• Health Equity Champion – Associate Professor in Pediatrics leads the School of Medicine’s distinction track for primary care, promoting the sustainability of care in Kentucky for communities vulnerable to the impacts of poverty and discrimination. As general pediatrician at the downtown Novak Center for Children’s Health, where she helps serve thousands of underrepresented patients, Porter is a passionate leader who is propelling the field of child health equity forward.

• Innovator – Jason Chesney, director and chief administrative officer of UofL Health-Brown Cancer Center is a practicing oncologist who has expanded his practice to include holistic wellness programs for patients and families and outreach programs to educate the community on health. With the goal of reducing Kentucky’s cancer death rate by 50% in the next ten years, he leads the Cancer Trials program at the center which is nationally recognized for testing novel cellular therapies and immunotherapies, attracting patients across the country.

• Innovator – Associate Professor Adam Gaweda has been harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to design clinical tools for real-world application since the early 2000’s, when he joined UofL’s Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension. Since then he has developed AI-guided clinical decision support software which has greatly enhanced the cost-effectiveness of anemia treatment and has been adopted by roughly 30% of the national market, creating a turning point for the treatment of dialysis patients and for the widespread use of AI in nephrology.

• Manager – , UofL’s executive vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, has been affiliated with UofL as an alum and a professor for more than three decades. Bumpous played a key role in the establishment of the department of Otolaryngology — Heck and Neck Surgery and uses his inclusive, service-minded leadership style to strengthen the forward-moving partnerships between academic and clinical medicine with his years of trusted expertise.

• Rising Star – Assistant Professor Bridgette Hittepole serves as associate director of UofL’s MD/PhD Physician Scientist Training Program, advancing medical education and excellence through mentorship of the field’s next generation of leaders. With a commitment to increase health awareness in the community, Hittepole also expanded the conventions of her practice as a founding member and treasurer of the Bluegrass Obesity Society and founded Louisville’s chapter of Walk with a Doc—an international organization that encourages lifestyle health through physical activity and educational social meetups in spaces like the Waterfront Park.
• Provider – Deborah Kozik, associate professorÌęin UofL’s Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon with Norton Healthcare, is completing a master’s program in bioethics from Harvard Medical School in May and plans to use this degree to help build and improve access to care for patients and families in our community.ÌęShe also is interested in finding ways to address the social determinants of health that affect patients.

The 2025 Health Care Heroes are profiled in the Feb. 28-March 6 edition of Louisville Business First and were honored at an in-person event at the Olmsted on Thursday, Feb. 27.

Through the Forty Under 40 program, LBF introduces readers to local professionals under the age of 40 who are flourishing in their careers and contributing to the local Louisville community. LBF honored this year’s class on Sept. 24, 2024, at a Galt House ceremony in downtown Louisville.

Brandeis School of Law

Alex White ’12 graduated with his juris doctor, which he now uses to support his devotion to personal injury law in his role as the owner of Alex R. White, PLLC.

Mashayla Hays ’15, ’18 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in pan-African studies and her juris doctor. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and was a Woodford R. Porter Scholar. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Brandeis School of Law and teaches law and government at Central High School.

“UofL invested in me and my dreams,” Hays said. “It’s because of my amazing professors that I felt prepared to go to law school after graduation. I am forever grateful for my time at UofL, the relationships I’ve built and the multitude of opportunities that I’ve been granted over the years. Being a Cardinal means that you embody resilience, and no matter the obstacle, you will persevere and strive for greatness.”

College of Arts and Sciences

Kyle Miller ’07 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science, later earning his juris doctor from Vanderbilt University. Today, Miller practices as a partner in the global data privacy and cybersecurity group for Dentons Bingham Greenebaum.

“My time at UofL formed who I am today,” Miller said. “UofL gave me a global outlook. I’m now a partner at the largest law firm in the world and manage global teams across countries and cultures. I’m proud to be a Cardinal.”

Communication major Katie Fussenegger ’09 works as the executive vice president at the Kentucky Derby Museum and is also the executive board chair for the Kentucky Travel Industry Association.

