A Grand Slam Celebration at the Louisville Slugger Museum
A Grand Slam Celebration at the Louisville Slugger Museum
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, GLMS members and their families gathered for an unforgettable afternoon at the iconic Louisville Slugger Museum to celebrate a new chapter of leadership and reflect on a year of remarkable service.
The spotlight shone on incoming President Dr. Thomas Higgins, as we officially welcomed him into his new role. We also honored the outstanding contributions of outgoing Board Chair Dr. Patricia Purcell and outgoing
President Dr. Lewis Hargett, applauding their dedication and leadership over the past year.
Before the formal program began, guests enjoyed time to mingle, reconnect and share stories in the museum’ s unique and relaxed setting. Following the presentation, guests were invited on a tour of the museum to learn more about the unique history of this local gem. The celebration also featured the presentation of the Richard Spear, MD, Memorial Essay Contest awards, with trophies awarded to this year’ s winners – Dr. David Dageforde and fourth-year medical student Elizabeth Clark( you can read their powerful essays on page 16 of this issue of Louisville Medicine).
It was an afternoon filled with connection, recognition and inspiration— one that truly hit it out of the park.
In his presidential address, Dr. Higgins took the audience on a heartfelt and humorous journey through his life – from an’ 80s kid with rockstar dreams to a respected physician and leader. He warmly credited his family, friends and colleagues for supporting him every step of the way. With stories of teenage band rehearsals and the unexpected twists of his academic path, Dr. Higgins shared how his passion for bringing people together gradually evolved into a calling to serve through medicine. His reflections offered not just insight into his personal journey, but a powerful reminder of the many ways leadership, community and compassion intersect.
“ Collaboration has always been at the heart of everything I do. By simply sitting down with colleagues to exchange ideas, I’ ve learned that magic happens when we work together. And let’ s face it: medicine is too complex, too nuanced, for us to succeed in silos,” he said.“ I want to emphasize a unifying truth: regardless of our individual practice settings or specialties, we are all dedicated to the same noble mission— providing the best possible care for our patients. Our diverse backgrounds may lead us down different paths— be it in hospitals, private practice or academics— but our commitment to patient care binds us. Let us celebrate our differences while also finding common ground in our shared purpose.”
Dr. Higgins’ goals for the year focus on collaboration and the power of physicians coming together. He closed his presentation with thanks and this statement:“ When we work together— when we truly collaborate— not only do we become better doctors; we become better people. And our patients will benefit from that.”
Kathryn Vance is the Communications and Event Coordinator at the Greater Louisville Medical Society.
Front row: Dr. Patricia Purcell, Dr. Monalisa Tailor, Dr. Valerie Briones-Pryor Back row: Dr. Frank Burns, Dr. Lewis Hargett, Dr. Thomas Higgins
20 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE