U.K. College of Medicine plans expansion

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- The University of Kentucky College of Medicine says it’s planning to develop a satellite program in Bowling Green for four-year medical education. It says it will also expand the Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP) in Morehead to a three-year (year-round) medical education program.

The school says it decided to make the expansion because of the shortage of physicians in Kentucky. It says the initiative will begin as early as 2018.

“The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a shortage of physicians, and especially primary care physicians, throughout the state, but particularly in rural areas. This is an acute health care need and an economic one as well,” UK President Eli Capilouto said in announcing the initiative Thursday. “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.”

Right now, the U.K. College of Medicine enroll 521 students, which includes the most recent admitted class of 2019. The school says with the new program, it plans to increase its class size by about 30 percent through expansion to the satellite locations.