On Jun. 16, 2015, Ardis Dee Hoven became the first woman president of the World Medical Association (WMA). The WMA is the international organization representing physicians from 111 national medical associations.

Hoven has been the recipient of many awards, including the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Kentucky Medical Association Distinguished Service Award. In 2015, she was inducted into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni for UK. She was president of the Kentucky Medical Association from 1993 to 1994 and served as a delegate to the AMA from Kentucky.