Meet our staff!
Katherine A. Abbott, MD
Dr. Abbott is a Louisville native who earned her B.A. in biology from the University of Louisville, where she also attended medical school. (Go Cards!) She completed her pediatrics internship and residency at the former Kosair Children’s Hospital in 1999.
She has worked as a pediatrician in the local area for more than 25 years. First, in private practice with Springs Pediatrics from 1998-2006, and later with Louisville Area Pediatrics from 2007-2013 before moving to Norton Children’s Medical Group. She worked at both the Tyler and Middletown offices from 2013 to 2024.
Dr. Abbott chose to open Shining Star Pediatrics in 2024 because she became discontented with the limitations of corporate medicine. She didn’t like the hectic pace, nor the rushed appointments and inability for her patients to get in to see her easily. She disliked the control that the insurance companies had over her decision making and medical recommendations. She missed having autonomy, and the freedom to practice as she had been trained. The DPC (Direct Patient Care) model was appealing because it would address all of these issues, and allow her to continue to practice medicine. The alternative was leaving medicine completely, so she felt it was worth the risk.
Dr. Abbott decided she wanted to be a doctor at about the age of 4. She loved her family practice doctor, and everything about his office. This was not an easy path to choose, particularly given her initially untreated ADD and a math disability. but she would not let any of that get in the way of her dreams. In fact, her personal struggles caused her to become interested in treatment of kids with ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, and autism.
In her spare time, she enjoys art, building with Lego, decorating and gardening. She has freshwater fish and three chinchillas.
Introducing:
Laura Nash RN
Laura Wolter Nash is a seasoned professional whose career bridges healthcare and higher education, with a strong foundation in pediatric and neonatal nursing. She began her career as a neonatal intensive care nurse at leading institutions such as the University of California, San Francisco, where she cared for critically ill newborns and coordinated complex discharges, and later contributed to pediatric patient care innovations in a surgical setting. After transitioning into higher education, she spent over a decade with the Wharton MBA Program for Executives, where she played a key role in admissions, evaluating candidates, supporting applicants, and helping shape diverse, high-achieving cohorts. Driven back to her original passion for nursing by the COVID-19 pandemic, Laura brings renewed dedication to patient care, further enriched by her personal experience as a mother of two teenage boys, which deepens her empathy, communication skills, and effectiveness as a pediatric nurse.