Kentucky Medical Association Honors UK Faculty, Alum for Outstanding Contributions to Healthcare

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 28, 2012) − Three University of Kentucky physicians were recently honored during the Kentucky Medical Association's (KMA) Annual Meeting on Sept. 10 in Louisville.

The Distinguished Service Award, the KMA's highest award, was presented to Dr. Baretta Casey, professor in the UK College of Public Health and the UK College of Medicine. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to a physician who has made outstanding contributions to organized medicine and individual medical service.

A native of Pikeville and current resident of Sweeden, Ky., Casey was honored for her passionate service to patients in rural communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky and devotion to protecting the practice of medicine.  From the beginning of her medical career, Casey has been an advocate for patients, including advocating for women's issue in health and in the medical profession. In 1996, who founded the Pike County Domestic Violence Board which developed a 'safe place' shelter for victims of domestic violence. She chaired the KMA Community and Rural Health Committee and led the committee's work dealing with the issue of domestic violence on the state level.

Beyond her work in the realm of public health, Casey has been a local, state, and national leader in organized medicine. Casey is the past president of the KMA and only the second female in the Association’s history to hold that office. She is the past chairperson of the KMA Board of Trustees and the only female to ever hold that office. She currently serves as the KMA Delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) and serves on the AMA Council on Medical Education.  Casey serves on the National Residency Matching Program as the Secretary/Treasurer and a member of organization’s executive committee.  She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education and is the current chair-elect.

Dr. Randy Rowland, professor of Surgery and Urology at the UK College of Medicine and president and chief executive officer of the Markey Cancer Foundation, received the Educational Achievement Award, the award presented to a physician who has made a significant contribution in medical or medically-related education in the areas of teaching, research, or clinical application in medical practice and patient education.

Internationally recognized for his research and treatment of urologic and bladder cancer, Rowland has written over 40 books or book chapters in urologic literature. He has contributed over 100 manuscripts and has lectured across the world. One of his greatest passions has been educating and guiding his students over his 35 years of teaching.   

Rowland's passion is evident in the numerous awards he has received including being named the recipient of the Teaching Award for Excellence in Resident Education three times, an award that is now named in his honor.

Dr. Rice Leach, alumnus of the UK College of Medicine, received the KMA Community Service Award, presented to a physician who has provided extraordinary professional and civic service to his or her local community.

Leach has served as a public health physician across the country from Arizona to South Dakota working with Indian Services. In 1990, he assumed the prestigious role of chief of staff in the Office of the Surgeon General where he served for two years. Rice was then appointed Commissioner of Public Health in the Commonwealth of Kentucky where he served from 1992-2004, excelling as a state public health leader throughout his tenure. Leach worked closely with the KMA and helped to provide information and resources to the medical community on a number of issues.

Leach was recently called back into service post-retirement as Commissioner of Health for the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. in that role, he has guided the Health Department through sign cant changes.  Leach is not only an administrative leader; he remains a strong advocate for his patients and for the many students he has mentored and guided along the way.

Lexington attorney Bill Doll, a UK College of Law alum ('74), received the Outstanding Layperson Award, given each year to a non-physician for outstanding accomplishment in the field of public health or medical care.

After serving his country in the Vietnam War, Doll completed law school at UK and practiced for a short time before representing the KMA before the Kentucky General Assembly starting in 1975. His work has continued to this day and includes serving as member of the KMA staff in the early 1980s. He now works for the law firm of Jackson Kelly in Lexington, where he continues his work as one of Frankfort's most noted legislative agents.

Throughout his career, Doll has been recognized as an expert on Kentucky Health Care Law and played a major role in writing it. He vast network of contacts which include physician leaders within KMA, have assisted KMA's lobbying activities.

Doll is a noted expert and advocate of tort reform. In the early 2000s, he also led efforts to adopt patient protection legislation that ended up being a model of legislative success for other states. That legislation included many protections provided to patients from the excesses of managed care, along with many physician protections. He was an integral part of KMA's efforts to pass a more balanced piece of legislation regarding prescription drug abuse.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859)323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu