Kentucky academy of eye physicians and surgeons
GOVERNANCE - The Academy is governed by a Board of Directors who is responsible for establishing goals and setting policy. Several committees of the Board serve various program activities. Officers are elected by the membership at-large every two years during the annual business meeting of the KAEPS. Committee Chairpersons are appointed by the President of the KAEPS and serve as the Board of Directors.
PRESIDENTBenjamin L. Mackey, M.D., was born and raised in Corbin and attended Saint Camillus Academy. He went on to Transylvania University and then to medical school at the University of Louisville, where he graduated with honors in 1998. He then completed his ophthalmology residency at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where he served as chief resident. Dr. Mackey was board certified in 2004 and specializes in anterior segment surgery, including complicated cataract extractions.
| PRESIDENT-ELECTJohn Franklin, M.D., is a native of western Kentucky and obtained his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Louisville. He continued at U of L for both his medical degree and residency training in ophthalmology, then completed a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Franklin has a special interest in treating pediatric glaucoma, and for the past few years has been the only pediatric ophthalmologist in the state to treat this condition. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. His wife, Dr. Lucy Eakle Franklin, also works at UK HealthCare in comprehensive ophthalmology. They have two young daughters.
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Elizabeth "Liz" Roach grew up in a medical family, with a father and grandfather serving as family practice physicians in Midway, Ky. Her passions of service and connecting with others led her to pursue work in government and the non-profit world. In her eight years of service for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, she worked in several capacities, including Deputy Speechwriter, Press Secretary, and Director of Scheduling. Most recently, she served as Development Manager at the non-profit organization The Council of State Governments. Based in Lexington, Liz is a member of the 2017-18 Leadership Lexington class, a board member of the Woodford County Community Fund, and a volunteer at Radio Eye. She is a graduate of Furman University and the Columbia Journalism School Publishing Program.
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2022-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Benjamin Mackey, M.D. - President
John Franklin, M.D. - President-elect
Ryan Smith, M.D. - Secretary/Treasurer
William "Chip" Richardson, M.D.- Immediate Past President
Woodford Van Meter, M.D. - Councilor
Janelle Fassbender Adeniran, M.D. - At-Large Member
David Bryson, M.D. - At-Large Member
Victor Neamtu, M.D. - At-Large Member
Julie Lee, M.D. - At-Large Member
James Gullett, M.D. - Bylaws Chair
Ashima Gupta, M.D. - Contractor Advisory Committee for Medicaid
Joern Soltau, M.D. - Ethics Chair
Benjamin Proctor, M.D. - Health Plans Relations Chair
Jeremy Clark, M.D. - Kentucky Ophthalmological Political Action Committee Chair
Maurice Oakley, M.D. - KMA Delegate
Frank Burns, M.D. - Legislative Chair
Lucy Franklin, M.D. - Membership Chair
Daniel Moore, M.D. - University of Kentucky Representative
Christopher Compton, M.D. - University of Louisville Representative
Ryan Smith, M.D. - Young Ophthalmologist Chair
COMMITTEES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Bylaws Committee- Review and submit proposed changes to the Bylaws to the Board and membership.
- Ethics Committee- Establish professional standards for KAEPS members.
- Health Plan Relations Committee- Works with all third party payers, including Medicare and Medicaid, to establish appropriate medical policies for services provided by ophthalmologists. Responds to questions from the membership. Addresses problems members are having with the appropriate third party payer. Addresses problems members are having with the appropriate managed care program.
- KOPAC- Coordinates collection and distribution of PAC funds.
- Legislative Committee- Work with the lobbyist and legislature on proposed rules and bills before the General Assembly and other state regulatory commissions and committees.
- Membership Committee- Enlists and recruits qualified persons for active membership, maintains a census of ophthalmologists, and supervises a collection of demographic information regarding Kentucky ophthalmologists.