Midway University will welcome Dr. Ardis Hoven, the former Chair of the World Medical Association and former President of the American Medical Association, as she offers the Commencement Address on Saturday, May 11.
Dr. Ardis Hoven is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill before returning to Lexington, Kentucky to begin practice at the Lexington Clinic in Infectious Diseases. During her tenure at the Lexington Clinic, the AIDS epidemic and HIV became a dominant part of her practice. She became a recognized expert in this area and was introduced to the world of health care policy due to the needs of her patients.
Subsequently, Dr. Hoven went on to become the first woman to be President of the Kentucky Medical Association. In 2013, Dr. Hoven became President of the American Medical Association. She served in this capacity until becoming Chair of the World Medical Association and just completed that work this month.
Currently, Dr. Hoven is Professor of Medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, is a consultant to the Kentucky Department for Public Health and most recently became the Medical Director of the Harm Reduction Initiative, a collaborative initiative between the Department for Public Health and the University of Kentucky. This initiative will assist in the development of expanded programs throughout the state in the prevention of HIV, Hepatitis C, substance use disorder and overdose deaths.
Dr. Hoven has a special personal connection to Midway University as her father served on the Board of Trustees from 1955 to 1983 when he became Trustee Emeritus.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Hoven offer the commencement address to our graduating class,” said John P. Marsden, President, Midway University. “I believe it will be inspirational for our graduates to hear from such an accomplished professional in her field and someone who has a personal connection to our institution.”
Midway University will confer degrees on 295 students at its Commencement Ceremony held Saturday, May 11 at 11 a.m. on campus in the Graves Amphitheater.
The Commencement Ceremony will be live streamed and available for viewing on the Midway University YouTube channel.