FROM THE PRESIDENT by Thomas Higgins, MD, MSPH, MBA
Physicians Together
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Note: the following text is taken from a speech made by Dr. Higgins as part of the 2025 President’ s Celebration.
It is a great honor to have been elected by my peers as your new President of the Greater Louisville Medical Society. This society has a rich history. It has been a cornerstone of our medical community for decades. To lead an organization like this— one that represents the very best of medicine in our city— is a privilege that I do not take lightly.
When people heard I was becoming president of the medical society, they asked if I was ready for the responsibility. I said,“ Of course— after years of convincing patients to take their medicine or that they need surgery, I’ m ready for any tough negotiation.”
They say,“ Family is the anchor that holds us through life’ s storms.” To my wife Ashley and my two boys, Connor and Riley. Guys, you are my foundation, my joy and my constant reminder of what really matters in life. To my mom Donna— you’ ve taught me what it means to work hard and give back to others. My dad – we just call him“ Higgins”– inspired me with his work ethic.
And my mother and father-in-law Gail and Don— thanks for raising such an incredible daughter and accepting me into your family.
I also want to thank my work family. My physician partner Dr. Bruce Scott, President of the American Medical Association, is the one who nudged me into advocacy work all those years ago. And Dr. Monalisa Tailor— thank you for believing in me and supporting my initial appointment on the
GLMS Board; I am grateful for your encouragement.
Thanks to our Louisville Metro Council, House Representatives and Senators.
To the GLMS staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes— you are truly the glue that keeps this organization running seamlessly. And
Bert Guinn, the GLMS EVP / CEO— you have done an exceptional job leading this organization with vision and integrity. I am grateful for all you do.
And to everyone else who has touched my life and believed in me along the way— whether named here tonight or unnamed but not forgotten— I owe you a debt of gratitude that words cannot fully express. So, thank you.
I was an‘ 80s kid. My childhood was filled with encouragement and opportunity. Dad owned a construction company. Mom was a hairdresser and had a side gig as a computer consultant. She can literally fix your hair and your computer at the same time! But I don’ t know if they were truly ready for an experiment like me!
I became a doctor, and I am now a rhinologist in private practice. Rhinology is a subspecialty of otolaryngology that specializes in sinus and skull base issues— or as I like to call it, the world of“ snot.” My work focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions that many people may not want to think about – until they’ re suffering from them: chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps or you know when spouses start needing separate bedrooms because of the snoring. My kids are like: can you fix yourself?
It’ s a field that blends intricate anatomy, advanced surgical techniques and creative problem-solving— a perfect fit for someone like me who thrives on tackling challenges head-on.
Now, I’ ll be honest with you: becoming a doctor wasn’ t always something I dreamed of as a kid. My parents weren’ t doctors. None of my friends wanted to be doctors. In high school, I was more focused on playing guitar in my alternative rock band, for instance. We weren’ t exactly headlining arenas, but we were solving problems— problems like how to find a drummer who could keep the beat! That same drive to problem-solve followed me into college, where I ran cross-country and was the student body President. And I started a volunteer day at Bellarmine University. It was a simple idea: gather people together, do some good in the community and make it fun. A version of that day still exists today, long after my time there— and to me, that’ s proof of what can happen when people come together with purpose.
You see, collaboration has always been at the heart of everything I do. I created a non-profit called Snot Force Alliance( yes, the name is supposed to make you smile). We bring specialists together, like ENTs, allergists and pulmonologists, to tackle overlapping medical conditions. By simply sitting down with colleagues to exchange ideas, I’ ve learned that magic happens when we work together.