Kentucky, and particularly eastern Kentucky, has a real need for more physicians.
Eastern Kentucky University President David McFaddin asked members of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Tuesday afternoon to consider some of the following worrisome statistics about Kentucky counties, such as the fact that 94 percent have a shortage of primary care providers, eight have no physicians, 72 do not have an OBGYN and 50 counties have no pediatrician.
He also noted some statistics about Kentucky physicians that are particularly concerning to our region of the state, such as the fact that only 17 percent of primary care physicians practice in rural areas and 75 percent practice in urban areas.
In addition, almost a third of Kentucky physicians have been licensed between 31 and 50-plus years meaning that many are nearing retirement.
“This is a crisis we are facing in our communities,” McFaddin said.
The bottom line is that Kentucky needs more physicians, particularly more physicians in the eastern Kentucky and rural portions of the state.
Fortunately, EKU has a plan to do something about this shortage by opening the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which would be the second such medical school in Kentucky and the first at a state university.
Among the goals of the medical school will be emphasizing rural impact, such as recruiting, training and retaining physicians in rural communities.
McFaddin laid out a timeline for the new school, which includes a feasibility study this year, and a legislative change in spring 2025 that would allow the school to be created. Hopefully the first year of classes will be in Fall 2028 with the first graduating class in Spring 2032.
McFaddin said that he has a vision for EKU becoming a hub of health innovation with already existing health-related programs, such as the university’s nursing program, which is ranked in the top 20 in the nation.
McFaddin was the keynote speaker Tuesday during the chamber’s monthly membership luncheon, and he laid out some facts about the university that many people might not realize, such as the fact that nearly 3,000 freshmen enrolled this year, which is 24 percent growth since 2020. This was the largest freshman class in school history.
More than half of these freshmen are the first generation in their family to go to college, just like McFaddin was. He is an EKU graduate himself and the youngest president in school history.
“We are an institution on the move,” McFaddin said.
In addition, EKU has a higher percentage of graduates, who stay in Kentucky, than any other university.
McFaddin also took some time to focus on the impact EKU has locally.
Currently, there are 975 total students enrolled at EKU from either Knox, Laurel or Whitley counties. More than 12,000 EKU graduates began their education at EKU Corbin or EKU Manchester where the top fields of study are elementary education, psychology, criminal justice and social work.
“I want to make sure that Eastern Kentucky is a critical part of Eastern Kentucky University,” he added.
During the 2024 session, EKU secured $5 million from the Kentucky General Assembly for a childcare center on the EKU Corbin Campus.
There are partnership discussions happening now to open a Scholar House at the EKU Corbin Campus, which is low-income single family housing for students pursuing a degree through the Corbin campus.
Tuesday’s luncheon was held at The Corbin Center. Old Town Grill catered the luncheon.
The next chamber luncheon is scheduled for Dec. 10 at The Corbin Center. This will be the chamber’s annual Christmas party.
