UK to start satellite medical school program at WKU, expand program at Morehead State

The University of Kentucky will open a new medical school program in Bowling Green and expand an existing medical education program in Morehead, UK President Eli Capilouto announced Thursday.

The UK College of Medicine initiative will be in partnership with Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University, St. Claire Regional Medical Center, King's Daughters Medical Center and The Medical Center at Bowling Green. It is scheduled to begin as early as 2018.

UK officials said they can’t address Kentucky’s physician shortage without new regional partnerships. UK’s College of Medicine in Lexington is currently at capacity.

“The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a shortage of physicians, and especially primary care physicians, throughout the state, but particularly in rural areas. This is an acute health care need and an economic one as well,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “Additionally, this collaboration will allow us to expand college of medicine enrollment in a manner that effectively and efficiently utilizes existing resources throughout the state.”

The UK College of Medicine now has 521 students, including 139 in the most recently admitted class. With the new program, UK plans to increase its class size by approximately 30 percent. Basic science classes will be taught by faculty at WKU and Morehead State, as well as through online classes at UK. Advanced training will take place at the partner hospitals.

“WKU is pleased to partner with the University of Kentucky and The Medical Center at Bowling Green to help facilitate the expansion of medical education into south central and western Kentucky,” said WKU President Gary A. Ransdell. “We have been working for many years in conjunction with The Medical Center at Bowling Green to address workforce demands in health care, most recently in nursing and physical therapy, and this collaboration will address a critical need that hospitals and communities throughout our region have for more physicians.”

UK already has been partnering for several years with Morehead State through a Rural Physician Leadership Program, where students complete their third and fourth years of medical training with rural-centered clinical experiences, primarily at St. Claire Regional Medical Center.

“Our partnership with the University of Kentucky and St. Claire Regional Medical Center has helped many students from our region become physicians and physicians’ assistants,” said Morehead State President Wayne D. Andrews. “Working with UK and St. Claire though our Rural Physician Leadership Program is a win-win not only for Morehead State University, but for our students and the communities we serve.”

Mark J. Neff, president and CEO at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, said the Rural Physician Leadership Program has helped 32 medical students graduate since it began in 2012.

“Doing more to prepare for the shortage of rural health care providers only makes sense for us as we have continued to be dedicated to the training of medical providers in our region since our doors opened,” Neff said.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 2:36 PM with the headline "UK to start satellite medical school program at WKU, expand program at Morehead State."