When Michael Kidd-Gilchrist first met Meg Shake in 2011, he asked her if she would be going to the Final Four. “Probably not,” Shake responded. “Why? Are you going to the Final Four?” 

“Yeah,” Kidd-Gilchrist replied. And the freshman basketball player was correct. He would, in fact, help his Kentucky team get to the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans. And while his coaches and teammates provided guidance, he would discover that he also needed the help of his speech pathologist — Meg Shake. 

Because MKG had a secret — a crippling stutter, something he’d never learned to control. Instead, he coped by avoiding speaking situations. But being a part of the hugely successful Wildcat basketball team made hiding impossible. So, he and Shake went to work. And now, more than a decade later, they share their story. We’re speaking up and speaking out … on this episode of The Way Podcast.  

First, she thought she wanted to be pre-med, but she ended up falling in love with research and data. Then, there was another question: What should she study? That was answered when a dangerous bout of sepsis wrecked her body, giving her a new interest to investigate. Now, she’s looking at similar instances in burn victims. 

For Allison Owen, PhD, her work is about finding new passions, and following those questions wherever they lead. So follow us as we go looking for something new to study … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

He’s taught students here in America. He’s helped create academic programs in foreign countries. He’s set up not one, but two separate stores at the Peddler’s Mall in Richmond, Ky. And last spring, he became the newest member of the College of Health Sciences Hall of Fame. This month, we’re talking to Emeritus Faculty David Fahringer.

Throughout his life, he’s found countless ways to help others. Why? Because he says he’s been called to do so — and because, he says, the University of Kentucky gave him so very much in his life. Once again, come with us — we’re Finding Ways to Help … on this episode of The Way Podcast. 

This month, as College of Health Sciences students arrive back on campus for the fall semester, we get to step into the classroom with Dr. Leslie Woltenberg. And it is here that we learn about many things … like, how we figure out what we want in our lives, and the importance of mentorship, and the legends that are Pat and Agnes. We also learn a new word — sonder. 

But in the end, we learn about why Dr. Woltenberg is one of the most beloved professors in CHS. She is relatable and genuine in every sense of the word. So, come with us — we’re Learning Through Story … on this episode of The Way Podcast. 

There are at least two reasons why Dr. Nick Heebner loves what he’s doing as Director of the Sports Medicine Research Institute here in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky. One, he’s naturally curious about the world; two, he wants to help others. His role, then, is perfect, as he gets to investigate problems and help those people — doctors, nurses, soldiers, firefighters and police, to name a few — who spend their time helping us. 

Heebner, who was recently named a UK Research Professor for 2025, also loves the outdoors, and this seemingly opposing view of the world (as he spends much of his working time in the lab) really makes sense: Even when he’s in the lab, he’s still thinking about how people are active. Come with us — we’re Helping the Helpers with Dr. Nick Heebner … on this episode of The Way Podcast. 

Don’t exercise because you have to. Exercise because you want to. That’s the message Dr. Dee Dlugonski wants to share with people — especially young women. As director of the Active Girls Healthy Women Program in the Sports Medicine Research Institute, and an Associate Professor in the College of Health Sciences, Dlugonski is trying to help young women move. Why? Because, as she has studied, there is a connection between young women exercising and having a positive outlook on life.

From conducting research to helping out in the community, the professor and her students are doing good for young women. Come with us — we’re Having Fun and Getting Active with Dr. Dee Dlugonski … on this episode of The Way Podcast. 

Last summer, Avery Skinner became the first University of Kentucky volleyball player to play in the Olympic Games — and she also happens to be an alumna of the College of Health Sciences.

A 2021 graduate of the Communications Sciences and Disorders program, Avery first helped UK win a national championship in her senior volleyball season. Then she helped lead the United States to a silver medal in summer 2024. In this interview, we learn about what it’s like to participate in the Olympics, and how a CHS degree can prepare you as a leader on the international athletic stage.

One of our University’s most successful athletes in her sport, as well as one of our most beloved students in her major, Avery is taking on the world, one set at a time. Come with us as we’re Going International with UK Alumna Avery Skinner … on this episode of The Way Podcast. 

