Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) hosted a Healthcare Forum on Oct. 15 at the Kentucky State Capitol to discuss EKU’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine and how it can help address Kentucky’s physician shortage.
According to the Kentucky Physician Report from the Center of Excellence in Rural Health, 94% of the state’s counties are experiencing a primary care shortage, with the Commonwealth ranking 40th nationally for primary care workforce. Eight counties have no physicians at all, while 48 counties have no pediatricians, according to the American Board of Pediatrics.
The Healthcare Forum featured a panel of healthcare leaders, including Nick Bejarano, president and CEO of AdventHealth Manchester; Dr. Patty Swiney with the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians; Dr. Salena Raines, president of the Kentucky Osteopathic Medical Association; Dr. Dustin Devers, a family medicine physician with Baptist Health Richmond; and EKU President David McFaddin. Panelists discussed the importance of osteopathic physicians, the challenges of recruiting physicians in rural areas and the need for affordable medical education.
“EKU is proud that 92% of our students are from Kentucky, and our graduates stay and work here at one of the highest rates in the nation,” said McFaddin. With plans to establish the state’s first public osteopathic medical program at EKU, McFaddin said, “This is a generational moment that can shape Kentucky’s future for decades to come.”
EKU’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine aims to recruit, train and retain physicians in the Commonwealth and rural areas—improving access to both medical education and healthcare for Kentuckians.
“We have 120 designated health professional shortage areas in Kentucky; that gives us 2,069,000 Kentuckians who are underserved medically,” said Swiney. “There are currently 1,370 family physicians in the state of Kentucky, but there’s actually a need for 2,200, so you can already see we’re behind.”
EKU announced plans for a proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine in early 2024. A feasibility study indicated a need for an additional medical program in Kentucky, and EKU will request program approval from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education this fall.
“If you look at how many students that graduate from medical schools here in the state of Kentucky, there’s not enough to actually fill the void of physicians that are retiring already,” said Bejarano. “If you look at statistics throughout the state, there’s anywhere from 400 to 2,500 job postings for physicians just this year alone. If you can imagine what that looks like in a rural community like mine, it’s actually exacerbated.”
EKU’s next steps for the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine include securing escrow funds, as well as funding for the university’s Center for Health Innovation. As EKU’s top capital priority for the 2026 legislative session, the new center will promote interdisciplinary learning, simulation and collaboration, preparing graduates to serve Kentucky’s healthcare needs.
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