Earlier this year, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) announced plans to establish a College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM). If approved, it would be the only public osteopathic medical school in the Commonwealth, creating more opportunities to prepare and keep healthcare professionals in Kentucky.
In the spring, EKU sought legislation that would allow the university to offer a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine that passed unanimously from the House of Representatives 94-0. Upon advancement to the Senate, the General Assembly requested and funded a feasibility study on post-baccalaureate programs that included a review of EKU’s proposed Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.
“We appreciate the General Assembly recognizing the importance of having an osteopathic medical school at EKU and working with us hand-in-hand throughout this process,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “We are eager to see the findings of the feasibility study and get to work doing what we do best—providing educational opportunities that are relevant and necessary to the needs of the Commonwealth.”
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) selected Deloitte as the firm to complete the feasibility study for EKU-COM, R2 Research Status for Western Kentucky University, a veterinary school at Murray State University and a Ph.D. in Integrated Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture at Kentucky State University.
The firm visited EKU’s campus in September as part of its feasibility study to analyze the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine. Deloitte engaged in a full day of meetings with various groups on campus, including the President’s Leadership Council. In addition to gathering academic, community and financial data regarding the need for the EKU-COM, the firm facilitated discussions with members of the community, campus and state to explore the access to wrap-around programming like nursing, psychology, occupational therapy and pre-medicine programs.
The final report of the study will be delivered to CPE and the General Assembly in December. Following review of the feasibility study, EKU plans to seek full legislative approval for the doctoral degree program in the 2025 legislative session.
“We are devoted to the people of the Commonwealth, and we continuously innovate to meet the needs of our community and beyond,” said McFaddin. “Shortages in Kentucky’s healthcare workforce, and especially in rural areas, spurred us to ask how EKU can help fill these gaps.”
The Kentucky Physician Report by the Center of Excellence in Rural Health noted that Kentucky
ranks 40th among the United States in its primary care physician workforce per 100,000 people. Furthermore, only 17% of Kentucky’s primary care physicians practice in rural areas, even though 40% of Kentuckians live in rural areas. EKU anticipates that by offering a D.O. degree, the physician shortage throughout its service region and Kentucky may be reduced.
“I do realize there’s a shortage of physicians in Kentucky, and to be able to help fight against that shortage would be an honor;” said Alejandro Tapia-Reyna, a senior biomedical sciences major at EKU. “If EKU were to open up a D.O. program, it would not only be great for students like me, but for patients as well.”
EKU fuels the Commonwealth’s workforce with the highest percentage among Kentucky’s public institutions for graduates employed in the state one year after graduation.