October 6, 2026 Issue 244

Your Next Leadership Step Starts Here: 2027 KPLI Applications Now Open

Applications are now open for the 2027 class of the award-winning Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute (KPLI), KMA’s award-winning leadership development program designed to help Kentucky physicians grow their leadership skills, expand their perspectives and build meaningful connections with colleagues across the Commonwealth.

You don’t have to have “leader” in your title to be a leader. Whether you are beginning to explore leadership, looking to strengthen your skills or preparing for your next opportunity to serve your profession and community, KPLI can help you take that next step.

KMA President Christine Ko, M.D., a KPLI graduate, reflected on the program’s impact during her inaugural address:


“KPLI taught me that leadership is learned. It is practiced. It is strengthened through relationships, self-awareness, and a willingness to grow.”

Dr. Ko said the experience “changed the trajectory” of her professional life and contributed to the physician leader she is today.

As part of Dr. Ko’s Your KMA initiative, KMA is committed to supporting physicians at every stage of their careers—including their professional growth and leadership development.

Applications for the 2027 KPLI class are open through March 14, 2027.

Take your next leadership step. Apply for KPLI today here.

KDPH Healthcare/Public Health Update Webinar: Tuesday,

October 6

The next Kentucky Department for Public Health Healthcare/Public Health Update Webinar will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT.

During the webinar, KDPH will offer up-to-date information on several current topics of interest to healthcare and public health providers.

Topics will include (but may not be limited to):

• Respiratory Diseases Situation Update
• Fall Vaccination Recommendations
• Measles Outbreak Update
• Rabies Update
• Petting Zoo Health & Safety
• Tularemia Update
• Candida auris Update
• Infection Prevention & Control Best Practices and Reminders: Quarterly IPC Spotlight

Please register for KY Healthcare and Public Health Update Webinar on October 6, 2026 11:30 AM EDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5189284120986763349

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

After the webinar, all registrants will receive a link to a video archive of the presentation along with a copy of the slide deck so will be able to view at a later time if you are unable to attend.

Questions and answers will be provided either at the end of the presentation up until 1:00 p.m. and/or through a and Q&A response post-presentation send-out with the above video archive link and slides.

Your KMA: In the Spotlight highlights the KMA member physicians who are making a difference in their communities, celebrating accomplishments, and leading positive change across Kentucky.

KMA President-Elect, Ashland Children’s Clinic Recognized as a Community Health Champion

Ashland Children’s Clinic, owned by KMA President-Elect Ish Stevens, M.D., was recently named WellCare of Kentucky’s 2026 Community Health Champion for Primary Care.

Ashland Children’s Clinic was one of 12 individuals and organizations recognized through WellCare’s seventh annual Community Health Champions Awards, which celebrate those working to remove barriers to care, improve health outcomes and strengthen communities across the Commonwealth. The honorees were selected from hundreds of nominations statewide.

Dr. Stevens has been a member of the practice since 2000 and has spent his career caring for children and families in the Ashland community.

Congratulations to Dr. Stevens and the entire Ashland Children’s Clinic team on this well-deserved recognition! Your KMA is proud!

Pictured from left: Corey Ewing, Plan President and CEO of WellCare of Kentucky and Ish Stevens, M.D., KMA President-Elect

KMA’s “CME Guarantee” program allows member physicians to receive access to at least 30 hours of Category I Continuing Medical Education credit each three-year cycle at no cost. Members will be able to see the latest course offerings, upcoming sessions, and those that may be expiring soon in this new recurring section of Kentucky Health eNews. Physicians can also access a list of CME offerings by visiting https://kyma.org/education-cme/ and clicking on "CME Guarantee" on the sidebar menu. Members can access this page only after logging into the website. If you need assistance with your login and password, click here. For more information on the CME Guarantee program, contact Miranda Mosley, mosley@kyma.org.

Current Enduring Course Offerings:

Learn With Me: Urology
(Expires October 2026)
Faculty: Kellen Choi, M.D.

Learn With Me: Exploring Hospice and Palliative Care

(Expires: November 2026)

Faculty: Rebecca Chatham, M.D. and Monalisa Tailor, M.D.

Trending Toward Trouble: Popular Health Fads Harming Your Heart
(Expires February 2027)
Faculty: John Higgins, M.D. and Jiapeng Huang, M.D.

Learn With Me: Blood Disorders
(Expires March 2027)
Faculty: Carolyn Burns, M.D., and Monalisa Tailor, M.D.

Lexington Clinic Grand Rounds: Chronic Tendinitis
(Expires December 2026)
Faculty: Theresa Wolfe, M.D.

Lexington Clinic Grand Rounds: Margins Matter: A Review of Mohs Micrographic Surgery
(Expires December 2026)
Faculty: Maheera Farsi-Morgan, D.O.

Lexington Clinic Grand Rounds: Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism 
(Expires December 2026)
Faculty: Bruce Bradley, M.D.

Learn With Me: Emerging Trends in Tick-Borne Diseases
(Expires April 2027)
Faculty: Mark Burns, M.D. and Monalisa Tailor, M.D.

Epilepsy Identification, Diagnosis, and Management Of: A Kentucky Perspective Zoom Webinar
(Expires May 2027)
Faculty: Julie Youssefi, M.D., Joseph Neimat, M.D., Vinay Puri, M.B.B.S., FAAN

Lexington Clinic Grand Rounds: Clinical Considerations of Anaphylaxis
(Expires December 2026)
Faculty: Gregory Osetinsky, M.D., FACS 

Learn With Me: Clinical Considerations of Psychiatry
(Expires June 2027)
Faculty: Eric Lydon, M.D., and Allison Yoder, M.D.

Lexington Clinic Grand Rounds: COPD: Update on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Interventions
(Expires December 2026)
Faculty: Carlos Ramirez-Icaza, M.D.

Learn With Me: Brain Awareness
(Expires July 2027)
Faculty: Greg Cooper, M.D. and Monalisa Tailor, M.D.

Lexington Clinic Grand Rounds: Beyond the Joints: Recognizing and Managing Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatologic Diseases
(Expires December 2026)
Faculty: Andrew Schneider, M.D. 

Lexington Clinic Grand Rounds: Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Arthritis 
(Expires December 2026)
Faculty: Brandon Devers, M.D.

Learn With Me: All Things Billing

(Expires October 2027)
Faculty: Yvette Cua, M.D. and Monalisa Tailor, M.D.