Greetings, and welcome to the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences — where we proudly serve as the Gateway to the Health Professions.
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.
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.
A College in Motion: Growing to Meet the Moment
This is an incredibly exciting time to be part of the College of Health Sciences. We are growing in size, in scope and in impact. With more than 1,660 students across five departments and multiple campuses, our programs are nationally recognized for academic excellence and clinical preparation. Our Physician Assistant Studies program is ranked 20th in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Our Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs continue to climb in national reputation. Our Medical Laboratory Science and Human Health Sciences programs are recognized as the best in the state, while U.S. News also named the Clinical Leadership and Management job fourth on its list of best jobs in the country (and first for business jobs). Our Athletic Training program recently partnered with another local college (Asbury) to advance the workforce needs of the profession in the area. And our Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program is among the few of its kind in the nation.
These achievements are not just points of pride — they are indicators of the caliber of professionals we’re preparing for the field.
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.
Research That Changes Lives
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.
Opening Doors, Changing Futures
Here, we like to say we are in the business of opening doors — because that’s exactly what we do for our students. Many come to us seeking a way to serve others. They leave prepared to lead. Whether they go on to work in rural hospitals, cutting-edge research labs, large health systems, or private clinics, they carry with them the values we uphold: Service, compassion, integrity and a deep connection to community.
It’s no coincidence that our faculty and staff are drawn here by a higher calling — one rooted in service and in love for the people of this region. You can look no further than the Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network, a collaborative team that advocates to empower communities impacted by disability. Our sense of mission shows up in every mentorship meeting, every clinic shift, every lesson and every research breakthrough.
A Shared Duty, A Collective Future
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 just getting started.
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.
Warmly,
Scott M. Lephart, PhD
scott.lephart@uky.edu
Dean
College of Health Sciences
Endowed Chair of Orthopaedic Research
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