AI is transforming healthcare, but what are the opportunities, risks, and realities organizations should be preparing for today? Join four University of Kentucky healthcare leaders for a lively AI in Healthcare Debate at 3:50 pm as they examine the promises and challenges of artificial intelligence in clinical care, operations, compliance, and patient engagement. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate through audience questions and hear diverse perspectives on one of healthcare’s most talked-about topics.
Debate Participants
Cody Bumgardner —Debater
Dr. Cody Bumgardner is Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Assistant Dean for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he serves as Division Chief of Pathology Informatics and directs Biomedical Informatics for the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. He founded the UK Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence, and was recently named Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for Digital Innovation at the University of Louisville.
He has directed CLIA-certified clinical genomics processing since 2015 and built the compliant research computing that now hosts institutional AI services across health-system, state, and federal data. His group develops medically focused imaging foundation models, in-house medical large language models, and clinical tools for decision support, protocol adherence, and healthcare analytics.
Romil Chadha, MD —Debater
Romil Chadha, MD, MPH, MBA, is Chief Medical Information Officer at UK HealthCare and Professor of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky. A practicing physician and clinical informatician, he focuses on using technology, data, AI, and thoughtful system design to improve patient care, clinician experience, and healthcare operations.
Dr. Chadha supports others in improving the health and well-being of patients through excellence in patient care, teaching and research. He also provides medical leadership for all clinical information systems and innovative technology, and champions medical informatics for the advancement of the clinical quality.
Mark Hoffman, MD —Debater
Mark R. Hoffman, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer, Good Samaritan Hospital and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr. Hoffman’s primary research interests include uterine fibroids and outcomes following robotic surgery, and he is a member of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Hoffman focuses his practice on medical and surgical treatments of complex gynecologic problems including fibroids, endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding and chronic pelvic pain. In addition to nonsurgical treatments, he can offer a minimally invasive approach when surgery is needed.
Kayla Staley, RHIA, MBA —Debater
Kayla Staley is the Director of Patient Access, Experience & Digital Engagement at UK HealthCare, where she leads initiatives focused on improving the patient experience through digital innovation, access optimization, and operational transformation. With extensive experience in healthcare technology, Epic, patient engagement platforms, and enterprise process improvement, Kayla works at the intersection of clinical operations, technology, and strategy.
She has been actively leading the evaluation and adoption of artificial intelligence solutions within healthcare, with a focus on practical applications that enhance patient access, streamline workflows, and support staff efficiency while maintaining strong governance and responsible implementation practices. As a healthcare leader, she is passionate about leveraging technology to create meaningful improvements for both patients and care teams.
Trudi Matthews —Moderator
Trudi Matthews, Chief of Value-based Programs, Public Policy and Community Initiatives, Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, UK HealthCare; Executive Director, UK Kentucky Regional Extension Center (REC); Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences
Trudi Matthews serves as Chief of Value Based Programs, Public Policy and Community Initiatives in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at UK HealthCare, the health system of the University of Kentucky (UK). In this role, Trudi works with UK HealthCare’s executive team and ambulatory leadership to ensure success in value-based programs for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers. Trudi also serves as government affairs and policy lead for UK HealthCare overseeing a team responsible for reviewing and analyzing state and federal government policy initiatives.
Trudi is also Executive Director of the Kentucky Regional Extension Center (REC) at UK. Trudi oversees this state-wide center charged with assisting health care leaders, practices, and hospitals across Kentucky with using technology, connectivity, process improvement and value-based care models to improve the quality and value of health care. From 2015-2019, she was Managing Director of the Kentucky REC, leading and supporting multiple externally sponsored projects such as Kentucky’s Practice Transformation Network Grant, Medicaid Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability Support, and several CDC-funded projects with the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
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