Kentucky Wesleyan College is pleased to announce a partnership with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine relative to the UK regional campus in Bowling Green that will open in 2018. The regional campus will focus on physician workforce needs throughout South Central and Western Kentucky. In an effort to attract top students for the anticipated 30 student class each year, Wesleyan and UK will launch an Early Assurance Program (EAP).
The EAP will reserve two spots in each class for qualifying students from Kentucky Wesleyan, while others may also apply for acceptance into the program after having met program criteria. Students will be able to enter the EAP while still enrolled at Wesleyan after completing their first 60 credit hours, at which time they could participate in the EAP before earning their bachelor’s degree. EAP activities will include the following:
- Exposure to hospital and office practice
- Shadowing and mentoring experiences with physicians
- Academic advising at Kentucky Wesleyan
- Targeted research/seminar/course experiences
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) preparation
- A one-week boot camp experience during the second summer to assist students in applying to medical school.
“Kentucky Wesleyan College is honored to have been selected to partner with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in this program,” said Wesleyan President, Barton D. Darrell. “Wesleyan has a long and proven track record of excellence in the sciences and has produced many outstanding doctors, pharmacists, physical therapists, and other health care professionals. We certainly thank the University of Kentucky for recognizing the great work of our distinguished faculty and outstanding students. This partnership provides students who attend Wesleyan yet another opportunity to realize their dreams, and also helps provide a much needed increase in the supply of high quality physicians for Western and South Central Kentucky,” President Darrell added.
Dr. W.L. Magnuson, Professor of Chemistry at Wesleyan, who has worked with the UK College of Medicine for many years, remarked, “Kentucky Wesleyan has a long and successful relationship with the UK College of Medicine, sending many students to medical school over the years. We are very pleased to extend our relationship with UK to yet another area of focus at their Bowling Green campus.”
“This partnership is yet another example of Wesleyan’s innovative approach to collaboration. From a community strategy perspective, it will be an asset for the continued development of a vibrant health care sector and act as another tool in addressing our shortage of primary care physicians. President Darrell and his team continue to find ways to help students maximize their full potential. The students are not the only winners. Each new program and collaboration adds to the overall talent of our region,” stated Candance Castlen Brake, President and CEO, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.