In my opinion, one of the greatest strengths of our KMA is our ability to bring physicians together around a shared purpose: improving the health of our patients and communities. Over the past several weeks, we have seen that mission come to life in powerful ways through both education and advocacy.
On Feb. 12, physicians from across the Commonwealth participated in our “Trending Towards Trouble” CME event, which explored the growing health risks associated with popular lifestyle trends such as energy drinks and supplements. A fantastic program was presented by Dr. John Higgins, and I was so impressed by both the strong attendance and thoughtful discussion that followed. I believe it demonstrated how deeply Kentucky physicians care about staying ahead of emerging public health challenges. These are not theoretical concerns: they are issues physicians are encountering daily in their practice, and I’m so pleased that we were able to tackle such an important issue. If you weren’t able to attend in person, the session is now available to view as enduring material here.
We now have another opportunity to continue this important conversation. On March 27 at noon ET, KMA will host the next session in this series: “High Risk Habits: How Tobacco, Vaping, and Marijuana Impact the Heart.” We will welcome Dr. Sonali Arora, and I look forward to her insight, as well as hearing from many of you about what you are seeing clinically around this issue. I encourage you to register here.
Finally, just yesterday, we witnessed the same commitment to patient well-being expressed through advocacy during the 2026 KMA Physicians’ Day at the Capitol. Physicians, residents, and medical students met directly with lawmakers to share real-world experiences and advocate for policies that support patients and strengthen the practice environment. Whether discussing prior authorization reform, physician wellness, or access to care, our members demonstrated that advocacy is simply another form of caring for patients.
Together, I believe these events highlight the unique role of organized medicine. As education strengthens our voice, advocacy ensures that voice leads to meaningful change. Both, of course, are essential to improving health across Kentucky.
As we reflect on the success of recent weeks and look ahead to the opportunities before us, I also want to encourage you to renew your KMA membership if you haven’t done so already. Your support sustains our advocacy efforts, expands educational opportunities, and ensures that the physician community remain a strong, unified voice for patients across the Commonwealth.
And if you are ready to take your membership to the next level, I would strongly encourage you to consider applying for the 2026 class of the Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute (KPLI). As a KPLI graduate myself, I can’t say enough good things about the program and how it has shaped my career and leadership. After taking a pause in 2025, the 2026 program will be back with new and even more timely and relevant curriculum. Applications are open until March 15, and are available here.
Thank you for your continued leadership, your dedication to your patients, and your commitment to advancing health in Kentucky. Together, we are making a lasting impact, one step at a time.