Jiapeng Huang, M.D., Inaugurated as 175Th KMA President
By Emily Schott, KMA Communications Director
The Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) held its Annual Meeting on August 22 and 23 at the Louisville Marriott East. Jiapeng Huang, M.D., PhD, a Louisville anesthesiologist, was installed as the 175th President of the Association during the event, which brought together physicians of all specialties from across the Commonwealth.
KMA members also elected other officers during the 2025 meeting. Christine Ko, M.D., of Lexington was elected President-Elect, and Ishmael Stevens, M.D., of Ashland was elected Vice President. Danesh Mazloomdoost, M.D., of Lexington was elected Speaker of the KMA House of Delegates, and Heidi Koenig, M.D., of Louisville was elected Vice Speaker.
Dr. Huang currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer and Associate Dean for Clinical Research at UofL Health, as well as Deputy Director of the Louisville Clinical and Translational Research Center and Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. He is Editor of the British Journal of Anesthesia, Director of the American Board of Anesthesiology, Director of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and Director of the Anesthesia Quality Institute. Dr. Huang previously served as Vice President of the KMA Board of Trustees and is a graduate of the 2018 class of the Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute (KPLI).
During his inauguration comments, Dr. Huang emphasized the need for physicians to continue to be involved in organized medicine and called for members to take advantage of opportunities for leadership and connection.
“There is so much more physicians can do outside of our clinical practices that could impact our patients and our profession in very meaningful ways. Together, we can make the world a better place through our efforts. But we must take that leap into opportunities that could help us do that, and we must encourage others to do so as well.”
The theme of the 2025 Annual Meeting was “Kentucky Physicians: Leading With Every Step,” which echoed the theme of the KMA’s latest public health campaign, “Small STEPS, Big Impact.” The effort seeks to encourage Kentuckians to make small changes to their lifestyles that can add up to a big improvement in their overall health, while the meeting theme celebrated the impact physicians are making with every action they take, whether in patient care, advocacy, or leadership.
During the event’s Educational Symposium, held on Aug. 22, attendees welcomed keynote speaker Jordan Grumet, M.D., also known as “Doc G.” Author of The Purpose Code, Dr. Grumet focused on how taking small steps towards purpose can make a huge impact. All attendees to the education session received a complimentary copy of The Purpose Code. In addition, members heard from Sarah Police, PhD, of the University of Kentucky, who discussed nutritional strategies for positive health outcomes, as well as a panel of Physician Ambassadors from the Small STEPS, Big Impact campaign, including Lesley Kellie, D.O., Susan Bushelman, M.D., and Haider Abbas, M.D.
That evening, graduates of the KMA’s award-winning Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute gathered for a special “Celebrating Our Stars” VIP dinner, which recognized the many achievements and success of program alumni. Attendees heard from keynote speaker and Secretary for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Steven Stack, M.D., who presented “Leadership When Times are Tough.”
Attendees to the Annual Meeting also put into practice priorities of the Small STEPS, Big Impact program by participating in a “Stretch and Refresh” yoga session, led by campaign Physician Ambassador Monalisa Tailor, M.D., on Saturday morning prior to meeting events for the day.
KMA members are asked to save the date for the 2026 Annual Meeting, which will be held Aug. 22 and 23, 2026, at the Louisville Marriott East.
A gallery of more photos from the 2025 KMA Annual Meeting is available here.