Rooted in the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition within the University of Kentucky’s College of Health Sciences, Dr. Kimberly Tumlin leads a transformative research portfolio that bridges science, compassion, and community care. Collaborating across six colleges at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Tumlin’s work is reshaping how interprofessional, team-based care models—incorporating horses—can support individuals navigating life transitions and trauma recovery.

Her research addresses critical gaps in understanding how equine-assisted interventions influence health outcomes, particularly in populations affected by trauma, adversity, or displacement. With a deep commitment to trauma-informed and faith-based care, Dr. Tumlin’s approach prioritizes the healing of the whole person and extends to the roles that caregivers and mentors play in health.

Through the development of innovative evaluation tools and sustainable care models, Dr. Tumlin’s work advances strength-based frameworks and integrated human-animal solutions that promote social innovation and lasting impact. Her efforts are supported by the Center for Innovation in Population Health ( https://iph.uky.edu/), where she contributes to the growing body of evidence that strength-based outcomes are linked to transformative healing from trauma.

In July 2023, Dr. Tumlin founded the Equine-Assisted Collaborative for Health™, a pioneering collaborative that unites people, data, and research to accelerate the translation of science into practice in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the horse industry.

With generous funding from The Bill Gatton Foundation and with the College of Nursing, Dr. Tumlin is a core team member of iLEAD™ (Interprofessional Leaders in Equine-Assisted Delivery™). This cutting-edge program fosters development of Equine-Assisted Evidence-Based Care™ to empower both patients and care providers throughout Kentucky.

In her role as Director of Research for the Equestrian Athlete Initiative at the University of Kentucky Sports Medicine Research Institute (https://chs.uky.edu/smri/eqa), Dr. Tumlin brings together her lifelong equestrian experience and scientific expertise to examine the powerful role equestrianism plays in promoting physical activity, psychosocial wellness, and injury recovery.