Greetings, and welcome to the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences, where we proudly serve as the Gateway to the Health Professions.
For more than a decade, I have had the privilege of being part of this College, and during this time I have seen firsthand what makes it special: Dedicated and outstanding teachers and mentors, amazingly successful scholars, committed staff members, and talented students who continually inspire us through their passion and potential.
I believe deeply in this College, in our mission and in our people. I believe in preparing the next generation of healthcare practitioners through outstanding teaching, innovative research, healing and compassionate clinical care. I believe in the work happening here every day and in the potential that exists for an even greater impact in the future.
An Exciting Future
As we look ahead, I see tremendous opportunities. We have exciting growth on the horizon through expanded educational spaces, new programs, evolving research initiatives and continued development of strong clinical and community partnerships. We will approach this growth incrementally, with calculated strategies. And along the way, it will be important to celebrate success — both the visible accomplishments and the many unseen contributions that happen every day and help move our College forward.
As Dean, I have the privilege of leading a college deeply rooted in a mission of service: To help the people of the Commonwealth and beyond achieve the highest possible level of health. That is our north star — and in every classroom, lab, clinic and rural community we reach, that mission comes to life through the work of our students, faculty, researchers and friends.
And the need for that work has never been more urgent.
Helping the Commonwealth
Here in Kentucky — a state ranked 44th in overall health outcomes — the people we serve face disproportionate burdens from chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Our region needs more healthcare professionals, and it needs them now. That’s why the College of Health Sciences is stepping forward to help lead the way — and training the next generation of compassionate, skilled and innovative healthcare leaders.
With more than 1,660 students across five departments and multiple campuses, our programs are nationally recognized for academic excellence and clinical preparation. This momentum has brought us to an important milestone: We’re preparing to move into the new Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building, a 500,000-plus square-foot, state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open in 2027. This space will house four health colleges — Medicine, Public Health, Health Sciences, and Nursing — along with the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education.
This co-location will fuel collaborative learning, advanced simulation experiences and cross-disciplinary problem-solving, all critical to the future of healthcare.
The Science of Healthcare
But our responsibility doesn’t stop at education. Our research programs — supported by over $40 million in active funding — are helping solve some of the Commonwealth’s most pressing health challenges. From the Center for Muscle Biology and the BioMotion Lab to the Sports Medicine Research Institute and the Telehealth Education and Research Center, we are asking, and answering, big questions about how to improve lives through science.
Across our labs and clinics, we bring discovery to the bedside, the training room and the communities that need it most. This translational research is driven by passion, purpose and partnerships — and every project helps move Kentucky forward.
Delivering for Kentucky
We are not just preparing health professionals — we are shaping the future of healthcare in Kentucky and beyond. This is a shared responsibility, and everyone in the College has a role to play. Whether you are a student exploring your first anatomy course, a faculty member designing new ways to care for rural patients, or a staff member providing therapy — your work matters here. And it matters to the people of this state.
We are growing. We are leading. And we are following the path that has been laid before us.
Thank you for visiting the College of Health Sciences. If you are a prospective student, a proud alum, a community partner, or simply someone who believes in the power of health equity — I invite you to walk with us.
Because here in the College of Health Sciences, we don’t just imagine a healthier Kentucky — we help build it.
Go Cats!
Phillip Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA
Phillip.gribble@uky.edu
Dean,
College of Health Sciences
Professor,
Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition
University of Kentucky
Office of the Dean
Charles T. Wethington, Jr., Building, Room 123
900 South Limestone
Lexington, KY 40536-0200
Phone: (859) 218-0480
Fax: (859) 323-1058