KMA Backs EKU Osteopathic Medical School

The Kentucky Medical Association has voiced support for Eastern Kentucky University's proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine in Richmond.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Healthcare

Isometric editorial illustration of a white medical cross rising over flat rural Kentucky farmland with small rooftops along the horizon, evoking rural physician access. — The Kentucky Medical Association voiced support for Eastern Kentucky University's proposed osteopathic medical school in Richmond, which plans to enroll its first class in fall 2031. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you support a new public medical school to address rural doctor shortages in Kentucky?

The Kentucky Medical Association expressed support for Eastern Kentucky University's proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine. EKU plans to enroll its first osteopathic medicine class in fall 2031.

Why it matters

Kentucky faces a physician shortage that is most severe in its rural counties, and the proposed college is designed to prepare physicians who will practice in Kentucky, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Of Kentucky's 120 counties, 107 are federally designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, and the proposed college is being developed with a $50 million appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly. The projected class size and residency capacity for graduates have not been detailed.

The players

Kentucky Medical Association

The Kentucky Medical Association is the state's principal physician advocacy organization, representing doctors across Kentucky on health policy and medical education issues.

Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky, that is developing the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The details

Dr. Christine Ko, KMA president, and Cory Meadows, KMA executive vice president, voiced support during a recent meeting briefing KMA representatives on the proposed medical school. The college will be located on EKU's Richmond campus and will pursue accreditation through the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

Fall 2031: EKU plans to enroll its first osteopathic medicine class.

Big Picture

With 107 of Kentucky's 120 counties designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, the proposal adds new training capacity in Richmond aimed at the rural counties those federal designations identify. Its effect on the shortage will depend on how many graduates ultimately remain to practice in those areas.

Rural Kentucky residents may gain access to physicians trained in their region if graduates choose to practice locally. The college's first class is not expected until fall 2031, so no immediate change in care access is indicated.

The takeaway

Kentucky's physician shortage is concentrated in rural counties, and the proposed college is designed to train doctors who may stay to serve them. Watching whether accreditation and residency capacity follow through will show whether the plan delivers.