Health System with 3 hospitals across 1 state
| Health System | UK HealthCare |
|---|---|
| Total Hospitals | 3 |
| Commercial/Acute Hospitals | 2 |
| Total Beds | 1528 |
| Commercial/Acute Beds | 1205 |
| Headquarters | Lexington, KY |
| Website | ukhealthcare.uky.edu |
| Hospital | Type | Beds | Teaching | Recently Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK King's Daughters | Acute Care Hospital | 455 | No | Yes |
| University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital | Acute Care Hospital | 750 | Yes | No |
| Eastern State Hospital | Psychiatric | 323 | Yes | No |
No recent news available for this health system.
Also continues as Provost.
Also continues as Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration.
Jay Blanton is the associate vice president and chief communications officer for the University of Kentucky. In this role, he oversees media relations, executive communications, and other communication areas. Prior to his work at the University of Kentucky, Blanton held communication positions in both the government and private sectors. He served as communications director for former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and as deputy communications director for former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson. He also worked as communications director for former state Treasurer Jonathan Miller. In the private sector, he worked for the Keeneland Association and for public relations firms in Lexington and Louisville. Blanton began his career in journalism, writing for several newspapers in Kentucky and Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in higher education, both from the University of Kentucky.
Craig Collins is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at UK HealthCare. He joined UK HealthCare in May 2016. In his role, he oversees the financial department for the health system, which includes over 140 locations and 9,000 healthcare professionals. Collins' background includes previous experience in healthcare finance with the Mayo system. He is involved in managing the financial aspects of the now $2 billion UK HealthCare enterprise and contributes to strategic planning for the health system.
Began work as executive CMO immediately, transitioning from an acting role. Has a 25-year association with UK, starting as a medical student, resident and fellow and then progressing through a number of clinical and leadership positions at UK HealthCare. Is a physician and professor in gynecologic oncology.
Rob Edwards, DPH, MBA, is the Vice President and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at UK HealthCare. In this role, he is responsible for strategy, clinical contracting and partnerships, health policy, brand and digital strategy, acquisitions, and leading other strategic opportunities. Before joining UK HealthCare, Edwards held various positions appointed by Kentucky's Governor within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, including chief of staff, budget director, and legislative director. Edwards holds a Doctor of Public Health from the UK College of Public Health, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisville, and an undergraduate degree from Centre College. He also serves on the UK Master of Health Administration Board of Advisors.
Timothy M. Gaillard serves as the Vice President, Strategic Workforce Initiatives at UK HealthCare. He has held this position, and previously the role of Vice President of the UK Medical Group and Ambulatory Services at UK HealthCare since February 2021. With nearly 30 years of experience in healthcare administration, his prior roles include Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at UW Health, and Executive Director of UI Children's Hospital. He also served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Augusta University Health. Gaillard holds a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and Boston University, respectively. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
Charles “Chipper” Griffith III, MD, MSPH, is the Dean of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine at UK HealthCare. He has a long and distinguished career at the UK College of Medicine, spanning over 30 years. He graduated from the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University in 1988 and completed his residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at UK. He also holds a Master of Science in Public Health from UK. Dr. Griffith joined the UK health care enterprise as a physician in 1994 and became an assistant professor in the College of Medicine, later earning tenure as a professor. Throughout his tenure, he has held various leadership positions, including vice dean for education, senior associate dean for medical education, and associate dean for student affairs. He served as acting dean of the college from July 2021 before being named dean on July 15, 2023. Known for his commitment to medical education, Dr. Griffith has received numerous teaching honors. He has also played a key role in the expansion of the UK College of Medicine, including the development of regional campuses aimed at addressing physician shortages in Kentucky.
Sara Marks is the President and CEO of UK King's Daughters, a position she has held since April 30, 2023. She was appointed as interim CEO in December 2022 and previously served as Chief Operating Officer starting in August 2018. Marks has a long tenure with King's Daughters, having joined the organization in 2006. Her previous roles at King's Daughters include vice president of the Kentucky Heart Institute and vice president of King's Daughters integrated practices. She holds a bachelor's degree in business with a focus on healthcare administration from Marshall University and is currently pursuing an MBA. Marks also serves as the Principal Officer for the King's Daughters Health Foundation and is a member of the Kentucky Hospital Association Board of Trustees.
Jay S. Grider is the Chief Physician Executive at UK HealthCare and the CEO & President of the Kentucky Medical Services Foundation (KMSF). He holds a DO degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, a PhD in physiology from the UK College of Medicine, and an MBA from the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business. Dr. Grider completed an internship at The Ohio State University, followed by a residency in anesthesiology and a fellowship in chronic pain management at UK. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology and board-certified in pain medicine. Dr. Grider has spent most of his career at UK, initially working in ambulatory operations before overseeing clinical operations for both hospital and ambulatory settings. In his role as Chief Physician Executive, he is responsible for the overall strategic direction of physician performance and operations at UK HealthCare. As CEO and President of KMSF, he leads the foundation which supports the missions of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. He also serves on the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.
Mark F. Newman, MD, served as the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at UK HealthCare from 2017 until 2023, when he transitioned to an advisory role focusing on growth and innovation. A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Dr. Newman attended Western Kentucky University before earning his medical degree from the University of Louisville College of Medicine on an Air Force scholarship. He completed an anesthesiology residency in the U.S. Air Force and a fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology and transesophageal echocardiography at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Newman is an Air Force veteran who was deployed in Operations Desert Shield, Just Cause, and Desert Storm. Before joining UK HealthCare, he had a distinguished career of over 25 years at Duke University Medical Center, where he served as chief of cardiothoracic anesthesiology, chair of anesthesiology, and president of the Private Diagnostic Clinic, Duke's physician practice organization. He is board certified in anesthesiology and transesophageal echocardiography.
Tukea L. Talbert, DNP, RN, CDP, is the Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer at UK HealthCare. She has a long and diverse career in nursing and healthcare administration, spanning over 40 years in nursing. Talbert began her career at UK HealthCare in 1985 as a staff registered nurse. She held various roles at UK HealthCare, including clinical nurse manager and patient care manager at Markey Cancer Center. She also served as Chief Nursing Officer at Clark Regional Medical Center before returning to UK HealthCare in 2012. Her roles upon returning to UK HealthCare included director of enterprise accreditation and regulatory compliance, interim director of the Office of Enterprise Quality & Safety, and assistant operations executive/executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion. Talbert holds multiple degrees in nursing, including a BSN from the University of Louisville and an MSN and DNP from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. She was among the first graduates in the nation with a DNP degree from UK. She is also a Certified Diversity Professional. In her current role, she is responsible for monitoring, educating, consulting, advising, and evaluating UK HealthCare's progress on its Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the UK College of Nursing.
Started duties with UK HealthCare in January 2025. Previously served as a senior vice president of Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare and president of Methodist University Hospital. Has a proven record in working with teams across a complex enterprise. Previously served in leadership positions in the Atrium Health Navicent system. Has degrees from both Mercer University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.