FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 29, 2023
CONTACT: Emily Schott
KMA Director of Communications
502-341-1926
schott@kyma.org
Paducah Physician Evelyn Montgomery Jones M.D., Installed as KMA President
LOUISVILLE, KY—Evelyn Montgomery Jones, M.D., a Paducah dermatologist, was installed as the 174th President of the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) over the weekend during the organization’s Annual Meeting.
KMA members also elected two other officers during the 2024 meeting. Jiapeng Huang, M.D., of Louisville was elected President-Elect, and Ishmael Stevens, M.D., of Ashland was elected Vice President.
Dr. Montgomery Jones completed her undergraduate education at Georgetown College in 1985 and medical school at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1989. After an internship in Internal Medicine, Dr. Montgomery Jones went on to residency at the University of Louisville Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology from 1990 – 1993. She returned to her hometown of Paducah, Kentucky in 1993, to start her dermatology practice. She currently owns and operates WellSprings Dermatology and WellSprings SkinCare.
In her inaugural address, Dr. Montgomery Jones discussed her priorities for the year, including a focus on improving the overall health and well-being of Kentuckians through a new public awareness campaign.
“With 80% of chronic disease and 40% of cancers directly linked to our lifestyle choices, we are compelled to educate ourselves on the steps to take to reverse and even prevent many of these diseases, then step into these bold conversations with our patients,” said Dr. Montgomery Jones.
Along with the installation of new officers, the Annual Meeting featured a special education session, “Voices and Visions: Influencing the Future of Kentucky Healthcare,” featuring a diverse array of speakers. They included Alex Ding, M.D., M.S., and Jiapeng Huang, M.D., PhD, who led a discussion on artificial intelligence in medicine, Bart Darrell, Chancellor of Health Force Kentucky, and Arpita Lakhotia, M.D., and Kyle Brothers, M.D., PhD, who presented on advancements in gene therapy treatments.
KMA also presented awards to three individuals during the President’s Celebration Reception, held on Aug. 24.
KMA Past President William C. Harrison, M.D., of Owensboro, received the Distinguished Service Award, the Association’s highest honor. Orthopedic sports medicine physician, Benjamin Kibler, M.D., of Lexington, was the recipient of the Community Service Award, and Cynthia Benedict, Systems Director for Belonging and Health Equity at Norton Healthcare in Louisville was given the Debra K. Best Outstanding Layperson Award. More information on the 2024 KMA Awards of Excellence recipients, including videos highlighting each honoree, is available at https://kyma.org/kma-to-honor-three-individuals-during-2024-awards-of-excellence-program/.
Eleven physicians were recognized for completing KMA’s award-winning Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute (KPLI). Participants completed a series of learning events that aim to cultivate physician leaders across the state. Members of the 2024 class are Syed Haider Abbas, M.D., Lexington, Timothy Beacham, M.D., Louisville, Erica Courtney, M.D., Glasgow, Kelly Evans, D.O., Gray, Erin Moore, M.D., Lexington, Kevin O’Bryan, M.D., Louisville, Rinit Pancholi, M.D., Louisville, Erin Schumer, M.D., Louisville, Drew Shirley, M.D., Lexington, Zubi Suleman, M.D., Louisville, and Robert Whitford, M.D., Louisville.
KMA concluded special recognitions by honoring graduates of its Medical Student Outreach and Leadership (MSOL) program. Fifty-one students from four campuses across the state completed the program this year, which is designed to engage students early in organized medicine and create future physician leaders through educational sessions and community involvement. A listing of students and their respective medical schools is provided. Click here for a list of MSOL graduates.
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About KMA
The Kentucky Medical Association is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization that supports physician members and their patients with a variety of services. The KMA, established in 1851, represents and supports nearly 7,000 physicians, physician residents, and medical students across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Learn more about the KMA and its programs at www.kyma.org.