With bachelor’s degrees in communication and fine arts, Kappa Delta sorority member Megan Imel ’10 serves as the agent and owner of Megan Imel – State Farm, in addition to serving on the board of directors for The Cabbage Patch Settlement House.

After receiving a communication degree, Grace Flaherty ’16 took a role at the Obama Foundation as the manager of strategy and governance and coordinator to the office of Mrs. Obama. At UofL, Flaherty was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority and participated in two charitable dance marathons.

College of Business

Former Cardinal women’s basketball playerÌęÌę’12, ’14 earned her bachelor’s degree in business economics and her master of business administration at UofL. She now works as the manager of supplier diversity for Suntory Global Spirits, the third-largest producer of distilled beverages worldwide.

Business administration graduate Terry Hall ’10 works as the director of financial planning and analysis at Trilogy Health Services and as president of the Lesly & Rhyan Prather Foundation, which helps support women, children and families dealing with tragedy.

Nicole Wadell ’15, ’23 serves as senior director and partner of market growth support and marketing analytics at Confluent Health. Wadell earned her bachelor’s in communication, master of business administration and a certificate in managerial analytics at the university.

College of łÉÈËֱȄ and Human Development

Brigitte Burpo ’20 earned her doctorate in educational leadership, evaluation and organizational development with a specialization in sports administration. Burpo now serves as a clinical assistant professor in UofL’s department of health and sport sciences, where she focuses on race and gender in sports and athletics at historically Black colleges and universities.

Kent School of Social Work and Family Science

With both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work, Jaydee Graham ’15, ’16 serves as the business development manager at Aware Recovery Care where she is working to develop Kentucky’s first in-home addiction treatment program. Graham is also the author of “The Soul Grind” and “The Soul Grind II.”

Kelly Pullen ’07, ’10 serves as the executive director for SKY at Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, where she helps serve youth in Kentucky’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems. She earned her bachelor’s in political science and master’s in social work from UofL.

School of Medicine

With his master’s in biochemistry and doctorate of medicine, Jamaal Richie ’15, ’20 uses his training and experience as a resident physician within UofL Health to advocate for health equity and bridge gaps to ensure every member of the Louisville community receives the care they deserve. Additionally, Richie aims to serve as representation for diverse populations and inspire future generations of health professionals to see themselves in roles they may not have originally thought possible.

School of Public Health and Information Sciences

Keisha Dorsey ’09 holds a master’s degree in public health and has a record of public service in Louisville. Dorsey recently served as deputy chief of staff for the office of the mayor and in 2019 became the first millennial elected to the Louisville Metro Council where she represented District 3 for over four years.

Think you know the perfect person to represent UofL on next year’s list? You can for the 2025 Forty Under 40 class from now through Monday, March 31, 2025.

Original reporting for this piece and other alumni news can be found at .

Part of the growth in numbers comes as the result of major strides in the areas of affordability, access and equity, meaning Cardinals from a variety of backgrounds can take advantage of learning opportunities and experiences with reduced financial burden. This academic year, UofL announced theÌęexpansion of its Border Benefit AwardÌęthat allows students from some neighboring states to attend UofL at in-state tuition rates, along with the investment of $2.4 millionÌętoward the Cardinal Commitment Grant for in-state residents.

UofL jumped 15 places in the 2023-24 U.S. News and World ReportÌęÌęranking, from No. 146 to No. 131, and also topped the list of “best values” among national universities in Kentucky.ÌęIn the past few years, Cardinals have graduated with the second-lowest student debt among all Kentucky four-year public universities.

New leadership helps guide the way

Taking the helm in early 2023, UofL’s 19^th president, Kim Schatzel, spent six months in some 40 listening sessions to learn what was important to UofL’s students, staff and faculty, as well as community and government leaders.

