Advancing Kentucky Together

Our Commonwealth, Our Common Health

The University of Kentucky’s vision and mission is to advance Kentucky in every way that improves the quality of life for the people of the Commonwealth. Ultimately, the single greatest challenge to that goal is ensuring a healthy state.

Health in this context means physical health — the treatment of disease and the prevention of it. But it also, importantly, means well-being, quality of life and economic vitality by growing and sustaining a skilled workforce. These broad definitions of health are interconnected and, in so many ways, inextricably linked. To advance Kentucky, its university — the University of, for and with Kentucky — must work together with, and in support of, partners to advance the health in the Commonwealth.

CR1: Advancing Kentucky Together A Call to Action

During the October 2024 UK Board of Trustees retreat, the Board directed President Capilouto to take the next critical steps in our mission to advance Kentucky by focusing the institution’s capacity and strategic efforts on becoming the university that — along with partners — does more than anyone in the country to improve the health of the state that it serves.

Read the Board's resolution (CR1: Advancing Kentucky Together) here.

Specifically, the resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees following more of a day-and-a-half of meetings directed President Capilouto and the university to:

Grow Kentucky's health-related workforce

Develop a specific growth strategy aimed at responding to the health-related workforce needs and shortages in Kentucky. The growth strategy should include capacity needs — in terms of talent and infrastructure — to support these efforts.

Partner Advancing Kentucky Together Network

Formally launch and expand statewide the Advancing Kentucky Together Network. This is the Evolution of our affiliation model, applied not only to providers but to communities — their holistic health, workforce and education needs.

Engage Extension offices and communities

Formalize, launch and expand deeper connections with communities, the university, UK HealthCare and UK’s Cooperative Extension Service. Extension offices across the state can enhance and expand engagement in the delivery of broad-based health services. But we know we need to communicate better about what they do and what they can do — in and with communities.

Expand Research capacity and growth

UK’s research capacity must expand if we are to advance Kentucky’s health. That will require the recruitment and retention of researchers who have attracted external funding and can compete for additional resources that will drive discovery. It will also necessitate a new research facility — co-located with the institution’s other health-related research centers — that will support research growth.

We are focused squarely and strategically on the holistic health needs of the state. Doing that successfully is the single most important way we can advance this state.

Eli Capilouto

President

Follow Our Progress

This effort will involve every corner and college of our campus. It will compel us to extend our outreach, listening to — and engaging with — collaborators in hospitals, county courthouses and health departments, K-12 schools and civic organizations. Follow along as we advance Kentucky together through strategic growth, more partnerships, greater engagement and expanded research opportunities.

Advancing Kentucky Together Network

The Advancing Kentucky Together Network is the next evolution of our partnership model and expands our efforts to address dramatically growing health, education and workforce needs across the state.

Learn More About the Network

Partner Advancing Kentucky Together Network

More Good News

Meet the people across our community who advance Kentucky

Email	pres@uky.edu
Phone	859-257-1701
Fax	859-257-1760