0. — has the potential to radically transform a number of industries, and the benefits will go to companies that plan ahead.������

“Think of a smart factory, where all the machines can talk to each other and anticipate or even address problems,” said Aqlan, a center co-director and associate professor of industrial engineering at the . “Similar changes have happened in logistics and healthcare, where smart, connected technologies have helped increase productivity and accuracy, lower labor costs and improve safety. These technologies can greatly improve operations, but they have to be implemented correctly.”��

According to a recent , just 10% of companies had a long-range strategy for integrating these technologies — and those companies were innovating and growing faster. A full two thirds of companies surveyed had no formal strategy at all.������

“Strategy is absolutely critical to success in leveraging these technologies,” said Bai, a center co-director who also leads UofL’s Logistics and Distribution Institute (LoDI). “Our goal is to help companies understand where they are in terms of readiness —�� maybe they’re missing infrastructure or the workforce that’s needed to integrate and maintain. Then, UofL researchers will give them a solid roadmap to where they want to go.”����

CORE4.0 will engage three industry sectors including manufacturing, logistics and healthcare, through partnership with Western Kentucky University, Metals Innovation Initiative (Mi2) and Louisville Healthcare CEO Council. The center draws on the combined research strength of the UofL’s LoDI and the , with the industry expertise of the Louisville Healthcare CEO Council and the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2).��

“UofL and its partners represent significant earned experience and strength in each of these sectors, and with cutting-edge technology,” said Metcalf, a co-investigator and associate vice president in the UofL Office of Research and Innovation. “We look forward to working with industry to leverage that strength to enter Industry 4.0.”������

Industry leaders interested in working with the Center for Organizational Readiness toward Enterprise 4.0 can contact uofllogistics@louisville.edu.����

“We are partnering with UofL Health to bring additional resources and specialty expertise into our community,” said Kimberly Haverly, Carroll County Memorial Hospital CEO. “For our patients this means more care close to home and a seamless continuum of care for the most complex cases.”

CCMH is located in Carrolton, Kentucky, primarily serving the residents of Carroll, Trimble and Gallatin counties with a regional population close to 30,000. The hospital is located within a federally designated Medically Underserved Area.

“Reducing barriers to care and increasing access is part of the foundation for UofL Health. This partnership accomplishes both,” said Tom Miller, UofL Health CEO. “The providers and professionals at Carroll County Memorial Hospital have built a strong legacy of health care in the region and we are proud to join the team.”

UofL Health Physicians will see patients in CCMH’s specialty clinic, located within hospital, establish a routine appointment schedule depending on the need. Cardiology and vascular care were identified as immediate priorities, so appointments for those specialties are already being taken.

“Heart disease remains a top issue in Kentucky, but proactive care and regular exams can dramatically reduce risk and improve overall health,” said Dr. Henry Sadlo, a cardiologist with UofL Physicians. “Today’s heart patients have a lot more treatment options, I look forward to sharing my expertise with the Carroll County region.”

The partnership between UofL Health and Carroll County Memorial Hospital directly addresses a barrier to care identified in CCMH’s Community Health Needs Assessment: Lack of access to transportation for health services.

“I am seeing patients in Carroll County so they can receive care close to home,” said Amit Dwivedi, MD, a vascular surgeon with UofL Physicians. “My team will work in collaboration with CCMH’s family practice providers to enhance early detection and treatments to decreases the risk for vascular events, like aneurysm and strokes.”

Additional specialty care is also in the planning for Carroll County including neurology, radiology and utilizing UofL Health’s growing telemedicine program to further increase access. Alongside the patient care services UofL Health will also provide support services to CCMH including IT, supply chain and continuing education.

As a partner, Carroll County Memorial Hospital will help more communities have access to Academic health care.

Her desire to work in health care stems from the empathy and compassion nurses showed her during one of the most difficult times in her life. Abdulnur shares with UofL News more about her story and future career goals.

UofL News:��Describe how nurses influenced your decision to pursue the profession.

Abdulnur:��During my hospitalization for a [SLE] flare-up, I lost a lot of hope that I could pursue nursing due to my new diagnosis. However, I had a specific nurse, her name was Taylor – I could never forget – who encouraged me to keep going. Her words really inspired me and was most of the reason I decided to pursue nursing.

Nurses are so empathetic and compassionate, and seeing a first-hand example of this really widened my perspective and increased my respect towards the profession. I also observed the same when my grandmother was hospitalized for a severe stroke, and the nurses comforted us during an emotional time.

I was already considering a nursing major during that time due to my family history – my mom was a nurse in England, her mother in Jamaica, and there is just a long line of nurses in my family. I also have a passion for giving others hope and bringing them to their best selves.��

��UofL News:��What has surprised you about nursing school?

Abdulnur: I knew that nursing school would be hard, but no one really talks about how hard it can be mentally. There are so many things in our personal lives that can occur alongside school, and it almost feels like you are trying to juggle everything and stay afloat. Sometimes I find myself trying to take it day by day, or week by week because everything is so overwhelming. Things can be completely calm one week, and then the next it’s like you have three exams, eight assignments and a paper due within days. It really keeps you on your toes, especially when you are trying to balance school with aspects of your personal life.

UofL News:��Why did you choose UofL?

