ELEVATE Kentucky 2024 Visits Pikeville
Written by: Sara Camic, Manager of Volunteer Services, UK HealthCare, ELEVATE Kentucky Class of 2024
From Monday, May 13th through Wednesday, May 15th, the 2024 ELEVATE Kentucky class drove to Pikeville, KY for the second session of the program. Participants gathered at the Overlook Center where they were welcomed by Executive Director of Community Relations Tourism and Main Street, Jill Fraley Dotson, as well as President/CEO of the Southeast Chamber of Commerce, Jordan Gibson. Jill invited us to "go on a bear hunt" in search of the town's painted and decorated black bears, and shared about the development happening in the downtown area. Jordan informed us about Hillbilly Days and the economic impact of that festival. Then, we quickly recapped our wonderful experiences in Owensboro, and the remaining members of our class shared more about their careers and their life stories.
Rusty Justice, of Bitsource LLC & Jigsaw Enterprises LLC, gave us a history lesson of Pikeville via the impact of the Pikeville Cut Through project. The impact of one man's vision was transformational to the region. Dr. Hambley wanted to move a mountain, and his drive and determination made it happen. We were also reminded not to confuse our self-worth with our net worth. We heard briefly from Danna Barnett with Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) on their remote worker incentive program, and how they help people achieve digital equity. Tucker Davis spoke on energy issues directly impacting the state, facilitating lots of good discussion around green energy goals and future of coal, especially in relation to electric vehicles.
We ended our day at the Overlook Center mingling with our classmates and ELEVATE sponsors, before we enjoyed a delicious dinner while learning about the Real Hatfields and McCoys from Reed Potter. The stereotypical "Hillbilly" does not depict the actual people in Eastern Kentucky.
On the morning of Day 2, we boarded shuttles at the hotel bound for Pikeville Medical Center. Jade McGovern and Lindsay Hudock, of Well Said Public Relations, LLC, facilitated our full day Simulated Society Experience. Much like the movie Fight Club, we were asked not to discuss the day's events openly, but the fully immersive experience was eye opening. It was impactful, challenged our thinking, and the lessons learned will stick with us on our leadership journeys.
Dr. Burton Webb, President of the University of Pikeville, and Dr. Lori Werth, Provost, hosted us for dinner that evening at the UPike Sportplex and shared their leadership insights. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to bowl and play golf using their simulator! It was a fun way to end a mentally taxing day.
Wednesday morning we walked to the University of Pikeville's campus and heard from three guest speakers. Dr. Amanda Slone, Assistant Provost, discussed perceptions of Appalachia, associated stereotypes, and the asset vs deficit model of thinking. Dr. Mathys Meyer, Assistant Provost, and Corey Fipps, Athletic Director, spoke on seven different types of wellness. We were reminded that people were created to be relationship driven, which is critical for overall wellness.
We ended the day in the Nursing Simulation Center with Dr. Karen Damron, Dean of Nursing. After a brief overview of the building and sim lab, we were divided into four groups and participated in a simulation they use for first year nursing students. The sights, sounds, and smells were all too real for some classmates, as evidenced by the video recording of one group. The exercise reinforced how important training is for new clinicians in a setting without real patients, who could be harmed.
The final session of this year's ELEVATE class will be June 5th through June 7th in Frankfort and Northern KY.
