Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Feb. 14, the House Standing Committee on Education approved HB 407, sponsored by Representative David Meade. This measure would allow Eastern Kentucky University to offer medical degrees for practice and licensure in osteopathic medicine.

“We have a shortage of healthcare providers in the commonwealth,” Meade said. “Eastern Kentucky University is ready to support the state and establish a program that would help generations of students and generations of Kentuckians.”

Comprehensive universities in Kentucky are restricted by state law from offering doctoral degrees required for professional practice and licensure. Currently, Northern Kentucky University is the only institution with an exception written into state law, and this allows the university to confer law degrees. HB 407 adds Eastern Kentucky University to this exemption list for doctor of osteopathic medicine degrees.

The bill is now in the Senate’s education committee. For more information on HB 407 as well as past and present legislative measures, please visit legislature.ky.gov.