“Dr. Smith is ideally suited for this next evolution for UofL Health,” said Gerry Bradley, University of Louisville president and UofL Health board chair. “He is a trusted leader within the organization, among colleagues and throughout the community. That, along with his clinical and administrative expertise, provides a unique skillset to lead our system and the team to deliver the best care to those we serve.”

“I am both humbled and honored to lead this team – one built on a foundation of academic excellence, compassionate care and community partnership – working each day to better the health of the communities and commonwealth we serve,” Smith said. “Over the past decade, I have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary dedication of our physicians, nurses, staff and academic partners. Together, we have faced some of the most complex challenges in modern health care, yet through our shared mission, we have continued to expand access, improve outcomes, and strengthen our system for the patients and families who depend on us. This is a pivotal time for UofL Health and for the commonwealth we serve. I am inspired by what we have accomplished and energized by what lies ahead. Together, we will continue to build a stronger, more resilient and more innovative health system for the future of Kentucky.”

Smith joined the faculty at the UofL School of Medicine in 2008 after completing medical school and residency at The Ohio State University. He earned his PhD in physiology and biophysics from the University of Louisville and received a Master of Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He is board-certified in general surgery and critical care. He was recently awarded the Paragon Award from the Greater Louisville Medical Society for outstanding contributions to health care leadership, advocacy for gun violence victims and his commitment to the education of future physicians.

As CEO of UofL Health, Smith will lead a regional academic health system made up of nine hospitals, four medical centers, Brown Cancer Center and Eye Institute. UofL Health has 250 locations in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, with more than 1,200 providers. With his appointment, UofL Health becomes the only physician-led health system in the region.

“As a combined system, UofL Health has had a tremendous impact in a short period of time. As we transition into our new future, our focus will remain clear: to sustain our financial health, support our workforce, and advance our academic mission so that every patient receives the highest quality of care—close to home, from a team that reflects the very best of this community,” Smith said.

Now, the Charlottesville native is finding that his new life mission is calling him back to Louisville, this time to campus as a PhD student in UofL’s����

“After rehab, it was a soul-searching moment for me,” said Jones. “I had to realize or redefine what my purpose was, and why I believe I was put here.”��

A public speaking engagement at UofL Health – UofL Hospital about his journey back to wellness became a turning point for Jones. “The impact it had on the people I spoke to resonated with me and so I am continuing to pull that thread to see what happens,” he said.��

Jones, who completed his master’s degree in educational psychology at University of Virginia, said after researching��UofL’s PhD program in��, he knew his next step and the right space to do it. Jones remembered how he and his family felt embraced by UofL Health and the local community.

“It spoke volumes about the type of city Louisville is,” said Jones. “This has been one of those rare moments that checked all the boxes – the community, people and academic pursuit were all exactly what I desired.”��

Jones hopes to create a global non-profit working with kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, like the one where he grew up. “It was a very impoverished area with few opportunities for individuals in those spaces,” he said. “I always wanted to better understand the mental struggles and stresses and learn more about the trauma of my childhood. How would it be to pay that forward to the younger generation so they don’t have to face the same hurdles?”

A bit of a Renaissance man, Jones is not only a scholar and an athlete, but a writer and musician, as well. His memoir will be published in November, and in addition to beginning his new doctoral program at UofL, Jones plans to take on more speaking engagements to share his story. “I want to build upon that because I just feel like I have an opportunity to really impact a lot of people’s lives,” he said.��

“When I was 19, I was struggling just trying to afford everything and living in Old Louisville, and working so many jobs that I would have to take two buses,” Stone said. “I remember riding the bus and going down Chestnut Street looking past the Health Sciences Center campus and saying to myself, ‘You know what? I will work here one day.’”

She worked in New York and San Diego before returning to Louisville to pursue her goal.

Stone, a graduate of UofL’s biology and nursing programs, most recently worked at on the Neuro-ICU. She now is part of the inaugural sixteen student-cohort of ��

“UofL always prepares us clinically, so I knew the new Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Program would be high-quality,” she said. “When I saw the CVs of our NA professors with their vast knowledge and experience, I was in awe and knew that’s where I wanted to be.’”

Stone said she is drawn to the one-on-one kind of patient care experience that being a nurse anesthetist will provide, something she found inspiring during her time in a COVID ICU in 2020.

