It’s a pleasure to address you for the first time as President of the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA)!
It is truly an honor to represent this profession that I love and respect so deeply. My own path to this role has certainly been unique, and has been shaped by recognizing and embracing opportunities. I was born and raised nearly 7,000 miles away and came to the United States at age 23. As a non-English speaking international medical graduate, the challenges of becoming a physician in this country were immense. But through each challenge came opportunities that shaped my journey, not only in medicine, but in leadership.
After I became comfortable practicing medicine, I learned to enjoy the patient interactions and unique opportunities we have as physicians to impact individual patients’ lives. But I also began to realize that physicians can make a tremendous difference outside of the exam room. Unfortunately, we have little training or experience is knowing how best to do that. When I saw an announcement for KMA’s Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute (KPLI), I took a leap of faith and enrolled. That experience opened my eyes to leadership, management, advocacy, and the importance of organizational governance. It taught me lessons I had not been exposed to before, and it gave me the confidence to step forward.
Through KMA, I also learned the power of advocacy. As Secretary-Treasurer, I participated weekly in legislative discussions during the session, wrote to and met with my representatives, and came to understand the crucial role our KPPAC plays in advancing our profession. These experiences reinforced for me that organized medicine isn’t just about policy—it’s about becoming a more impactful physician, a stronger leader, and a more effective advocate for our patients.
Opportunities may not always be obvious, but they come in many forms: serving on a board or committee, helping with a grant, mentoring a colleague, or even leading a major public health initiative, as Dr. Evelyn Montgomery Jones did so successfully this past year. Each of these moments offers us a chance to expand our impact beyond our own clinical practice.
I once heard KMA Past President Dr. David Bensema say that simply being involved in organized medicine makes you a better physician, and I couldn’t agree more. But I challenge you to take a step beyond simply membership. Consider attending a meeting, joining a committee, or encouraging a colleague to participate in KMA programs such as KPLI. I am excited to continue the “Small STEPS, Big Impact” campaign with a renewed focus on heart health, and I hope you will join me in this important work as well.
Together, by seizing the opportunities before us, we can strengthen our profession, support each other, and improve the lives of our patients and communities.
Thank you again for the privilege of serving as your President. I am sincerely humbled and honored, and I look forward to all we will accomplish together in the year ahead.