She outlinedÌęher first eight prioritiesÌęin September, and those priorities became the basis for a new 2023-2025Ìę. Schatzel wasÌęofficially inauguratedÌęon Sept. 29 in a joyous ceremony filled with music and tradition that was held on The Oval outside Grawemeyer Hall. The historic event took place during UofL’s yearlong celebration of itsÌę225th anniversary.ÌęIn recognition of her leadership, Schatzel was named among LouisvilleÌęBusiness First’s Power 50Ìęfor 2024, which identifies the city’s most influential people in business and related communities. The Louisville Defender Newspaper also named Schatzel as one of the “Women Who Choose to Challenge” in the publication’s women’s history recognition edition.ÌęÌę

In spring 2024, the university chose Gerry Bradley as permanent executive vice president and university provost. No stranger to the Cardinal community, Bradley had served as dean of theÌęÌęsince 2016 and as interim provost since July 2023. He previously held that same role from January 2022 to February 2023.

Several other top leadership positions have been filled throughout 2023 and 2024, including: Karlis Kaugars, vice provost for information technology services and chief information officer; Dayna Touron, dean, ;ÌęJohn W. Miller Jr., dean, ; and Kathryn (Katie) Cardarelli,Ìę»ć±đČčČÔ, . This summer, Whitney Nash becomes dean of the , which celebrates 50 years of educating and preparing nurses for distinctive careers.

UofL also welcomed Pat Kelsey to lead the men’s basketball program, infusing excitement and enthusiasm into Card Nation.

Renovations, new infrastructure boost student success

The university is updating facilities and building new infrastructure to ensure students have the physical space to unleash their potential.

°Őłó±đÌęCenter for Military-Connected StudentsÌędebuted its newly renovated offices in Brodschi Hall on Belknap Campus. The center focuses on meeting the needs of the more than 2,300 military-connected students enrolled at UofL. At the , construction of a new four-story, $90 million student success hub is underway. It will help us produce the next generation of engineers.

And thanks to a tremendously successful legislative session, the state budget appropriated $260 million toward a new Health Sciences Center Campus simulation center and collaboration hub. That’s the largest amount of funding for a single project in UofL’s history. It also is the largest project being funded in Louisville and represents the most general fund support for any single project among Kentucky’s colleges and universities this session. UofL also received about $69 million for needed repairs on some existing facilities.

UofL’s research and innovation powerhouse flourishes

Research and innovation continued to soar to new heights in academic year 2023-24. Just a few highlights were:

• More than $22 million in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration was awarded to the Schools ofÌęMedicine ($16 million)ČčČÔ»ćÌęNursing ($6.5 million)Ìęfor physician and nurse training to help increase Kentuckians’ access to health care, particularly in underserved rural and urban areas. Ìę
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded four grants totaling $11.6 million to researchers affiliated with UofL’sÌęto study factors affecting heart health. Through these projects, they hope to better understand how environmental exposures and tobacco products can affect the cardiovascular system, as well as how remodeling takes place in the heart after a heart attack.
• UofL researcher Cheri Levinson has received an $11.5 million grant from the NIH to continue her work addressingÌęthe devastating effects of eating disorders.
• UofL researchers Susan Harkema, Charles Hubscher and collaborators recently won a $1 million grant from the NIH aimed at helping spinal cord injury patients regain function. They are now among four teams exclusively invited to participate in another competition with a potential prize pool of $5 million.
• More than 100 UofL researchers are among the top 2% most-cited in the world, according to a newÌęcompiled by Stanford University and Elsevier. Citations show the value other researchers around the globe place on UofL research.
• Research conducted in UofL’s Micro/Nano Technology Center is investigating whether the antibacterial properties ofÌęcicada wingsÌęcan be turned into an antimicrobial for use in places like food service, health care facilities and medical devices.Ìę
• More than 80 of UofL’s top researchers, scholars and artistsÌęwere honoredÌęin October at the 2023 Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Awards ceremony.
• Four University of Louisville innovators have been selected by the prestigious National Academy of Inventors for its 2024 class of SeniorÌęMembers.ÌęThe four inventors selected from UofL–the only ones from Kentucky–are:ÌęThad Druffel, Nobuyuki Matoba, Thomas Roussel and Jagannadh Satyavolu.

