The University of Kentucky College of Medicine today announced plans to develop a regional medical school campus in Northern Kentucky for four-year medical education.
UK President Capilouto speaks at the announcement today
The program is the third regional medical school campus announced by UK designed to increase the overall number of physicians in the Commonwealth. Four-year regional campuses have been proposed in Bowling Green and Morehead; the campus at Bowling Green is projected to begin enrolling students in 2018, and Morehead sometime thereafter.
The newest UK College of Medicine initiative will be in partnership with Northern Kentucky University and St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
Currently, the UK College of Medicine is at its capacity at the Lexington campus and although there is a deep applicant pool for medical students, the college can’t expand enrollment without the help of regional partners, said Dr. Robert DiPaola, dean of the UK College of Medicine. “This series of partnerships that now expands throughout Kentucky will benefit everyone across the Commonwealth.”
A rendering of the Northern Kentucky University Health Innovation Center, currently under construction. The center will be the on-campus location for a University of Kentucky College of Medicine regional medical school.
While details of the broad-based initiative are still being ironed out, UK officials have signed a memorandum of understanding with the partners.
“In Kentucky we have a shortage of physicians, especially primary care physicians, throughout the state,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “As the university for Kentucky, we are working in close partnership with leading universities in our state and regional medical centers to directly respond to this need. 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.”
Currently, the UK College of Medicine enrolls 547 students including 139 in the most recent admitted class ̶ the Class of 2020.
UK plans to increase its class size through expansion to these regional campus locations. Local advisory committees will recommend students for admission to the program.
“NKU is proud to have the opportunity to partner with the University of Kentucky and St. Elizabeth Healthcare to leverage our individual strengths and the power of our brands to bring professional medical education to Northern Kentucky,” said NKU President Geoffrey Mearns. “Among other things, this medical school campus at NKU will help us further the mission of our Health Innovation Center to improve the health of the people that we serve.”
Colvin
The UK COM-Northern Kentucky campus will be a fully functioning four-year campus, utilizing the exact same curriculum and assessments as UK’s Lexington campus. On-site faculty will have UK College of Medicine appointments and teach in small groups and provide simulation/standardized patient experiences with lectures delivered on-site from Lexington utilizing educational technology. Additionally, clinical experiences will occur at St. Elizabeth Healthcare and surrounding community practices.
“This collaboration between St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, and Northern Kentucky University beautifully complements St. Elizabeth’s vision of leading Northern Kentucky to become one of the healthiest communities in America,” said Garren Colvin, president and CEO of St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “Combined with our support of the NKU Health Innovation Center and the recent opening of the St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center, we are incredibly proud to be involved in educating generations of local, bright, talented individuals and helping shape them into the medical leaders of our future.”
This story will be updated.
