As the shortage of primary care providers continues across Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is moving one step closer to addressing the critical need for more physicians in the Commonwealth. Earlier this year, EKU’s proposed Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program cleared initial budgetary review from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and was allocated funds from the Kentucky General Assembly for start up costs and an escrow fund required for accreditation.
According to the American Board of Pediatrics, 48 Kentucky counties have no pediatrician. And 94 percent of Kentucky counties face shortage of primary care physicians.
Having witnessed Kentucky’s healthcare challenges firsthand, Dr. Dustin Devers, family medicine physician with Baptist Health Richmond, has been named Chair of EKU’s Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Committee.
“We are pleased to have Dr. Devers leading our advisory committee, and we appreciate his advocacy on behalf of this critical initiative to address healthcare access and education in Kentucky,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “As an osteopathic physician and vital member of our local community, Dr. Devers understands Kentucky’s unique healthcare needs and his insight is instrumental in helping us move forward with our proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine.”
Devers graduated from the University of Pikeville’s Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine and stayed in the state to practice family medicine. One of the reasons he decided to come to Kentucky and stay 26 years ago was the shortage of primary care physicians and the ability to help fill that need.
Speaking from firsthand experience, he said, “When you are trained in a certain state, you’re more likely to stay in that state. Whether it’s medical school, post-graduate residency training or specialty training, you’re more inclined to stay in the state where you were trained. Part of that is because you become more acclimated and you become part of the community.”
Devers continued, “If we’re serious about addressing Kentucky’s physician shortage, we have to train more physicians in Kentucky. EKU’s location, its strong ties to rural communities and its longstanding commitment to workforce development make it an ideal place to prepare the next generation of doctors.”
Throughout his career, Devers has seen the value of building relationships with patients and understanding the challenges they face. He believes that patient-centered care creates a lasting impact. “Taking care of folks that you consider part of your own community is the embodiment of community-based healthcare,” he said. “We take care of our community. The people who live here should expect that as well.”
EKU is perfectly positioned to tackle the challenge of training physicians with a focus on serving rural areas. EKU serves more Kentucky students than any other regional comprehensive university in the state and its statewide employment outcomes are the highest among public institutions for certificate, associate, bachelor’s and doctoral degrees three years after degree completion. In addition, EKU has numerous existing high-performing health related academic programs, including nursing, occupational therapy, public health, clinical psychology, communication disorders and emergency medicine. And 72% of EKU health majors are employed in Kentucky three years after graduation.
“It is drastically understated how important this could be for Kentucky and healthcare in general,” Devers said. “Eastern Kentucky University is uniquely situated to provide those services because of its commitment to training students from the state of Kentucky.”
To help guide next steps for EKU’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine, the university launched the Advisory Committee, with Devers serving as Chair and members including community health officials, physicians and legislative leaders from across the region.
The Advisory Board includes:
- KY State Senator Brandon Storm
- KY State Representative David Meade
- Dr. Robert Miller, MD – Mayo Clinic professor emeritus, Physician in Lexington KY
- Dr. Salena Raines, DO – KOMA President, Physician in Winchester KY
- John Yanes – President of St. Joseph Hospitals London and Berea
- Dr. Dustin Devers, DO – Primary Care Physician in Richmond KY
- Greg Gerard – President Baptist Health Richmond
- Dr. Paula Jones, DO – Primary Care Physician in Pikeville KY
- Dr. Gerry Wickham, EdD – VP GME HCA Healthcare, Nashville TN
- Dr. Maria Braman, MD – Appalachian Regional Healthcare Chief Medical Officer
- Dr. Ralph Alvarado, MD, Former KY Legislator and TN Commissioner of Health, Physician in Winchester
- Nick Bejarano – President/CEO Adventist Health Manchester KY
By Olivia Evans
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