Commitment to serve, transform the communityÌę

Throughout the 2023-24 academic year, Cardinals have utilized knowledge and resources to advance the mutual needs of the university and the community. Earlier this spring, more than 400 students danced for 18 hours at the annual raiseRED łŸČč°ùČčłÙłóŽÇČÔ.Ìę

The students raised more than $516,000 for Norton Children’s Cancer Institute and the . This is UofL’s largest student philanthropic effort. It has raised more than $5 million in its 11-year history.

In the mean time, former firefighter James Cripps was awarded one of the Ìęfor teaching firefighters throughout Kentucky about occupational cancer and mitigation strategies. A manufacturing administrator at the UofL HealthÌę, he hopes to eliminate some of those risks.

, meanwhile, celebrated a milestone:Ìę200 yearsÌęof compassionate care, medical innovation and serving the underserved. It was Kentucky’s first hospital, first admitting patients in a facility downtown in 1823. Now, to address a real need for citizens south and west of Louisville, UofL Health recently cut the ribbon on UofL Health – South Hospital in Bullitt County just off Interstate 65.

As part of UofL’s ongoing effort to collaborate with five K-12 schools in West Louisville, Central High School Pre-Medical Magnet Program students received white coats this spring, recognizing their hard work and encouraging them to stay focused on their goals. Students shadow UofL doctors and get to practice performing simpler procedures, like sutures, through this immersive curriculum.

Recently, UofL’s McConnell Scholars and others heard a presentation by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, who spoke about the importance of respect and trust in building relationships to address the country’s most pressing issues. A guest of the McConnell Center, Britt spoke as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series. Celebrating its 30th year, the center also broughtÌęOksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, to Belknap Campus Oct. 30. She gave a public talk and met separately with the McConnell Scholars.

Students begin their next chapter at commencement

On May 11, more than 2,000 of the approximately 3,100 students who applied for degrees and certificates, will go across the stage at the KFC Yum! Center signifying their academic success.

This Commencement holds particular significance for the high school class of 2020, which graduated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, it will be their first chance to celebrate their educational achievement by taking part in a complete traditional ceremony.

UofL President Kim Schatzel will preside at both the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. ceremonies. °Őłó±đÌęÌęalso will host a doctoral hooding and graduation ceremony for more than 100 graduates at 2 p.m. Friday, May 10, on Belknap Campus in the Swain Student Activities Center (SAC) Ballroom, second floor. All of these ceremonies will be broadcast live atÌę.

Schatzel was named among Louisville for 2024, which identifies the city’s most influential people in business and related communities. She secured a position on the fourth annual edition of the list after being included in the publication’s “Five on the Rise” in 2023.

Arriving at UofL in February 2023, Schatzel hit the ground running with more than 40 listening sessions that included 1,200 people both on campus and in the community. The listening tour resulted in plans to increase student success, enhance research and innovation and raise the university’s profile in the community and beyond, which she laid out in eight priorities for her first full semester as , all before her inauguration on Sept. 29.

Louisville Business First selected the Power 50 from individuals nominated by the public and those covered in the publication’s own reporting and sourcing, which did not include elected officials.

Returning to the Power 50 list is , who has led the university’s academic health system since early 2019. Miller led the integration of the hospitals and medical centers of the former KentuckyOne Health into the organization, creating one of the city’s largest health systems and its only academic medical center. Miller currently is overseeing the construction of UofL Health – South Hospital to increase access to health care for residents of Bullitt County and southern Jefferson County.

The 2024 Power 50 list also includes major university donors Christina Lee Brown and Steve Trager. Brown provided foundational funding for the UofL Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute and New Vision of Health Campus in downtown Louisville. The Trager family funded the UofL Trager Institute/Republic Bank Foundation Optimal Aging Clinic, the Trager Center indoor athletic practice facility and the Trager MicroForest Project at Founder’s Square.

Former UofL Trustees Junior Bridgeman, Sandra Frazier, Kevin Cosby and Phoebe Wood – all of whom made the list in 2023 – are on the list again in 2024.

