Eastern Kentucky is facing a health care crisis. At EKU, we can help fix it | Opinion

For many Kentuckians including myself, the mission to improve access to quality healthcare across our state—especially in rural areas — is deeply personal. As an Eastern Kentuckian and the president of a university serving the state’s most underserved communities, I feel a profound responsibility to help our friends and neighbors get the care they need and deserve.

Kentucky has long faced a healthcare shortage, a challenge many of us have experienced firsthand. The state ranks 44th in the U.S. for active primary care physicians. Ninety-four percent of counties don’t have enough primary care physicians, with 19 Kentucky counties having only one or no primary care physicians. In addition, 48 Kentucky counties do not have a pediatrician. Imagine what this means for families in rural communities who may not have access to a doctor and may delay or skip care as a result. Further illuminating the issue, Kentucky’s physician-to-patient ratio is 40% worse than the national average in preventative medicine.

The physician shortage impacts every community and is likely to get worse. One-third of Kentucky’s physicians have been licensed for more than 30 years and could retire in the next decade. By 2030, a shortfall of nearly 3,000 doctors is projected statewide.

At Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), the opportunities we create for our students are reflected across the Commonwealth. More EKU graduates remain in Kentucky to work than any other public university. As the School of Opportunity, we consistently ask ourselves: How can we better serve our students, our region and our state?

Our answer is simple, yet bold. The state needs more options for medical education programs now, and EKU is perfectly positioned to provide the state’s only public osteopathic medical program. In 2023, Kentucky’s three medical schools received 13,416 applications but enrolled 510 students. We won’t stand on the sidelines as Kentucky’s talent goes out of state to achieve their dream of a medical degree while our state’s residents suffer from a lack of healthcare access.

When considering what’s best for students, we asked our pre-med majors what they thought of EKU offering a College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Lillian Jones of Barbourville said, “Medicine is a calling. You can comfort someone in their most vulnerable state. There are not a lot of medical schools near us, and this would allow me to be close to my family. It would also allow me to practice seeing patients in this area while doing rotations. I would love to come back to my hometown of Barbourville to practice medicine one day.”

Julia Lilly, from Berea said, “I want to stay in Kentucky. Establishing a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program here would attract more aspiring doctors who might not leave the area to pursue their medical education, ultimately benefiting our region and improving access to care.”

A recent study by Deloitte noted that in 2023, only 51% of Kentuckians who applied to M.D. programs enrolled, and in 2022, only 35% of Kentuckians who applied to D.O. programs enrolled. EKU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine would help to keep Kentucky’s future physicians here to improve the health of our residents.

Vice President of Operations at AdventHealth Manchester Jamie Couch said, “Eastern Kentucky University’s commitment to addressing the physician shortage in the Eastern Kentucky region is a game-changer for the future of healthcare in Appalachia. By creating opportunities for aspiring medical students close to home, this program not only strengthens our healthcare workforce but also ensures our communities have access to high-quality, compassionate care. EKU’s leadership in this endeavor will transform lives and elevate the health and well-being of Eastern Kentucky for generations to come.”

There is no greater calling than bringing our fellow Kentuckians and physicians back into their communities to serve. The lack of doctors in rural Kentucky is a crisis, and we must act now for a healthier future.

(On Feb. 11, Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London, has filed Senate Bill 119 to pave the way for Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) to establish a College of Osteopathic Medicine.)

David McFaddin is the president of Eastern Kentucky University.