CHS Names 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee, Alumni Award Winners

By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

A distinguished clinical laboratory scientist for 45 years. A faculty member and researcher in Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition. And a Physician Assistant at Novant Health Surgical in North Carolina.

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) has announced its 2026 Hall of Fame inductee and alumni award recipients, recognizing graduates and faculty whose careers reflect exceptional leadership, service and impact in health care, education and research.

The 2026 honorees are Mimi Loan, Hall of Fame inductee; Kyle Kosik, PhD, ATC, Young Alumni Award recipient; and Latoya Harris, PA-C, recipient of the Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award. They will be formally recognized during a College of Health Sciences awards ceremony later this year.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Mimi Loan

Mimi Loan, a Nicholasville, Ky., native, earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a concentration in Medical Technology in 1983. She recently retired from Quest Diagnostics after a distinguished 45-year career in clinical laboratory science, serving in national leadership roles that took her across the United States and internationally.

As executive director of operations with Quest, Mimi worked with cross functional teams and suppliers to drive automation solutions in the areas of Hematology, Chemistry and Immunology. She also provided leadership to teams that implemented total automation across the entire laboratory in three Quest sites. This included specimen management in addition to the clinical areas.

Loan credits the College of Health Sciences’ rigorous curriculum and clinical internship requirement as foundational to her success. She said the faculty’s passion for teaching and commitment to high standards prepared graduates to enter the workforce ready to contribute immediately.

“The practical internship was essential to the success of graduates entering the workplace,” Loan said. “Clinical laboratory science is a community, and the relationships we formed during training lasted for decades.”

During her career, Loan developed a specialty focus in hematology and hemostasis, earning certification from the College of American Pathologists. She cites former CHS faculty members Sr. Marie Vittetoe and Dr. Anne Stiene-Martin as influential mentors who shaped her professional path and instilled a lifelong passion for the field.

Reflecting on her induction, Loan said she was humbled by the honor. 

“It is a wonderful feeling to know that my contributions have led to positive change in the profession,” she said.

Loan emphasized the expanding opportunities within clinical laboratory science, noting that laboratory data drive approximately 70 percent of clinical decisions.

“The sky is the limit for opportunities in this field,” she said, encouraging students to explore roles in operations, quality improvement, education and advanced study.

Young Alumni Award Recipient: Kyle Kosik, PhD

Kyle Kosik earned his degree from the Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program (RHB) in 2017 and completed postdoctoral training at UK from 2017 to 2020. He is now an assistant professor in the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition and a faculty member in RHB and the Sports Medicine Research Institute.

Dr. Kosik’s research agenda focuses on understanding how the current treatment for lower extremity joint injuries fail to prevent individuals from presenting with neuromuscular dysfunction and biomechanics adaptations that are responsible for causing lifelong disability and post-traumatic osteoarthritis. His previous work has primarily relied on an acute lateral ankle sprain as a model to examine these underlying mechanisms by incorporating a variety of laboratory testing techniques, while also utilizing clinical- and patient-reported outcomes.

Originally from Crescent City, Ill., Kosik said his CHS experience was defined by mentorship, collaboration and a supportive academic culture that helped him balance research, teaching and service.

“The people and environment within the College of Health Sciences continue to shape how I think about my role as a faculty member and how I engage with students,” he said.

Kosik credits longtime mentor Dr. Phillip Gribble for guiding him throughout his doctoral and postdoctoral training, as well as colleagues Drs. Matt and Hanna Hoch for their professional and personal support. He also acknowledged his wife, Dr. Danielle Torp Kosik, as his constant source of encouragement.

Reflecting on the recognition, Kosik said the award represents the collective effort of the mentors and collaborators who invested in his development. 

“Knowing that this recognition reflects that support made it especially meaningful,” he said.

Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award Recipient: Latoya Harris, PA-C, MPAS

Latoya Harris, a native of Elizabethtown, Ky., earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Health Sciences from the College of Health Sciences in 2020 and her Master of Physician Assistant Studies in 2023. She currently practices at Novant Health Surgical APC in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Harris said her CHS experience shaped her professional identity through early leadership opportunities, mentorship and a curriculum focused on the complexity of health care systems. As an undergraduate, she served as a freshman senator for the College and participated in a yearlong exchange program at California State University, Northridge, where she volunteered in hospice care settings.

“The flexibility of the Human Health Sciences track allowed me to change my career direction and truly find my place,” Harris said.

During her studies, Harris became a CHS student ambassador, engaged in multiple research projects and graduated as an AHEC Scholar. While in the Physician Assistant program, she participated in the HIV interprofessional education program, which led to a fellowship in HIV and infectious disease care and helped shape her clinical interests.

Harris expressed gratitude for the mentors who supported her along the way, including Dr. Brandi White, Dr. DeShana Collett, Dr. Kevin Schuer and several faculty members involved in the HIV IPE program. She also credited her current collaborative physician, Dr. Jon Hudson, for supporting her growth as a urology provider.

When notified of the award, Harris said she was surprised and deeply grateful.

 “Now being based in North Carolina, it was heartwarming to see that there is still such a strong footprint at the University of Kentucky,” she said.

Congratulations to all the award winners. The College of Health Sciences will host an induction ceremony and awards reception from 5:30-8 p.m., March 31 at The Signature Club.

“We in the College of Health Sciences are so proud to honor these amazing alumni,” said CHS Dean Scott Lephart, PhD. “The effort, the pride, and the care these graduates have provided to countless patients, students and research have represented our College so well. We want to recognize them and remind them they are members of our CHS family — always.”