UofL alumni also wield power in the community, and a dozen made the Power 50 list in 2024:

• Junior Bridgeman, ’75, Owner, Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Bridgeman Sports and Media
• Russell Cox, ’81, President and CEO, Norton Healthcare Inc.
• Steve Trager, ’85, Chairman, Republic Bank & Trust Co. and CEO, Republic Bankcorp Inc.
• Earl Winebrenner, ’88, Managing Member, Winebrenner Capital Management LLC
• Kevin Cogan, ’79, Owner/CEO, Jefferson Development Group
• Condrad Daniels, ’03, President, HJI Supply Chain Solutions
• Chris Dischinger, ’90, Co-founder and Principal, LDG Development
• Ryan Bridgeman, ’04, President and CEO, Manna Inc.
• Debbie Ford, ‘87, Chancellor, Indiana University Southeast
• Todd Spencer, ’93, Executive Chairman, Doe-Anderson
• Andre Kimo Stone Guess, ’90, President & CEO, Fund for the Arts
• John Hollenbach, ’16, Managing Partner, Hollenbach Oakley

Marcus Withers, ‘00, owner, MKM Investment Group and The Property Group LLC, and dealer principal, Withers Automotive, was on the list of business and community leaders LBF believes will make waves in the coming year.

A profile of each of the honorees will be published in print and online March 29.

The publication recognized the particular magnitude of their leadership in a year filled with unprecedented challenges – from the COVID-19 global pandemic to widespread protests against racial injustices.Ìę

As the : “It’s a time for people in charge to rally employees, adapt and make the best out of a pretty awful year. It’s the kind of moxie that the 25 CEOs profiled in the attached collection, and it’s what makes them special leaders in Louisville.”Ìę

Those of us tied to the University of Louisville are quite familiar with President Bendapudi’s moxie. We also know she’s a special leader. And we know she deserves a place on this list for navigating those challengesÌę– leading the shift to remote learning and operations (a shift that affected most of UofL’s 22,700 employees and about 22,000 students), and taking a firm stance against racism by declaring UofL’s intent to become the “.”Ìę

In an interview, President Bendapudi described her leadership style as “open and collaborative.” She also said she hopes she brings humility to the job, “first by acknowledging I do not have all the answers; second by surrounding myself with people who have complementary expertise; and finally by always asking whose voices and perspectives are not at the table when making decisions.”

When asked what would make Louisville better, President Bendapudi said if we made an effort to be truly inclusive, “to get to know people as people, beyond our superficial differences.”Ìę

Below is part of her Q&A with Louisville Business First:Ìę

What is the best thing about being a CEO? What’s the worst?

The best thing is serving people by moving the organization further toward fulfilling its mission. The hardest thing (maybe not the “worst”) is balancing the concerns of the many different constituents I serve.

Others noticed, too. More than half of this year’s Forty Under 40 list, published by Louisville Business First, are University of Louisville graduates – some with multiple degrees earned here.

The 21 alumni representing many career paths were chosen from more than 500 nominations in the 25^th annual program the publication described as “honoring the region’s up-and-coming young leaders under the age of 40.”Ìę

They are among the 1,000 honored in the quarter-century of the recognition program.

Here are the 21 Cardinals making the 2020 list:

Marea Ingwersen Aspillaga ’05, 08
Whitney Austin ’03, ’09
Lonita Baker ’03, ’06, ’17
Georgia Connally ’15, ’18
Dani Fowles ’09, ’14
Luke Haire ’09
Dr. Jeffrey Howard ’14
Dr. Steven Kniffley Jr, ’08
Elizabeth McCall ’07, ’09
Mo McKnight Howe ’08
Curtis Nelson III ’03, ’06
OJ Oleka ’10
Nimish Patel ’06
Mike Slaton ’06
Dr. Monalisa Tailor ’10
Matt Ward ’12
Cassandra Webb ’12
Lindsay Wehr ’03, ’09
Janna Woodfork ’07
Matthew Yates ’08
Darryl Young Jr. ’12

Check out the complete list of honorees . Business First announced it will run the honorees’ profiles in its Sept. 25 issue.