Emily Goodman’s inspiration comes from her mother. That’s why the 23-year-old, who is now a third-year PA student from Grayson, Ky., wants to fight for others, to make sure they receive the care they deserve.

Soon she’ll be a PA serving in a rural area — and even before that, she’ll have an award to help her along the way.

Emily was the first winner of the UKPA Commitment to Rural Health Award, an honor reserved for UKPA Morehead campus students who demonstrate a commitment to rural health. It is eligible to students following the end of their didactic phase of training and includes a variable cash award given in their summer semester. It could not have gone to a better recipient.

Come with us as we re-dedicate ourselves to our dreams. We’re Finding Our Why … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

Laura Duncan graduated college, moved to a new town, got a job and thought that was going to be her career. Then, life took a turn — her children needed a place to feel comfortable and compete in athletics — which caused her to come up with an idea. Quickly, that idea became a completely new cause, one that she found herself leading. After all, about 15 percent of the world’s population has a disability.

Now, Duncan is a pediatric physical therapist with the Jefferson County Public Schools, but also serves as co-director and founder of the Adapted Sports Program in Louisville, Ky., where 300 children with physical disabilities are able to compete against one another — as well as athletes from other cities — in events like wheelchair basketball, archery and track and field.

Come with us as we learn how the Adapted Sports Program became a reality — and where it’s going to go from here. We’re Finding a Place to Play … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

See Laura on Louisville’s news channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNKVq33Day4

For the second year in a row, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we are pleased to feature two amazing faculty in the College of Health Sciences — who also just happen to be married. CHS assistant professor Dr. Jean Fry and CHS CMB associate director Dr. Chris Fry live together and work together — in fact, their offices are right next to each other.

And they’re also parents to a 5-year-old son. Still, they find time to participate in their own interests, from bodybuilding to songwriting. It’s what helps them keep their own identities, they say.

Come with us as we learn from another fascinating CHS couple. We’ll discuss everything from growing up to first dates to professional research … all on this episode of The Way Podcast.

When Dr. Uhl was in middle school he tried out for the football team. But because of his short stature (due to an absence of stimulation of the growth hormone in his pituitary gland) the coach wouldn’t allow it. He actually said Uhl would “get killed.” So instead, the coach taught Uhl to be an athletic trainer, and it sent him down the road to becoming a University professor, a member of some pretty amazing athletic teams, and a Hall of Famer in his field. 

Dr. Uhl has been practicing physical therapy and athletic training since 1985. He received his bachelor’s degree in health science from the University of Kentucky in physical therapy, a master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan and a doctorate in sports medicine from the University of Virginia. He is presently a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Kentucky, and in 2023, Dr. Uhl received the AASPT’s Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award. Some of his famous patients have included: Kenny Walker, Sam Bowie and Tiki and Ronde Barber.

Come with us as we learn from Dr. Uhl just what it takes to be part of a team … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

After wrapping up a long career, Martha Thomas, PT, looked out into the literature world to find books about her profession. What she found were numerous volumes from a medical perspective. She did not see a straightforward book about what it’s like to be a Physical Therapist. She wanted a volume that explained things like: What is the first day like? What is that first patient experience like? What about the first day of PT school? So, Martha decided to write her own book, using her 40-plus years of PT experience as her guide.

A 1972 graduate from the College of Health Sciences, Martha released her book, All the Broken Bodies: My Life as a Physical Therapist, last spring. Now you can find it in bookstores everywhere. So come with us and learn the real story about what it takes to be a PT … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

Try to plan for the unpredictable. Learn about your professors. Expand your network. Never turn down an opportunity. Thomas Corbett, MHA, lives by a lot of these mantras — they are things he’s learned from his own professors and mentors here in the College of Health Sciences. Now, the Louisville native, who graduated in 2018 with a degree in Clinical Leadership and Management, is playing a pivotal role in guiding CLM students, offering mentorship and providing invaluable support in navigating post-graduation opportunities.

