New Physicians at Baptist Health Louisville
LOUISVILLE Baptist Health Medical Group welcomed Carmen Tugulan, MD, to its cardiac surgery team. Tugulan specializes in performing a wide range of complex cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures, including surgical revascularizations, valve replacements, surgical ablation, left atrial appendage exclusion, combined cases, and ECMO initiations and maintenance.
Tugulan earned her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and completed her general surgery residency at Maricopa Integrated Health System in Phoenix. She completed a thoracic surgery residency at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans and a structural heart and minimally invasive mitral fellowship at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas.
She is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and holds basic life support and advanced cardiovascular life support certifications from the American Heart Association.
Tugulan is also a member of the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons.
Baptist Health Medical Group Welcomes Simranjit Kaur, MD
Simranjit Kaur, MD, brings advanced training and a compassionate, patient-centered approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases affecting the muscles, bones, and joints.
Kaur specializes in rheumatology, offering expertise for patients seeking care for complex autoimmune and musculoskeletal conditions. She is board certified in internal medicine and board eligible in rheumatology and is now accepting new patients.
Kaur completed her medical education at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University in Manipal, India, graduating with distinction. She went on to complete an internal medicine residency at MedStar Health Georgetown, Washington Hospital Center, followed by a rheumatology fellowship at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
Kaur holds certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine, the U.S. Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, and the Karnataka Medical Council in India. She is also certified in ultrasound for rheumatologists through the Rheumatism Society of the District of Columbia, as well as advanced cardiac life support and basic life support through the American Heart Association.
Additionally, she has completed training in basic newborn care and resuscitation through the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.
Kaur is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Rheumatology, the Rheumatism Society of the District of Columbia, the American College of Physicians, and the Indian Red Cross Society.
Saint Joseph Health Names Wayne Lipson, MD, as New Market Chief Medical Officer
LEXINGTON Wayne Lipson, MD, MBA, is the new chief medical officer (CMO) for Saint Joseph Health. He joined Saint Joseph Health on December 15, 2025.
“Dr. Lipson has a wealth of experience in both clinical practice and physician leadership and brings a unique perspective on clinical excellence, patient safety and physician collaboration that will be instrumental in enhancing our operations across Saint Joseph Health,” said Matt Grimshaw, MBA, president, Saint Joseph Health, the Kentucky market for CommonSpirit.
A board-certified thoracic surgeon, Lipson has physician leadership experience in both ambulatory and inpatient enterprises. He comes to Saint Joseph from Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis where he has been serving as senior vice president/system chief medical officer since 2021.
Previously, Lipson worked for Baptist Health Systems, where he served as vice president/CMO for Baptist Health Madisonville from 2016-2021. Throughout his time with Baptist Health Madisonville, Lipson co-led Cardiothoracic/Vascular Services.
“I’m excited to be part of CommonSpirit Health,” Lipson said. “CommonSpirit and Saint Joseph represent the highest quality care, driven by a mission to improve the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable. The organization aligns with my very strong beliefs and values, which is very important to me.
Lipson earned both a BS in mechanical engineering and a MS in biomedical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, then earned his medical degree at the State University of New York at Stonybrook, School of Medicine. He completed his general and thoracic surgery residence at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He earned his MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Business.
He and his wife, Kristi, a native of western Kentucky, have three children, all of whom live in Lexington or close by. MDU
Saint Joseph Health Debuts New High-Tech Surgical Robot
LEXINGTON Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East have a new advancement in surgical technology. The hospitals received the new da Vinci 5 surgical robots in October 2025. This state-of-theart system represents a significant leap forward in minimally invasive surgery.
“As CommonSpirit continues to make investments in Kentucky, we are thrilled to be the first in Lexington to offer this latest technology in minimally invasive surgery,” said Matt Grimshaw, MBA, president, Saint Joseph Health/CommonSpirit Kentucky. “While our surgeons have been using robotic-assisted surgery for some time, the advanced capabilities offered by the DV5 is a game-changer for our surgeons and our patients.”
The da Vinci 5 (DV5) is designed to enhance surgeon precision with the goal of improving patient outcomes. More than 150 new enhancements have been developed to support surgeon autonomy and care team efficiency. Intuitive, the maker of da Vinci surgical robots, calls the DV5 “the most
advanced and integrated platform we’ve ever created—designed to enable better outcomes, efficiency and insights for the future of minimally invasive care.”
This system enables surgeons to feel more and see more during procedures with a next-generation 3D display and image processing. The da Vinci 5 provides new surgeon controllers, making their movements smoother and more precise. In addition, the new system has innovative features that help streamline surgeon and care team workflow with an optimized user interface.
“The DV5 will elevate the entire OR,” said David Swedler, DO, director of bariatric surgery at Saint Joseph East. “The newest tech updates, which are upgrading an already excellent robotic machine in the previous version, give the surgeon even more feedback at the console. Better visualization, haptic feedback and several new software updates ensure we are delivering the best possible surgery for our patients in 2025.” Rebecca Douglass, DO, a general surgeon at Saint Joseph Hospital, agrees.
“The Da Vinci 5 robotic system represents a major leap forward in minimally invasive surgery. Having performed robotic procedures for over nine years using the da Vinci Si, X, and Xi systems, I can say the DV5 offers truly transformative advancements for both surgeons and patients,” she said. “The system is designed to enhance a surgeon’s senses, combining touch, vision, and data to enable even greater precision and control in the operating room. I’m proud to work at an institution that invests in leading-edge technology like the da Vinci 5 to help us provide the best possible care for our patients.”