Celebrating 10 years of heart care collaboration throughout Kentucky
For two decades, the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute has worked to decrease Kentucky’s high rate of heart disease and advance cardiovascular care across our state.
As part of that commitment, the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network launched in 2014 to better connect community hospitals across the Commonwealth with the expertise and resources available at UK HealthCare. In the decade since it launched, the network has helped providers across Kentucky by:
- Offering continuing education and training opportunities
- Providing tools to achieve and maintain subspecialty accreditation
- Offering customized resources and personalized solutions to support the development of cardiovascular programs
- Facilitating collaboration between local programs and UK cardiologists and surgeons
These efforts have brought patients’ access to state-of-the-art care closer to home and improved their overall continuity of care.
“As the director of the Gill Affiliate Network, I am immensely proud of the impact our network has had on cardiovascular care throughout Kentucky,” said Dr. Navin Rajagopalan. “Over the years, we have diligently worked to elevate standards, foster collaboration and provide support to our affiliate partners. Together, we have not only advanced the quality of care but have also forged a path towards a healthier and stronger cardiovascular landscape in the Commonwealth.”
Throughout 2024, UK HealthCare will spotlight all 23 members of the Gill Affiliate Network as part of the network’s 10th anniversary celebration by:
- Highlighting milestone moments and developments that could not have been achieved without the level of precise, personalized attention each hospital receives as a network member
- Sharing stories of physicians and staff who are better equipped to see patients in their own communities, providing them with access to advanced treatments locally and here in Lexington when necessary
- Introducing you to patients who experienced the life-changing power of the Gill Affiliate Network
As we reflect on the past 10 years, it is important to keep the future in focus. UK HealthCare will continue to take every step needed to ensure access to the highest level of health care for all Kentuckians. The Gill Affiliate Network has been integral in delivering on that promise and improving the overall state of heart health in the Commonwealth.
We can’t wait to see where the next decade takes us.
Gill Affiliate Network Timeline
A brief history of the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network
2006
UK HealthCare launches the affiliate network concept.
2013
July: The Gill Heart & Vascular Institute collaborates with Clark Regional Medical Center to expand cardiovascular care. UK HealthCare cardiologist Dr. Charles Salters begins working at the Winchester hospital though a professional services agreement.
2014
The Gill Affiliate Network officially launches under the direction of Dr. Rick McClure.
January: The Gill Heart & Vascular Institute collaborates with Georgetown Community Hospital to expand cardiovascular care. UK HealthCare cardiologist Dr. Joe Thomas begins working at the Georgetown hospital through a professional services agreement.
July 1: AdventHealth Manchester joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
Aug. 1: Clark Regional Medical Center joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
Sept. 1: Georgetown Community Hospital joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
Oct. 15: The Gill Heart & Vascular Institute collaborates with Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital to expand cardiovascular care. UK HealthCare cardiologist Dr. Michael McKinney begins working at the Somerset hospital through a professional services agreement.
2015
October: The Gill Affiliate Network holds its first annual conference at Keeneland.
2016
July 1: Harrison Memorial Hospital joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
July 1: Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) joins the Gill Affiliate Network. As of Jan. 2024, eight ARH hospitals are part of the network:
- Harlan ARH Hospital
- Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center
- Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center
- Mary Breckinridge ARH Hospital
- McDowell ARH Hospital
- Middlesboro ARH Hospital
- Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center
- Whitesburg ARH Hospital
2017
The Gill Heart & Vascular Institute hires Rebecca Craft as its first associate director of network development to spearhead the growth and development of the Gill Affiliate Network.
Jan. 1: Owensboro Health Regional Hospital joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
2018
April 1: Frankfort Regional Medical Center joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
May: The Pulse, the Gill Affiliate Network’s first regularly scheduled education series, launches. Today, network members benefit from access to four different webinar series covering a spectrum of cardiovascular topics.
2019
Feb. 1: Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
Feb. 1: Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
2020
July: Rebecca Craft is named director of cardiovascular outreach operations to manage the expanding footprint of the Gill Affiliate Network and the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute. She continues to serve in this role.
Oct. 1: Mercy Health – Lourdes Hospital joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
Oct. 1: Norton Healthcare joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
November: To support the growth of the network, Monica Peterman is hired as the first administrative coordinator and continues to serve in this capacity.
December: Dr. Navin Rajagopalan is appointed director of the Gill Affiliate Network.
2021
March 29: The Gill Affiliate Network enhances its commitment to quality by hiring its first clinical quality & and program director. Lynn Mattingly has served in this position since 2022.
June 1: Bluegrass Community Hospital joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
Aug. 2: Bourbon Community Hospital joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
2022
April: The Gill Heart & Vascular Institute establishes the Gill Imaging Network. This program leverages the Institute's cardiovascular imaging specialists to provide interpretation of scans performed at hospitals across the state. This partnership allows patients to access advanced diagnostic services without the need for long-distance travel.
Sept. 1: St. Claire HealthCare joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
2023
July 1: Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
August: The Gill Affiliate Network introduces the GAN Portal, a network-exclusive site with information and resources to support affiliate members’ cardiovascular programs.
Oct. 1: UK King’s Daughters joins the Gill Affiliate Network.
December: The Gill Affiliate Network rolls out the network-wide quality metric benchmarking initiative to improve heart care across the state.
2024
The Gill Affiliate Network hires its first nurse liaison to enhance members’ access to advanced cardiovascular subspecialty care.