“During the pandemic, when I cared for someone, I was with them for several hours,” she said. “It sparked something within me, and I knew this was dedicated high-quality care.”

Once she had the opportunity to shadow a CRNA, she was sold on becoming a nurse anesthetist and enrolled in new program which is seeking to meet a health care need, in collaboration with UofL Health. It is estimated that more than will be needed��through 2031 to meet rising care demand. CRNAs represent the majority of anesthesia providers in rural counties throughout the United States.

Individuals taking part in UofL’s 36-month program are all bachelor’s-prepared RNs with an average of four years of critical care experience. Their training will prepare them to provide safe, competent and ethical anesthesia and anesthesia-related care. The program requires a minimum of 2,880 hours in some of Louisville’s top ranked hospitals, as well as clinical rotations in rural Kentucky communities including Owensboro, Corbin, Hazard and Lake Cumberland.

“Through the hard work and dedication of School of Nursing faculty and staff, along with our partner UofL Health and its anesthesia community, I am thrilled that this long-awaited program has come to fruition,” said Cheryl Parker, director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program.

Kamilia Stone also is thrilled. “I love this, and I know this new challenge is going to be the right fit for me because when I have a patient, I’m so detail oriented I want everything to be done just right – I want to provide this quality of care that is like a fine jewel.”

For more information about the CRNA program, visit the School of Nursing��.

I want to make sure to recognize and appreciate the heroic actions of those in our community who responded quickly, bravely and professionally in the early moments of the horrific attack and throughout the day.��

I know you all join me in offering our tremendous gratitude to the courageous officers of Louisville Metro Police Department who rushed into the Old National Bank Building, saving lives while putting themselves at great risk.

Within minutes, officers from our own UofL Police Department arrived to support LMPD. These brave members of our community worked quickly with LMPD to secure the scene itself as well as throughout the hospital district. I cannot say it often enough how greatly I appreciate our colleagues – the officers of ULPD – as each day they work tirelessly to keep our community safe.

We all recognize with deep gratitude the efforts of our colleagues at UofL Health – UofL Hospital��– the trauma doctors, nurses and staff – who provided outstanding emergency medical care to those injured in the attack and continue to care for them. In our darkest moments, these heroes, as well as other first responders, exhibited true bravery and professionalism in serving their fellow citizens. I feel, as I know we all do, humbled by their actions and grateful to all of them.��

I want to remind everyone that asking for help, especially in times of trauma and stress, is a most important part of recovery. Help is available for those needing additional support. Students can call our����at 502-852-6585 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or access�� other options at��. Counseling for our faculty and staff is available through our Employee Assistance Program provider, Anthem EAP. Call��800-865-1044 or go to����> Select “Member Log In” > Type “University of Louisville.”����

As we all work to find a path forward in the midst of this tragedy, although I have only been a part of UofL for less than three months, I have great faith in our Cardinal and Louisville communities. I have quickly learned that Cardinals stick together, especially when they need each other most. Please take an extra moment to care for yourself, your classmates and your colleagues, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the university for support.

Sincerely,

Kim Schatzel, Ph.D.
President

James says for patients who must learn to navigate life from a wheelchair, the costs to prepare a home can be unaffordable, particularly for those who are already facing poverty.

“It is heart-wrenching to know that patients and their families are faced with paying for needs like wheelchair ramps all on their own – and insurance doesn’t cover it,” she said.

This gap in need and ability to pay led James to start a non-profit organization in 2020 called Pushing Forward Inc. The organization helps provide wheelchair ramps for those with spinal cord injuries due to violence or motor vehicle accidents. To date, Pushing Forward Inc. has received a few grants, and nearly a dozen individuals and their families have received financial assistance for ramps, along with other needs like transfer shower benches, toilet risers and safe driving equipment.

James was pursuing a Master of Science in Health Administration degree when she began the journey to start a non-profit. She credits SPHIS faculty and students for supporting her, and explains how information she learned in class was extremely timely.

“Things like gaining an understanding of how policies affect patients, how to start a business plan and aspects of marketing – I learned the information one day and applied the knowledge the next day,” she said.

Now James is working to grow her base of support and funders to assist more low-income patients. She hopes to eventually address other issues like housing.

“Already there is not enough housing in Louisville,” she said. “Many of those coming out of the hospital with these debilitating injuries are young adults and there aren’t many places they can go.”

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