The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has hired Chlodys Johnstone as the new assistant dean for extension health partnerships at the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, effective July 1. 

“Chlodys Johnstone brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, educational leadership and extensive experience serving Kentuckians to this new role,” said Laura Stephenson, vice president for land-grant engagement and Martin-Gatton CAFE dean. “Her experience building cross-sector partnerships and advancing community health will be instrumental as we strengthen Extension’s ability to serve Kentuckians through innovative health initiatives.” 

In this role, Johnstone will champion building and sustaining partnerships with on-campus departments and units, external institutions, government entities and private, public-sector organizations to engage Extension’s resources, optimizing health solutions for people, animals and ecosystems in Kentucky. 

“As an educator and clinician dedicated to serving Kentuckians, I can imagine no better place to promote health and prevent disease than the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Kentucky, which is deeply rooted in communities across our Commonwealth,” Johnstone said. “This role commitment aligns perfectly with the land-grant mission to improve the lives of residents across Kentucky.” 

Beginning in 2022, Johnstone served as the associate director of education and quality services at UK HealthCare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center. She helped manage and promote nationally certified Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Services and the Diabetes Prevention Program, maintained diabetes technology training contract services and expanded community outreach efforts. These efforts included innovative programming in collaboration with Extension, Martin-Gatton CAFE and the UK College of Education to enhance community outreach efforts and improve chronic disease management. 

Previously, Johnstone provided direct patient care as a physician assistant and served as the adult endocrine advanced practice provider at UK HealthCare, leading teams and designing processes and procedures to improve patient outcomes. 

Johnstone also has prior experience as a physician assistant at UK HealthCare Division of Hospital Medicine and East Side Family Medicine and as a middle school science teacher at Jefferson County Public Schools. 

Johnstone has two degrees from the University of Kentucky: a master’s degree in physician assistant studies and a bachelor’s degree in plant and social science. She also has a Master of Arts in teaching from the University of Louisville. 

To learn more about Extension at Martin-Gatton CAFE, visit https://extension.ca.uky.edu. 

### 

Writer: Christopher.Carney@uky.edu 

University of Kentucky alum and former trustee Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton bestowed a transformational $100 million gift to the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment through The Bill Gatton Foundation. It is the largest gift to the university in its history.  

The Bill Gatton Foundation gift includes four pillars which are Scholarships and Other Initiatives for Student Success; Higgins-Neyland Companion Animal Program; 21st Century Capital Projects and New Initiatives Fund; and Faculty Research and Innovation/Research Challenge Trust Fund Program. 

The Faculty Research and Innovation/Research Challenge Trust Fund Program includes four grand challenges: Developing a Structural Framework and Action Plan for a Climate Resiliency Hub Serving Kentucky and Beyond; Growing Graduates from the Group Up; University of Kentucky One Health Complex; and Synergizing Extension Health Partnerships. 

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services to individuals and institutions that provide equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.