In this four-year program, Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP) students complete their first two years of medical school in Lexington following the curriculum required for all UK College of Medicine students. In addition, RPLP students can attend a small group elective emphasizing rural and community medicine.
During their third and fourth years of medical school, RPLP students complete the majority of their clinical experiences at St. Claire HealthCare and with other health care providers in Northeast Kentucky. Community Physicians holding academic appointments at the UK College of Medicine serve as their teachers, preceptors, and mentors. In addition, RPLP students have the opportunity to take course work at Morehead State University that focuses on health systems, business practices, and health policy. Upon completion of all components of the program, students graduate with the following:
MD degree from the UK College of Medicine, qualifying them for internship and residency in any area of medicine; and Certificate in Health Systems Leadership, upon completion of their course work at Morehead State University.
Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP)
UK College of Medicine RPLP students, Class of 2020
The University of Kentucky Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP) is an educational program designed to train future physicians to be clinicians and leaders. RPLP is unique to the University of Kentucky and is designed to produce physicians in all specialties who can provide health care leadership in rural areas of Kentucky and the rest of the nation. As an important outcome of this special educational pathway, graduates of RPLP gain knowledge and experience necessary to work with other civic and community leaders to improve the general health of their communities they serve.
The University of Kentucky RPLP is hosted by St. Claire HealthCare and has partnered with Morehead State University to train rural physician-leaders. The program currently accepts up to 15 students per year.
If you are interested in visiting Morehead and learning more about the Rural Physician Leadership Program, we encourage you to attend an open house. To register, click here. All open houses begin at 2 p.m. at the Center for Health Education and Research located at 316 West Second Street in Morehead, Ky.
For more information, contact Bodie Stevens at 859-562-1542 or bodie.stevens@uky.edu.
Visit us on Facebook!