Jan. 8 – Dr. Eli Capilouto, President, University of Kentucky

Join us to kick off the new year and hear Dr. Eli Capilouto, President, University of Kentucky

Dr. Eli Capilouto became the 12th President of the University of Kentucky on July 1, 2011. Under his leadership, the Commonwealth’s flagship and land grant research university has grown from $2.7 billion to nearly $8.6 billion in total operations and has gained significant momentum in advancing Kentucky – the institution’s singular yet multifaceted mission.

Since 2011, President Capilouto has led a nearly $7.6 billion transformation of the campus, aimed at enriching the living-learning experience of UK’s students, ensuring their success; strengthening the university’s research infrastructure dedicated to solving Kentucky’s most intractable health and economic challenges; and expanding UK HealthCare’s capacity to teach, heal and serve. Through partnerships with the private sector, increased philanthropy and effective financial management, UK is self-financing much of this aggressive infrastructure development with the purpose of equipping the next generation of leaders who will impact our world for the better.

Under his leadership, the priorities outlined in the strategic plan and the innovation of the campus has resulted in historic student success; improved care of our people; unrivaled ingenuity; greater trust, transparency and accountability; and a strong, vibrant community. The progress on campus is resulting in a high-quality workforce and improved well-being for the Commonwealth UK has served for nearly 160 years — all essential to advancing Kentucky.

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Capilouto previously served as provost of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and dean of the UAB School of Public Health – a period of remarkable growth and transformation at one of the leading academic and health sciences institutions in the South. Dr. Capilouto holds several undergraduate and graduate degrees from schools within the University of Alabama system, a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from UAB and a Doctorate in Health Policy and Management from Harvard University. He and his wife, Dr. Mary Lynne Capilouto (D.M.D.) a former Dean of the UAB School of Dentistry, have one daughter.

Rotary in Review

A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY WITH A PUBLIC PURPOSE

The first Rotary speaker of the new year was Dr. Eli Capilouto, President of the University of Kentucky. He provided an impressive report on recent accomplishments at the Commonwealth’s flagship university. He said that the University’s mission is to serve its alumni, parents of students, employees, and neighbors. In short, he stated “we work for you.” He emphasized that if students flourish, they add to the greater Lexington community by holding internships, volunteering, mentoring, working, and staying.

Dr. Capilouto reported that “Your University” is advancing all of Kentucky. This fall a record 39,000 students matriculated. Of the 7,000 new students, 4,000 of them were in-state. Of those, half were first generation students! He said UK is committed to providing “trust” to families across the Commonwealth and nation. The institution is dedicated to developing lives of meaning and purpose, to fully prepare students for the workforce—whether they be teachers, engineers, health professionals, or entrepreneurs. This is done, in part, by creating a campus community that cares about students, from faculty and student life to health services and career services. He was very proud of the record number of students that graduate on time in either four or six years, depending on their majors, which results in less student debt.

He then mentioned two recent transformational gifts received by the university. The first was $50 million to the Children’s Hospital from Tom Galisano of Rochester, NY. The founder of Paychex, a personnel payroll services company that has 800,000 customers, Mr. Galisano sought out the University of Kentucky to help fund a program for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The university of was one of six “finalists” invited to Rochester to make presentations. He was extremely impressed with the constant improvement approach taken by the pediatrics team at UK. The undesignated gift to support innovative care is not only a way to extend his personal legacy but as Mr. Galisano said, “the only wealth you have is what you give away.”  The second gift was $150 million from the Bill Gatton Foundation for a new fine arts “campus” that will have a profound impact on the arts and the community. This Foundation has had a long and generous history with the university.

President Capilouto then mentioned several new partnership opportunities. The first one addresses the educational and economic impact of artificial intelligence (AI).  CATS AI (Commonwealth Artificial Transdisciplinary Strategy) will hopefully be a model for higher education. Working with several other institutions, the aim is to build a framework for AI to more effectively address patient care, access to education, workforce development, and efficiency. The Advancing Kentucky Together Network, a board mandate, involves partnerships with Apple, Fidelity, Compass, and Microsoft. Finally, he mentioned a partnership with Transylvania University to increase the pipeline of their graduates into graduate and professional degrees at UK in the health sciences, agriculture, business, and manufacturing sectors. He concluded by saying that the University of Kentucky is committed to serving the Commonwealth and its people as, in his words, “a public university with a public purpose.”

–  Paul B. Chewning