Dr Patrick Withrow receives KMA Community Service Award

The Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) presented its Community Service Award to Patrick Withrow, MD, during the Leadership Dinner at the 2019 KMA Annual Meeting on Sept. 21.

The Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) presented its Community Service Award to Patrick Withrow, MD, during the Leadership Dinner at the 2019 KMA Annual Meeting on Sept. 21.

Dr. Withrow, outreach director at Baptist Health Paducah, practiced interventional cardiology practice for more than 25 years and previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Baptist Health Paducah. He is a graduate of KMA’s Community Connector Leadership Program.

The award recognizes a physician who has made significant contributions to his or her community. Dr. Withrow was selected for tireless dedication to addressing two public health issues plaguing Kentucky—substance abuse and smoking.

As Outreach Director, Dr. Withrow has spoken in eleven counties to more than 15,000 students about the dangers of e-cigarettes and the negative effects of substance abuse on brain development. His innovative presentations engage students by allowing them to examine brain tissue and participate in exercises to demonstrate how the brain works.

He has also been a passionate advocate for statewide tobacco-free schools. During the 2019 legislative session, he testified before several committees and was named a 2018 Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion by The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.