Osteopathic Medicine Bill for EKU stalls in Senate Education Committee

Apr. 1—Eastern Kentucky University officials were hopeful to welcome the first-ever students of the school's College of Osteopathic Medicine on campus within the next couple of years.

"We are looking at bringing in the first class in 2027-28 (school year)," EKU President David McFaddin said in a recent interview with WWKY, "with the intention of having the first graduating class in 2032."

Those plans, though, will need to change.

HB407, which would have allowed EKU to give degrees that are required for professional practice and licensure in osteopathic medicine stalled in the Senate over the weekend and will not be voted on during this legislative season.

The bill passed the Kentucky House, 91-0, and the bill advanced to the Kentucky Senate's education committee, where no action was taken.

"EKU will continue pursuing this program and intends to seek full legislative approval in the 2025 legislative session," EKU spokesperson Sarah Baker told The Register in a statement.

While HB407 failed to get out of committee, a Senate Joint Resolution is currently under consideration and would direct the state's Council on Postsecondary Education to conduct a study at expanding post-baccalaureate programs at comprehensive universities — such as EKU's proposed osteopathic medicine school.

"We are hopeful the House of Representatives will pass SJR 170, with the vote expected on April 12 or 15," Baker said in a statement.

On Jan. 23, EKU issued a press release indicating the school was seeking vendors to complete a feasibility study.

"To initiate the feasibility study, EKU has issued a request for proposal (RFP), seeking to identify an agency that can complete the analysis and make a recommendation," the press release stated. "Once the RFP window is closed, a review committee will determine the selected agency. EKU's goal is to conduct the study in the summer of 2024."

Just one week later, HB407 — which was co-sponsored by Madison County representatives Josh Bray, Deanna Frazier Gordon, Timmy Truett, and Bill Wesley — was brought to the floor.

The bill, which did not have a funding mechanism, passed unanimously on Feb. 15.

The bill arrived in the Senate on Feb. 16 and went to the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 20, where it sat without action being taken on it.

EKU officials, including McFaddin, made an aggressive push on social media, local radio and television stations to rally support for the bill.

"I think it would change the profile of our institution to be able to say that we have a medical school," EKU President David McFaddin said on WWKY-Winchester in a March interview.

Current students also sent letters to the editor voicing support for the bill.

"This is not a short fix project, this is a generational type of project to work on," McFaddin said in the interview.

As of the writing of this piece, there are only three schools that offer Medical Doctor (M.D. or D.O.) degrees. They are the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and the University of Pikeville.

The American Osteopathic Association says that osteopathic medicine accounts for 11% of all physicians in the United States.

"Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine practice in all medical specialties, including primary care, pediatrics, OBGYN, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and surgery. Moreover, DOs hold some of the most prominent positions in medicine today, including overseeing care for the President of the United States, the NASA medical team, Olympic athletes, and many who serve in the uniformed services," The AOA says on their website.

The school was looking at getting 150 students in for the first cohort, McFaddin said.

Very similarly, HB400, which would have allowed Murray State to have a veterinary doctor's degree, also sat in the Senate's education committee after passing through the house 82-6.

The House and Senate return to session April 12. They will wrap up this legislative session on April 15.