By Jacque Day
Murray, Ky. – As the University of Kentucky and Murray State University finalize the formal agreement for the Rural Physician Leadership Program, plans are already in the works for the inaugural class to begin medical school in 2012. If all goes to schedule, the medical students will arrive in Murray in 2014. Keith Travis of the Murray-Calloway County Hospital Office of Institutional Development says, the program could graduate its first doctors in 2019. He says, the program will enhance the region's medical care.
"Any time you can provide more diagnostics. Any time you can provide specialists, whether it's neurology or cardiology or pulmonology, that helps people be able to stay closer to home for health care."
Travis says the program's regional concept means the medical students will train among many western Kentucky facilities. He says they're in talks with Trigg County Hospital and Western Baptist among others to build a cooperative structure. MCCH is to front $4 million dollars for the program. They've raised $1.5 million to date.