NEWS RELEASE - October 30, 2026

Meet Dr. Katherine Dotson, Our New Lifestyle Medicine Doctor in Lexington

Lexington, KY - Some of the most powerful medicine does not come in a bottle. It comes from how we live, one day at a time. That is the idea behind lifestyle medicine, and our Lexington clinic is growing to bring more of it to you.

Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) is pleased to announce that Dr. Katherine Dotson has joined Dr. Sarah Schuetz at our Lexington Lifestyle Medicine clinic, making it easier for more patients to access personalized, whole-person care. Together with our Lifestyle Medicine providers in Hazard, Kentucky, and Beckley, West Virginia, they are committed to helping you build healthy habits and take steps toward feeling stronger, happier, and more confident in your health.

Lifestyle medicine looks at the things we do every day. That means the food we eat, how we move, how we sleep, how we handle stress, and how we connect with others. Some people think this is an "alternative" kind of care. Dr. Dotson says that is not true. Lifestyle medicine is based on solid science, and it works with your other doctors.

"Lifestyle medicine is designed to work alongside a patient's existing medical care, not replace it," she says.

Her visits are longer than a typical doctor's appointment. That gives her time to listen and help you turn your doctor's advice into real steps you can take at home.

"Because lifestyle medicine visits are longer, we can spend more time figuring out how to actually implement the changes that other providers may be recommending," she says. "Together we break big goals into small steps that fit your life. And if something gets in the way, like a busy work week, a family event, or a trip, we will work together to find ways to adjust."

Dr. Dotson knew she wanted to be a doctor because of her grandfather, who delivered babies. "I always thought it was incredible that he helped bring so many new lives into the world."

Now she wants her own patients to feel like partners. "I want every patient to leave knowing that they have more power over their health than they may realize," she says.

Dr. Dotson says she often hears patients say they do not have the time or money to get healthy. She says you do not need a gym or hours of free time. She works with each person to find ideas that fit their schedule and budget.

"It's not about being perfect," she says. "We start with small, realistic steps because those are the habits that are most likely to stick."

She also knows that life gets busy. "Life comes in seasons," she says. Some seasons are for big changes. Others are just for keeping up the good habits you already have. Both are okay.

Dr. Dotson still cares about lab results and the scale, but she cares even more about what you can do. Maybe you climb the bleachers without stopping, or you have energy left to play with your grandchildren. "Sometimes the biggest victories are the ones we overlook," she says. "The most meaningful measures of progress are often the ones that improve a person's daily life and help them achieve the goals that matter most to them."

One of her favorite stories comes from a patient with diabetes. After learning how to take charge of her health, the woman could do things she hadn't been able to do for years. "She told me her family included me in their dinner prayers every night," Dr. Dotson says. "She was enjoying life again."

"It's not just improving numbers on a lab report," she adds. "It's helping people regain the ability to enjoy their lives and spend meaningful time with the people they love."

Dr. Dotson has a tip you may not expect to hear from a doctor. "Put something fun on your calendar every month." Have lunch with friends, go to a festival, listen to live music, or take a hike. Dr. Dotson says joy is part of good health.

She lives by that advice. "I love being outdoors," she says. She and her husband have two active kids, so you can often find them at baseball and soccer fields. She also loves quiet moments on the back porch at the end of the day.

Nika Larian, ARH Vice President of Wellness, says Dr. Dotson is a perfect fit. "Dr. Dotson listens first and cares deeply about every patient she meets. She is passionate about helping people stay healthy, not just treating illness after it starts. We are glad she is joining our team and know that she will make a real difference for the families in our community."

Dr. Dotson will begin seeing new patients in November. The Lexington office is located at 431 Redding Road, Lexington, Kentucky.

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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system - a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH's hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.