Katherine Hartmann, M.D., Ph.D., is the new director of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS).

Hartmann is an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), epidemiologist and health services researcher, in addition to leading the UK CCTS.

She graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s epidemiology Ph.D. program and Johns Hopkins University’s M.D. program. Hartmann comes to UK from Vanderbilt University, where she recently served as associate dean for clinical translational scientist development.

As a physician-scientist, Hartmann has years of expertise with research involving large community-recruited cohorts, behavioral interventions and clinical trials. Her work includes groundbreaking results that have answered key questions for women’s health during pregnancy.

Asking questions and finding answers is what initially sparked her interested in health research. Her goal is to improve the quality of health care for all people — a goal that aligns with the UK CCTS.

The mission of the UK CCTS is to accelerate discoveries to improve health through a multi-faceted approach to support research from bench to bedside to community.

Hartmann said the reach of the University of Kentucky and the teamwork between disciplines to find answers to pressing health questions is why she was drawn to Lexington.

Learn more about her research and her goals while leading the UK CCTS on this episode of “Behind the Blue.”

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