August 2009 - Posts

‘2nd Sunday’ Officially Launched by Mayor, President Todd, Dean Smith and Dr. Lofgren
Published 08-31-2009 11:00 AM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
In a recent post I gave a preview of UK HealthCare's partnership with the UK College of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Program to sponsor the 2009 2nd Sunday event. This event offers Kentuckians the opportunity to take advantage of a statewide...
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Congressman Chandler & Dr. Karpf Discuss Health Care Reform
Published 08-26-2009 2:45 PM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
I'm sure everyone reading this blog has been following the very public debate about health care reform going on as Congress enjoys its annual ritual "August Recess." Our Congressman, Ben Chandler, was gracious enough to speak to the leaders...
UK College of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony
Published 08-25-2009 1:53 PM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
If you have driven down Limestone Street recently you have probably noticed the construction of our new UK College of Pharmacy building (located across the street from the Kentucky Clinic). What you may not have realized is that this building will be...
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Castle Gates Open to Benefit Kentucky's Children
Published 08-24-2009 10:34 AM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
As a child growing up in central Kentucky, I frequently traveled Versailles Road with my mother to my numerous orthodontist appointments in Lexington. We watched the initial construction of 'The Castle' located on Versailles Road and always wondered...
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“The View”
Published 08-21-2009 9:51 AM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
No, I am not talking about the ABC Emmy Award winning TV talk show featuring a team of women including such notables as Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg. I am actually referring to the view from the third floor corner office of the Charles T. Wethington...
Academic Medical Centers – Most trusted source of information
Published 08-20-2009 1:40 PM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
I know the readers of my blog will be surprised to realize that I don't make up out of thin air all of my insights into health care and health care reform. There have been literally thousands of articles published just in 2009 on the state of health...
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Back in the Saddle Again!
Published 08-19-2009 8:34 AM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
I could have titled this post, "Go West" which are lyrics to various songs, but unfortunately "going west" was a reality recently and not just a line in a song. You may have recognized that I have not posted to the blog for a few days...
Louisville Conference Helps Employers Define Health Care "Consumerism"
Published 08-12-2009 1:12 PM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
Every day when I'm walking around the UK Medical Center campus, it is clear to me the amazing progress we are making in delivering world-class care to our patients. What I had not thought about until recently is that in addition to being an academic...
The College of Medicine White Coat Ceremony
Published 08-11-2009 2:22 PM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
The month of August not only brings hot weather to Kentucky, but also students to the University of Kentucky. Needless to say the university campus and medical campus both become very exciting places. One group in particular that has already kicked off...
PREVIEW: UK to announce partnership with “2nd Sunday”
Published 08-07-2009 3:12 PM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
At home last week after another great day at UK, I saw a NBC Report on the cost of healthcare related to obesity which was projected to be $147 billion annually. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/32178292#32178292 I was not totally surprised by this...
The Commissioner of the Department for Public Health Visits UK HealthCare
Published 08-06-2009 10:02 AM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
I have said for years that the healthcare business is built on relationships. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve in several roles which have allowed me to form relationships across this great state. One of the things that I love...
Bridge(s) Over Troubled Walkers
Published 08-04-2009 2:00 PM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
I'm sure many of you get the play on words here... remember Simon and Garfunkel's song that was popular in the 1970's, Bridge Over Troubled Waters? Today, however, my focus is on "walkers" not "waters." I can relate to...
Kentucky’s Congressional Staffers Visit UK HealthCare
Published 08-03-2009 10:06 AM | Mark D. Birdwhistell
As I have attended national association meetings on behalf of UK HealthCare over the past 18 months, I have observed newsletters from other academic medical centers which promoted the fact that our peers have hosted tours for the staffs of their Congressional...