UK College of Health Sciences to induct two into Alumni Hall of Fame

To induct Col. Scott W. Shaffer and Ann Smith

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 20, 2017) — The University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences will induct Col. Scott W. Shaffer and Ann Smith into its Alumni Hall of Fame. Also, Nicole Etter, Young Alumni Award recipient, will be honored.

Shaffer is an associate professor and director of the U.S. Army Baylor Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, and dean of the Graduate School, Academy of Health Sciences, in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He also is a physical therapy consultant to the U.S. Army Surgeon General, chief of the Army Physical Therapy Section and assistant corps chief, Army Medical Specialist Corps.

His research is focused on adult neurological disorders and aging, as well as functional screening. Shaffer has focused much of his recent work on subacromial neuropathy and median and ulnar neuropathies. He has had a consistent publication record and demonstrated success in securing extramural funding. Shaffer is active in the classroom and has received numerous research awards, including the Army Medical Specialist Corp/Colonel Mary Lipscomb Hamrick Lifetime Research Achievement Award, and the Army Medical Department Center and School Graduate School Research Presentation Award.

Shaffer is a decorated soldier. His awards include a Bosnia Medal (1998), Meritorious Service Medal (1997, 2000, 2004), an Order of the Military Medical Merit (2010), and an Iraqi Campaign Medal (2010). He has active duty experience, serving our country in Bosnia and Iraq.

Shaffer earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Nebraska Wesleyan University, a Master’s in Physical Therapy at U.S. Army-Baylor, a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences at the UK College of Health Sciences and a master’s in strategic studies at U.S. Army War College.

Smith is chief of Enterprise Academic Service Lines for UK HealthCare, a new position focused on developing and implementing patient-centered care models, as defined by the UK HealthCare 2015-2020 strategic plan. She will be leaving UK in May to be the senior vice president of Inpatient Services at the University of Cincinnati (UC) Health.

Smith has held her current position since 2016, and has been a key staff member during years of critical growth for UK HealthCare, including the construction of the new 1.2 million square feet hospital. She previously served as chief administrative officer, responsible for the operations of inpatient services for both UK Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Children’s Hospital and UK Good Samaritan Hospital.

Her other positions include associate hospital director for the UK Chandler Hospital for seven years where her responsibilities included administrative and fiscal oversight of multiple service lines including perioperative services, transplant center and the Center for Advanced Surgery and director of diagnostic services for Chandler Hospital.

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology at the UK College of Health Sciences and a Masters of Public Administration at UK. She is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for public affairs and administration, and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She credits the College of Health Sciences with forming her educational foundation.