LEXINGTON — I FIRST MET Nick Abedi, MD, in 2015, when we did a physician profile on him and have followed his career since. I was looking for a vascular medicine story for the 2026 cardiovascular issue and called him last December. He agreed to participate and we embarked on this issue’s cover story. Getting five very busy vascular surgeons together for photos could only happen after 6pm on a weeknight, so that’s what we did.
I hope you enjoy meeting Dr. Abedi and his four partners, with their story beginning on page 12.
Talking to the other cardiologists for this issue was also a treat: Drs. Amaghan Soomro, Yuvraj Chowdhury, Sean Stewart and reconnecting with Drs. Matthew Shotwell and Yaz Daboul.
KY Legislature
As of February 10, here’s some of what’s happening in medical news at the 2026 Kentucky legislative session from Senator Reggie Thomas, Lexington, Senate Democratic Caucus Chair.
SB 5 removes barriers that make it harder for schools to buy locally grown food, helping districts serve fresher, more nutritious meals to students while supporting Kentucky farmers. The bill also supports training for school food service staff and reflects a “Food Is Medicine” approach that connects nutrition to student health, learning, and success.
SB 12 updates state law governing Level IV trauma centers by allowing emergency departments to be covered by physician assistants or advanced practice registered nurses under physician supervision, rather than requiring a physician to be physically present at all times. Senator Thomas said that healthcare challenges in Kentucky must be addressed through thoughtful investments in the state budget that strengthen access and quality of care. He voted against this bill because he doesn’t believe it ensures the level of care Kentuckians deserve, particularly in trauma settings, where physician-led judgment is both critical and necessary. However, it passed 27-11.
KMA president Pat Padgett stated that the KMA agreed with Senator Thomas on SB 12.
SB 18 updates Kentucky’s laws governing podiatry by modernizing licensure standards, clarifying the scope of practice, and establishing clear rules for podiatrists supervising physician assistants and podiatric staff. The bill also aligns podiatry regulations with current medical, training, and oversight standards to improve patient care and workforce flexibility.
The Heart Balls
It’s a busy time of the year in cardiovascular medicine. Studies conducted and published by the NIH and the American Heart Association show that December, January, and February have the highest number and percentage of coronary artery deaths. Cold weather, which brings on restricted blood flow; holiday stress; higher alcohol consumption; and unprecedented activities like shoveling snow are thought to be contributing factors.
To relieve some of that stress, the American Heart Association throw some BIG parties: the Heart Ball, in both Lexington and Louisville. We attended the Central Kentucky Heart Ball and brought our photographer to get some pictures to share with the non-cardiologists out there.
Look for them on pages 38 and 39 inside.
The 2026 MD-Update editorial calendar is on the preceding page. When you see your specialty and you have a story to tell, contact me. If your specialty isn’t included, that’s another reason to reach out to me. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Until next time, all the best,
