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.
PRESIDENTJohn 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.
| PRESIDENT-ELECTRyan Smith, M.D., graduated from Centre College with a double major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He earned academic All-Conference honors as a second baseman on the Centre baseball team. Dr. Smith is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Florida in Gainesville before returning home to Kentucky, where he completed a surgical glaucoma Fellowship at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr. Smith is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He chose to specialize in ophthalmology because of the variety of medical and surgical procedures that help preserve and improve vision. As a glaucoma specialist, he enjoys developing a long term relationship with his patients. His interests include the surgical management of glaucoma and utilizing the latest surgical techniques, including traditional filtration surgery and glaucoma shunt implants. Dr. Smith is also excited about various new minimally invasive glaucoma procedures that can be combined with cataract surgery. He has demonstrated expertise in complex, high-risk cataract surgery, and is experienced in the latest cataract implant options, including implants to correct astigmatism and presbyopia.
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTORThe Kentucky Association of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (KAEPS) is pleased to welcome back Jamie Ennis as its Executive Director and Lobbyist. Jamie is an accomplished public affairs professional with nearly two decades of experience in legislative advocacy, health policy, external relations, and organizational leadership. Her career has centered on being a relentless advocate for advancing better health outcomes across the Commonwealth and beyond. Jamie previously held the role of Executive Director of KAEPS from 2016 to 2017, before being appointed by Governor Steve Beshear to serve on the inaugural Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund Board. She served with distinction as President for eight years, in honor of her son, Paxton, a survivor of stage 4 Burkitt’s lymphoma. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in securing more than $37 million in state funding dedicated to pediatric cancer research, changing the landscape of childhood cancer in Kentucky. A former D.C. intern for Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, Jamie has been named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Kentucky Politics (Kentucky Gazette), a Rising Star in Government (The Lane Report), and one of America’s Top Cancer Change Makers. She’s also a recipient of the prestigious Health Policy Champion Award from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Jamie is also a graduate of Leadership Somerset, Leadership Lexington, and Leadership Kentucky. Beyond her work in public policy, Jamie is the founder of Childero, a nonprofit ministry based in northern Uganda that supports Christian outreach, education, and health care services for orphans, including at the Gulu School for the Blind. Jamie received her Master’s of Public Administration from Eastern Kentucky University. She resides in southcentral Kentucky and is the mother of three children: Paxton, Ansley, and Maura.  |
2024-2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Franklin, M.D. - President
Ryan Smith, M.D. - President-elect
Benjamin Proctor, M.D. - Secretary/Treasurer
Benjamin Mackey, M.D.- Immediate Past President
Jeremy Clark, 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
Landon Meeks, 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
Ashima Gupta, M.D. - Health Plans Relations Chair
Jeremy Clark, M.D. - Kentucky Ophthalmological Political Action Committee Chair
Ashima Gupta, 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
Garrett Oberst, M.D. - KOPAC Chair
Michelle Abou-Jaoude, M.D. - Young Ophthalmologist Representative
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.