Norton Healthcare's Post
1d ·
Tribute to Kelly C. McCants, M.D.
Norton Healthcare is devastated to learn of the death of Kelly C. McCants, M.D., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Dr. McCants devoted his career to transforming heart care and championing health equity. Joining Norton Healthcare in 2018, he served as medical director of the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure and Recovery Program, where his vision and leadership built one of the region's most respected programs for patients facing the most complex cardiac challenges. Under his guidance, the team grew from eight to 36 caregivers who were instrumental in delivering advanced heart care and hope to the sickest of patients, reflecting his unwavering commitment to mentorship and collaboration.
When it was launched, Dr. McCants served as executive director of the Institute for Health Equity, a part of Norton Healthcare, guiding the organization's bold efforts to remove barriers to care and create a blueprint for equitable health access. His work helped bring primary care to historically underserved neighborhoods, expanded mobile prevention services and helped lay the foundation for Norton West Louisville Hospital. These initiatives were not just programs; they were partnerships with communities that had long been overlooked.
Known for his compassion, Dr. McCants spent time understanding the lives of his patients, addressing not only their medical needs but also the social challenges that stood in the way of recovery. He often turned brief appointments into meaningful conversations, learning about families and barriers to care, and offering encouragement when hope seemed out of reach. His approach combined clinical excellence with humanity, earning him recognition as a Louisville Business First Health Care Hero for Health Equity in 2023.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. McCants was a mentor, an advocate and a role model. A graduate of Meharry Medical College and the University of Louisville School of Medicine, he dedicated himself to supporting diversity in medicine and inspiring the next generation of health care leaders. He cherished time with his family, including his two daughters, and found joy in cooking, football and living by his belief that "everything is better with grace."
Dr. McCants' legacy is one of vision, compassion and impact — a leader who believed that every person deserves a fair chance at health and who worked tirelessly to make that belief a reality. His personal and professional impact on Norton Healthcare, our community and the patients who trusted him will be deeply missed.
