Kentucky could have two new medical schools — one for people, one for animals — along with more doctoral programs under Republican-backed bills filed in the House. The legislation would remove barriers in state law to plans for an osteopathic medicine college at Eastern Kentucky University, up to five research doctoral programs at Western Kentucky University and a veterinary medicine college at Murray State University.  The bills have each gained multiple co-sponsors in the first four days of the 2025 General Assembly, which is on break until lawmakers return to the Capitol Feb. 4 to finish the 30-day session.  The universities’ proposals were reviewed by Deloitte Consulting in a study the General Assembly authorized last year. The EKU and Murray State proposals gained House approval last year before stalling in the Senate. Deloitte also studied a proposal by Kentucky State University to offer a doctoral program in Integrated Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. No bill has been introduced to clear the way for that program. A KSU spokesperson did not return an emailed request for comment.  Travis Powell (CPE photo) Under Kentucky laws governing higher education, the state’s six comprehensive universities offer undergraduate and master’s degrees but are not allowed to offer professional degrees in medical areas and architecture or degrees beyond the master’s level with the exception of in education. That could change. Travis Powell, vice president and general counsel of the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), said in an interview with the Kentucky Lantern he would “not be surprised” by a “bill that’s a little more broadly applied to comprehensive universities, allowing them to offer PhD programs,” which could cover KSU’s request.  If the General Assembly greenlights the new programs, CPE would eventually review them as it approves all academic programs in Kentucky.  “We don’t currently have a process in place for professional programs at public institutions, because at comprehensive universities … it’s really not allowed,” Powell said. “But we’d have to add new parameters to account for these new types of programs.”  Homegrown ‘talent pipeline’ could ease physician shortage, says EKU supporters The universities are supportive of the legislation and have been working for some time on the proposals.  House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade (LRC Public Information) EKU, located in Richmond, aims to open the second college of osteopathic medicine in Kentucky should House Bill 56 pass this session. (The University of Pikeville is home to the state’s first osteopathic medicine school.) Sponsored by Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, R-Stanford, the bill would allow the university to offer doctorates of osteopathic medicine degrees for professional practice and licensure.  The state’s other medical schools are at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville. Meade said EKU’s proposal would help ease Kentucky’s shortage of primary care providers by creating a ”grow your own talent pipeline” and that the Deloitte study confirmed that EKU has the capacity to run an osteopathic medicine school. More than 90% of Kentucky counties have a physician shortage, Meade said in a statement to the Lantern, and Kentucky’s three existing medical schools “can only accommodate a fraction of students eligible for enrollment.” He said “access to quality health care is fundamental” to improving the state’s quality of life.  Meade carried a bill for a college of osteopathic medicine last year, which passed with bipartisan support in the House, but did not get a committee hearing in the Senate. The 2025 version already has 16 Republican co-sponsors.  EKU President David McFaddin. (EKU photo) EKU President David McFaddin said in an interview that establishing a fourth medical school, and one that is dedicated to osteopathic medicine,“is going to help address some of the biggest challenges that we’re dealing with statewide,” such as lack of access to health care and a shortage of primary care physicians in rural communities.  McFaddin said that if the bill becomes law, EKU will then have to win other approvals at the university level and the Council on Postsecondary Education. It must also seek pre-accreditation for the programs from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). McFaddin is optimistic, saying “we’re not hearing anything negative” in conversations with lawmakers.  EKU aims to welcome its first medical students in the fall of 2028, meaning the first graduating class would be in the spring of 2032, McFaddin said. After that, EKU can seek full accreditation with COCA.  “We’re seeing chronic issues not being addressed, not just for people who are sick, but it’s the preventative care,” McFaddin said. “If you don’t have a physician in those communities, the ability to get those checkups and to do those check-ins are hard, and if you think about great communities and building communities where people want to live and work and raise their families, they want to be in a community where they have access to good health care. I don’t know who’s going to raise their family in a community where they don’t have a pediatrician.”  According to the Deloitte study, EKU would need about $48.75 million in reserves until the first class graduates to meet accreditation requirements and the university plans to ask the legislature for funding.  Western would start with data sciences doctoral program Lawmakers who are the primary sponsors for House Bill 118 for WKU doctoral programs and House Bill 153 for Murray State’s veterinary school did not return a request for comment.  WKU, in Bowling Green, is seeking to offer one or more doctoral research programs in order to rise in rank — to “R2” — among research universities. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education defines “R2” as having a high level of research activity. Currently, Kentucky has no “R2” institutions. The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville have “R1” designations, meaning a very high level of research activity. WKU plans to first create a doctoral program in data sciences if the bill is approved, according to the Deloitte study, .  Jace Lux, a spokesperson for WKU, said in an email that while it’s not the university’s practice to comment on proposed legislation, “research remains a cornerstone of the WKU experience, and a differentiator for our students.”  “Additionally, the university constantly assesses its programs to ensure that the degrees we offer are meeting the workforce demands of our state and region,” Lux said. “We are thankful for Representative (Michael) Meredith’s support, and we look forward to tracking the progress of this bill throughout the legislative session.”  50 year quest for veterinary school at Murray, says president Murray State President Bob Jackson As for Murray State’s proposal, President Bob Jackson said in a statement that the university is “in full support” of the bill and appreciates Rep. Mary Beth Imes, R-Murray, and Republican Floor Leader Steven Rudy, of Paducah, for sponsoring the legislation.  “Murray State University has been trying to obtain statutory approval to offer a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine for over 50 years in order to help serve the needs of our state’s animal agricultural economy, particularly regarding the ongoing shortage of large animal veterinarians in rural Kentucky,” Jackson said.  If approved, Murray State would be home to the first veterinary school in Kentucky. According to the Deloitte study, Murray State aims to address a shortage of veterinarians in Kentucky, particularly in rural areas. According to 2023 data cited in the Deloitte study, 70 Kentucky counties are in rural areas with a low ratio of practicing veterinarians compared to the livestock population, and 10 counties have been identified as a county with a veterinary shortage.  Republican Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell said in a statement to the Lantern that Kentucky’s shortage of veterinarians “is a significant challenge affecting animal health, agriculture, and rural communities.”  “This proposal represents a promising step forward in addressing the issue,” Shell said. “Expanding in-state veterinary education could build a pipeline of skilled professionals uniquely suited to meet Kentucky’s needs. Supporting initiatives like this ensures our farmers, animal owners, and agricultural community have access to the care and resources they depend on.” YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. The post Universities say expanding their missions would meet KY needs. 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