This year, he was the first-ever recipient of the CHS Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award, which honors specific undergraduate alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their field. Come with us and learn about all the good a mentor can offer … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

Richie Wells seems born for this. As a kid, he grew up four miles away from Yankee Stadium. He played college baseball. And after an injury led him into the world of healthcare, he took a chance and came to the University of Kentucky, where he became the athletic trainer for the Wildcat baseball squad. That was four years ago.

This summer, he and the Wildcats achieved something they never had before. Come with us — to Omaha and back — and learn about what it takes to serve, to be an athletic trainer, and to get to the College World Series … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

Clara Bond has always had a passion for making sure those with disabilities aren’t ignored … and it’s now become a large part of her college life, too.

Bond started UK’s undergraduate student club for KARRN, the Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network, a collaborative team that advocates to empower communities impacted by disability. Their focus is improving the quality of life for all, and the organization is directed under the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and led by Professor Patrick Kitzman, Ph.D.

The student club’s purpose is to assess campus buildings for accessibility and suggest changes where needed. They have also provided education to children in various schools across the Fayette County school district.

Now, Clara is looking for others who share this same passion — others who can take over when she graduates. Come with us and learn to assess the accessibility … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

This spring, Cori Simpson graduated with a degree in Human Health Sciences — and along the way she learned she had an amazing connection to one of the great scandals in our country’s history. During her undergraduate classes, she took a course on Ethics and Healthcare. It was then she learned about the Tuskegee Syphilis study — an inhumane study conducted from 1932 to 1972 that was intended to see the natural history of untreated syphilis in Black men.

The doctors implementing the study did not collect informed consent from the participants, nor did they provide them with treatment when it became available. Over 100 of the participants died of syphilis or related complications. Cori immediately went to her grandfather, who had worked in a health leadership position in the government, and asked for more information. He knew the subject well — because he helped former President Bill Clinton formally apologize to the surviving men involved in the incident.

Afterward, Cori reflected on what she’d learned, and even helped further educate her peers on the topic. Come with us and listen to history come alive … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

Throughout thousands of years of organized competition, one question has always baffled humanity: Is speed puzzling a sport? We get to the bottom of that by asking the College of Health Sciences’ own internationally recognized competitive speed puzzler, RHB student and SMRI staffer Michaela Keener, who last year traveled to Spain to compete in the World Speed Puzzling Championships.

But this topic leads us into other conversations as well; for instance, we discuss her groundbreaking equine research, and the reasons why employers should look to hire those with competitive puzzling backgrounds. We also talk about the necessity of work-life balance, and how an accounting major can grow up puzzling during the winters in Minnesota, only to come to Lexington, Ky., to study how to prevent injuries in equestrians, and eventually have a patent pending on an invention that will help curb concussions.  

It's a fascinating story, and it’s one that only Michaela Keener can tell. Come with us as we listen to her describe her life in both the sport of horse racing — and the sport of speed puzzling … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

It’s not a secret that juggling athletics and a CHS course load can be a challenge. But what is it really like? How can someone play a sport as demanding as SEC basketball and also graduate with a degree in the College of Health Sciences?

Emma King lets us know. As a fifth-grader, she told her father she would play basketball at UK. And with a family full of healthcare workers, it also made sense that she would explore helping others.  

She recently graduated, and then she even stayed for a fifth year to help lead the women’s basketball squad through a tough season. At the end of her career, Emma was honored as a member of the SEC Community Service Team, and she’s now earning her Master’s degree. Someday, she hopes to be an occupational therapist.

From the stress of playing big-time college athletics to the joys of giving back to her community, listen to why we’ve always been big fans of Emma King … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

It’s the season of love, and The Way Podcast is celebrating by talking to two rock stars in the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition — Johanna Hoch, PhD, ATC and Matt Hoch, PhD, ATC. 

They’re professors. They’re researchers. And they’re married.  

We talk to them and we learn about how they met, how they chose to become athletic trainers and professors, and how they keep their relationship going, even with careers and kids. 

We also get into the latest developments in the Athletic Training major, as well as some of the amazing research being done. Overall, we talk love and Athletic Training … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

She always loved going beyond the lecture, applying her knowledge in experiential situations outside the classroom. Then, her life became a lesson in itself. 

