HEALTHY HEARTS FOR A BETTER START
G rowing up in the south side of Chicago, Kim Williams, M.D., a world-renowned cardiologist at UofL Health, was no stranger to underserved communities and limited access to health care. Williams personally struggled with the inaccessibility of basic health care needs and medicines, which led to his desire to fix this problem by becoming a doctor. Because of his childhood, Williams took a special interest in learning about not only becoming a doctor, but also the lack of access and equity, along with the disparities in health care. Williams’s goal is to help solve ethnic and health disparity and believes the only way to do that is to cure and treat diseases such as diabetes, sickle cell anemia, heart disease, stroke, cancer, pneumonia and other diseases that affect African Americans more than other ethnicities. There are many steps to cure and treat these diseases, starting with more education, screenings, dieting and regular exercise. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and is most common among men, those who smoke, are overweight, have a family history and/or are over 55 years old. Williams has made it his mission to reduce this statistic and help people reduce their risk of heart disease. Heart disease is preventable and can be reduced with lifestyle changes.
Williams’s long-tenured cardiology career has led to his strong research in living a whole-food plant-based diet. The biggest threat to people living this lifestyle is lack of education. Eating well can help eradicate the plague in arteries and prevent cardiac incidents. Williams recommends resources like the Association of Black Cardiologists’ Cooking for Your Heart and Soul and Healthy at Last by Eric Adams . KIM WILLIAMS, M.D.: Dr. Kim Williams joined UofL Health in summer 2022 as a cardiologist and the chair of the UofL Department of Medi- cine. Originally from Chicago, Dr. Williams brings over 40 years of expertise and knowledge to this role as an educator, physician and advocate for health equity. Dr. Williams is a nationally renowned cardiologist that will lead the scientific, educational and clinical programs for the UofL Department of Medicine. Dr. Williams fosters an environment of collab- oration, equity and inclusion through his educational, clin- ical and research projects. Dr. Williams earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Med- icine, completed his residency at Emory University Affiliat- ed Hospitals and his fellowship at the University of Chicago. His time in Chicago made him acutely aware of health care disparities, delivery and access. He specializes in cardiology, cardio-nutrition, cardio-rheumatology, cardio-nephrology, preventative cardiology and cardiovascular radiology.
Williams recommends following the American Heart Association’s Essential Eight for healthy behaviors.
1. Eat better 2. Be more active 3. Quit tobacco 4. Get healthy sleep 5. Manage weight
6. Control cholesterol 7. Manage blood sugar 8. Manage blood pressure
36
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software