Abdulnur:��I chose UofL for two reasons: the proximity and scholarships. I am from Louisville, and I felt too connected with my family to be hours away from home. It’s nice to be able to separate my personal life from my school life and still be able to drive 15 or 20 minutes to see my family. It was also extremely helpful that UofL offers the Porter Scholarship for African-American and Hispanic students.

UofL News:��What is it like to be in nursing school during a pandemic?

Abdulnur:��It is extremely challenging. A major roadblock I hit was at the beginning of the pandemic when all classes were online. I do not learn well from recorded lectures; I have to physically be there in class. Because of this major change, my grades plummeted. I still passed, but it was a major setback. I had to completely modify how I learned and how I studied just to fit around the changes being made due to Covid. All of my classes are in person this semester, but even clinicals are altered, as we cannot shadow critical care units, the specialty I was most looking forward to, since I want to be an ER nurse.

UofL News:��What advice would you give someone considering nursing school?

Abdulnur:��I would tell them it is definitely worth it. Sometimes nursing can be challenging, but no good thing ever comes easy. There are so many rewarding moments, even as a student in clinicals where you realize that you love what you do. If you have a passion for nursing, all the studying and exams and stress will be worth it in the end – it already is worth it for me!

Adrianne Kelly contributed to this story.

The new Kentucky Digital Health Tech and Artificial Intelligence Innovation Coalition is backed by one of 60 phase-one planning grants awarded through the . As a finalist receiving phase-one funding, the coalition now will compete for up to $100 million in phase-two implementation funding.

The coalition is led by the Louisville Healthcare CEO Council (LHCC) and includes UofL, the Academy of Music Production ����ֱ�� and Development, Greater Louisville Inc., Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency, Louisville Metro Government, the Louisville Urban League and Metro United Way.

“This work will be transformative for our city and our region,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for��. “By bringing together a powerhouse research university and our community partners, we can build on our strengths and past success in health care, innovation and entrepreneurship to make a real impact.”

In phase one, the coalition partners will plan new workforce development, entrepreneurship, research, innovation and commercialization programming and supports centered on digital health care and artificial intelligence.

“Our goal is to establish the Louisville region as a national hub for digital health care and train a high-tech health care workforce,” said Tammy York Day, president and CEO of , which represents 14 of the region’s largest health care companies, including Humana Inc. and Kindred Healthcare.

This new effort builds on previous collaborations between UofL and LHCC to boost regional health care startups and innovation. Together, they run Aging 2.0, which supports programming, training and mentoring for aging and health care innovators and entrepreneurs.

“Louisville already has significant strength in all of these areas — in health care, technology and startups,” said Will Metcalf, an assistant vice president for research and innovation at UofL and a lead on the grant. “With this new funding from the EDA, we hope to build on that success and to promote economic development and equity.”

UofL supports entrepreneurs through its UofL New Ventures office, which works to launch and grow startups built around UofL intellectual property, through LaunchIt, a 10-week entrepreneurship and innovation boot camp and through a rotating roster of entrepreneurs-in-residence — seasoned founders who help guide the university’s research-backed technologies to market.

At LHCC, Aging 2.0 supports programming through the LHCC Corporate Innovation Center, housed on UofL’s downtown entrepreneurship and innovation campus. This includes LHCC’s Chairman’s Circle, a group of former health care executives available for entrepreneurial mentoring, and annual CareTech aging innovation pitch competition.

“P���ܲ�” leverages the unique academic and community-based health services to expanded care, including occupational medicine, Department of Transportation physicals and drug testing.

“The location is new, but the neighbors here are familiar faces,” said Tom Miller, CEO of UofL Health. “Over the last six years, UofL Health has taken care of more residents in west Louisville than any other hospital system, combined. We also have nearly 700 of our own employees, and their families, living in this area. This Urgent Care Plus benefits this Medically Underserved Area and brings the Power of U closer to their homes.”

In January, UofL Health kicked off a major expansion of its Urgent Care Plus, announcing plans to open five locations to increase access to affordable care and convenient hours across the community. The west Louisville site will be the fifth to open, following a $500,000 renovations and equipment investment.

“Accessible health care is an essential element of a healthy community,” said Neeli Bendapudi, UofL President and chair of UofL Health board of directors. “By expanding into west Louisville, UofL Health is living its commitment to better serve our entire community.”

Dr. Tamea Evans, UofL Physicians – Primary Care Associates, will lead the medical team at the new location.

“Taking care of patients is my profession, but breaking down barriers to improve health equity is my passion,” Evans said. “The location, and hours, of this Urgent Care Plus practice is essential to making quality care easy to access.”

Dr. Evans will be joined by Dr. Jamaal Richie, UofL Family Medicine Resident, who grew up two blocks from Virginia Avenue.

“I am excited about this opportunity to serve, and I am even more excited for those we will serve. Better access to care will save lives and change lives for generations to come,” Richie said.��

The west Louisville’s Urgent Care Plus will also include a dedicated telemedicine suite where patients can access UofL Health specialty care services such as neurology, psychiatry, and cardiology. A grand opening date is still being determined, but it is expected to open in early July.

UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus locations:

• Cedar Grove – 1707 Cedar Grove Road, Suite 10, Shepherdsville, KY 40165
• Dupont/St. Matthews – 908 Dupont Road, Louisville, KY 40207
• Hurstbourne – 9409 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40222 (opening in April)
• Medical Center Northeast – 2401 Terra Crossing Blvd, Louisville, KY 40245