Meet Katelyn McNamara, PT, DPT. A native of Lexington, McNamara is a Pediatric Physical Therapist at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville. 

A 2016 graduate from the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, she also earned her undergraduate degree at UK in 2013 — a dual Honors degree in Topical Studies in Neuroscience and Spanish.

 But in fall 2021 she became a patient. McNamara and her new husband, Jonathan, were preparing to move to Germany for jobs. But McNamara had not been feeling well. The diagnosis was a rare form a cancer — primary mediastinal large b-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). This type of lymphoma is rare and generally affects young women under the age of 35.

 Yet even when she was battling cancer, she still made a difference in the lives of CHS students, allowing them to learn and see exactly what she went through.

 Let’s go beyond the lecture with the latest CHS Young Alumni Award winner, Katelynn McNamara … on this episode of The Way Podcast.

Iza Correll, PA-C, COC, a 2017 Physician Assistant Studies graduate and Somerset native, is a social entrepreneur and author whose goal is a world where no child is an orphan.

She founded OVI Healthcare just after her graduation to transform the health, happiness and security of children. She was deeply affected by the death of her 4-year-old nephew Ovidio (known as Ovi), an orphan in Guatemala who was in the process of being adopted by Correll’s sister, and this tragedy inspired Correll to start the charity in his name. Today, she and her team run the charity from the OVI Children’s Hospital in Kenya. 

Her vision then and now is a world where no child is alone. She says she knows what works and sees it working every day. The next step is introducing the approach across Africa and Asia to end the orphan crisis and prevent poverty. 

She is a dually licensed U.S. Physician Assistant and Kenyan Clinical Officer, the CHS 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, a bestselling author and the youngest-ever recipient of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Global Citizenship. Let’s learn to make our lives matter with Iza … on this episode of The Way Podcast. 

 Learn more about OVI Healthcare at https://ovihealthcare.org/

In the early winter of 2020, a strange new virus was making its way across the globe, infecting thousands and killing many. In Louisville, Ky., Tori Shaub was still trying to get used to being the youngest in her speech therapy office. Just weeks prior, she’d been tasked with convincing her co-workers that they needed to learn Telehealth — just in case that virus came to America and forced them all to work remotely. No one could foresee just how valuable these lessons would become. Tori was able to help the business, and help their customers continue to receive treatment, during a pandemic. Hear about it all as we chat with Tori … only on The Way Podcast. 

Down in Hazard, in the southeastern part of Kentucky, the scars still remain. One year after torrential rain caused flooding that swept through 14 counties over five days, killing 45 people, the area is still recovering. Residents are still waiting for new homes. Survivors are still trying to overcome what they saw. And at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health, a community is continuing to come together to heal — and to remember. This month, on the anniversary of that terrible flooding, we talk to Dr. Fran Feltner, Director of the University of Kentucky’s Center of Excellence in Rural Health. She describes how the area was able to persevere, and come back even stronger. Let’s talk resilience with Dr. Feltner … only on The Way Podcast. 

 Donate here:

• https://www.kychamber.com/resourceseasternkentuckyflooding
• http://www.appalachianky.org/
• https://secure.kentucky.gov/FormServices/Finance/EKYFloodRelief

When Dr. Kirby Mayer was young, he saw the way physical therapists helped his grandmother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. Now, after earning a PT degree himself, he’s won the Young Alumni Award in the College of Health Sciences, in part for his research to help those with long-road COVID recover and lead better lives. In fact, he’s dedicated his life to improving the lives of those recovering from ICU stays, and he praises his patients who are brave enough to volunteer and help with his trial studies. Here, we get emotional — and we have a few laughs — with Dr. Mayer … only on The Way Podcast. 

Matt Brown was three years into his Physical Therapy career when he hit his latest rock bottom: He was fired from his job. Why? Because he’d been addicted to drugs and alcohol for more than a decade. His wife then left him, he started living in his car and showering at a friend’s house. And even then, he could not change. Luckily for Matt, his life was about to take a turn, one where he would eventually use his training as a physical therapist to help others. Discover how Matt was able to save his own life … only on The Way Podcast.