Kentucky has a severe shortage of health care providers, with at least some portion of 113 of the state’s 120 counties designated as , including parts of Jefferson County.

“These kinds of workforce pipeline grants are truly transformative and will make a lasting and tangible impact on the health and wellness of Kentuckians for generations to come,” said Interim Provost Gerry Bradley. “Our highly trained and committed nursing faculty are advancing the work that enables us to continue in our effort to expand access to high quality and diverse health care across the entire Commonwealth.”Ěý

School of Nursing Interim Dean Mary DeLetter says she’s proud of the nursing faculty who worked tirelessly to secure these grants that benefit nursing students, the nursing profession and ultimately, citizens across the state.

“These programs support opportunities to enhance clinical training and bring superior nursing care to all corners of the Commonwealth, from rural Appalachia to urban Jefferson County to rural western Kentucky counties,” she said.

Of the total grant funding, $3.9 million was awarded to Heather Mitchell, associate professor and interim associate dean for the undergraduate and pre-licensure programs, and her team to develop an accelerated LPN-to-BSN pathway for nurses in medically underserved areas of Kentucky. The program is a statewide collaboration between the UofL School of Nursing and the , and will also include academic-practice collaborations with three large health systems across Kentucky —, and . The grant will support scholarships for up to 83 students to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Ěý

“Our objective is to address the shortage of practice-ready registered nurses by increasing access to baccalaureate nursing education across Kentucky. This collaborative effort will provide an opportunity for licensed practical nurses to accelerate their pathway to RN licensure and meet workforce needs in medically underserved areas of Kentucky,” Mitchell said. “When I think about the impact we will have on nurses’ and patients’ lives, and for generations to come, knowing that we are making a difference out in those communities is so meaningful to me. This is why I do what I do.”

A second $2.6 million HRSA grant was awarded to Sara Robertson, associate professor and interim associate dean for the DNP and APRN programs, for “Advancing Diversity and Health Equity in the Primary Care and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Workforce.” Robertson is partnering with the , , and Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation. The goal is to increase the education of nurse practitioners from diverse populations, including underrepresented minorities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We want the nurse practitioner workforce to more closely mirror the population of Kentucky in terms of diversity and enable NPs from rural areas in the state to earn an APRN degree and provide high quality health care in their own rural areas across the Commonwealth,” Robertson said. “To be able to offer scholarships for students whose dream is to work with vulnerable and rural populations is impactful. This funding will help make their dreams of becoming a nurse practitioner a reality and at the same time, improve access to quality health care across the state of Kentucky.”

View the from the Dec. 4 press conference.Ěý

This is the latest community dental practice under UofL management, with other locations in Elizabethtown, Louisville, Paducah and Shelbyville. Under the partnership, the practice will be known as Community Dental Clinic In Cooperation With UofL Dental Care.

The modern, 3,500 square foot dental clinic was established in 2009. It serves patients in the seven-county Green River district who do not have commercial dental insurance. Currently, the clinic is the only dental provider in the Owensboro area accepting new patients with Medicaid over the age of 3.

After the transition, services will continue to be provided by a licensed dentist or a UofL School of Dentistry student under the supervision of a licensed dentist. This will be a clinical rotation site for dental students who will learn alongside licensed dentists, gaining valuable experiences that help them become better dentists when they graduate.

Margaret Hill, interim dean of the UofL School of Dentistry, says the partnership is a natural extension of the school’s mission.

“We are expanding access to dental care across Kentucky. The Owensboro clinic provides an excellent opportunity to do that because it is designed to serve, and will continue to serve, low-income patients who have Medicaid or no dental insurance,” Hill said.

Suzanne Craig, chair of the Community Dental Clinic board of directors, says the partnership with UofL will benefit patients in several ways.

“This partnership will help to expand our mission and serve more patients as a whole,” she said. “It will provide the clinic with additional people and resources from the UofL School of Dentistry to support patient care at the clinic and outreach activities, including increased number of free dental screenings in local schools.”

Craig notes that the partnership will further benefit patients who require advanced care from a dental specialist.

“Affiliation with UofL will make it easier for patients to access the expertise of specialty programs within the School of Dentistry less than two hours away in Louisville.”

The University of Louisville also operates a nursing education program in Owensboro. The began as a partnership between UofL and Owensboro Health, providing students in the Owensboro area with the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in a traditional format.

With this new partnership, Kentucky’s premier metropolitan university is creating an even stronger connection with the Commonwealth’s fourth-largest city.

“Since its establishment in 1887, the UofL School of Dentistry has trained most dentists practicing in Kentucky. Many of our graduates have made the Owensboro area their home, and it’s only natural for us to establish roots there, as well,” Hill said.Ěý