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The program recognizes women who “” This year’s honorees demonstrated the following characteristics:

• Community and civic engagement
• Business management
• Mentoring
• Inspirational leadership
• Volunteerism
• Entrepreneurship
• Innovation
• Executive leadership

More than 100 nominations were submitted.Ìę

Other 2020 honorees include (alphabetically):Ìę

The UofL-related honorees are Mary Ellen Wiederwohl ’96;ÌęSharon Kerrick ’03, ’04, ’08; Eden Bridgeman ’08;ÌęAimee Jewell ’13; and Jessica Bird, a friend and supporter of the university.

Wiederwohl, a School of Music graduate, is the chief of Louisville Forward and was recognized as the “Woman of Influence.”Ìę

Kerrick, dean of the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University, was recognized as “Mentor of the Year” by the publication.Ìę

Bridgeman, chief marketing officer of Manna Inc., and Jewell, engagement specialist for Leadership Louisville Center and president of the Young Professional Association of Louisville, were both named “Women to Watch.”Ìę

Finally, Bird, a New York Times bestselling author for her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, was recognized as a “Woman of Achievement.” She is a supporter of the UofL and is involved in UofL Athletics as both a football and basketball ticket holder.Ìę

For more, visit .Ìę

They are:

• Innovator Winner – Susan Harkema, PhD, professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, UofL School of Medicine; associate scientific director, ; director of research, Frazier Rehab Institute

Harkema was honored for her research and ongoing commitment to the study of human locomotion. She has dedicated her career to the exploration of technology and development of therapies that will allow individuals with spinal cord injury to recover.

• Innovator Finalist – Walter Sobczyk, MD, pediatric cardiologist, University of Louisville, , Norton Children’s Hospital; associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, UofL School of Medicine

A finalist in the innovator category, one of Sobczyk’s career highlights was the pioneering work of his pediatric cardiology group to use computer technology to transmit cardiac ultrasounds remotely from small community hospitals throughout the state of Kentucky. This important advancement helped provide high-level care to underserved areas of the state.

• Provider Winner – Erle Austin III, MD, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, University of Louisville, ; professor and vice-chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, UofL School of Medicine

As winner of the provider category, Austin has spent his career as a physician-educator and surgeon treating adults and children in need of congenital heart repairs. The ability to positively impact a person’s health quickly, along with the challenge of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery made the specialty particularly appealing to him.

• Provider Finalist – Christian Davis Furman, MD, geriatrician, ; professor of geriatric & palliative medicine; interim chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Palliative Medicine and Medical łÉÈËֱȄ, UofL School of Medicine; Margaret Dorward Smock Endowed Chair in Geriatric Medicine; medical director, UofL Trager Institute

Furman was recognized as a finalist in the provider category for her work in the field of geriatrics. She still makes home visits and in her Q&A with Business First says the most rewarding part of her job is bringing together patients and families to discuss goals of care and advance care planning.

Read more about the Healthcare Hero finalists and winners on the .

The article examined Postel’s work since taking the reins nearly nine months ago amidst growing controversies, such as a $48 million budget deficit, academic probation from the university’s accrediting body, and an FBI investigation into the men’s basketball program.

“I’ve been at the university a long time and I wouldn’t have agreed to do this if I didn’t care so much about the place,” Postel told the publication.

Highlights from the interview include:

• Postel’s family, including wife Sally, twin 7 year olds and golden doodle, help him balance a work/life schedule.

“I spend time with them every day. I get a good night’s sleep every night. I get up early and exercise 
 I eat well. I’m organized 
 I think that people who are organized and rested and balanced are able to stay sharp.”

• Postel hopes to continue a tuition freeze, but it is still early in the budget development process and no decision has been made yet. “Our goal is to make school as affordable as possible,” he said.

• Postel also offered a piece of advice to new UofL graduates: “View your education as a tool, not a confining instrument 
 Stay open to possibilities and opportunities.”

• Finally, Postel said he tries to motivate employees by setting an example.

“If I’m trying to be fair and I’m in the office early and working hard and answering emails quickly and trying to raise money and doing the right kind of things, I hope people see that and try to do the same thing,” he said.

The entire profile on the 55-year-old Canton, Ohio, native is available on the Business First website.

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