$4.3 million awarded from workforce investment fund, aimed at improving healthcare workforce shortage

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education has awarded $4.3 million to 28 postsecondary healthcare programs across the state, providing training scholarships to more than 200 Kentucky resident students studying fields with workforce shortages, according to a CPE press release.

Monies were made possible through the Kentucky Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund (HWIF), a public-private partnership enacted during the 2023 legislative session to address health care workforce shortages in Kentucky. The fund provides scholarships and other incentives to Kentucky resident students pursuing health care careers in areas with critical workforce needs. The program prioritizes funding for geographic regions of Kentucky facing the greatest workforce shortages. All monies given or donated to the fund are matched, dollar for dollar, by the HWIF.

“I am grateful the General Assembly took this meaningful step to address Kentucky’s critical healthcare workforce needs and expand access to training across the state,” Leslie Sizemore, vice president of workforce and economic development at CPE, said in the release. “I’m confident these awards will attract more students into healthcare professions and strengthen communities across the commonwealth.”

The University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Studies department, in partnership with UK St. Claire, is one of the award recipients. The award included $160,000 from CPE, with a matching $160,000 from the hospital. It will allow five physician assistant students to receive full tuition coverage for two years in exchange for a commitment to work at UK St. Clair for two years upon graduation, says a UK news release.

“This award allows us to continue our shared mission of training rural PA students in rural settings to become rural providers,” Kevin Schuer, UK’s physician assistant PA program director, said in the UK news release. “We are steadfastly committed to keeping Kentucky-trained PAs working in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This funding directly supports these efforts.”

The healthcare programs awarded include radiology, radiography, nursing, paramedicine, health sciences and physician assistants. Award recipients and their designated healthcare partners are:

• Ashland Community and Technical College, RN ($144,000), with King’s Daughters Medical Center
• Ashland Community and Technical College, Radiography ($72,000), with King’s Daughters Medical Center
• Bellarmine University, Accelerated BSN ($314,940), with Baptist Health Louisville
• Bellarmine University, CRNA ($202,000), with Baptist Health Louisville
• Bellarmine University, Respiratory Therapy ($78,400), with Baptist Health Louisville
• Campbellsville University, ADN ($30,000), with Taylor Regional Hospital
• Campbellsville University, Paramedicine ($40,000), with Monroe County Medical Center
• Hopkinsville-Christian Co, Paramedicine ($30,000), with Franklin-Simpson Co. EMS
• Hopkinsville Christian Co, Paramedicine ($10,000), with Jackson County Ambulance Service
• Hopkinsville-Christian Co, Paramedicine ($30,000), with Nelson County EMS
• Hopkinsville Christian Co, Paramedicine ($10,000), with Wayne Co. EMS
• Kentucky Christian University, BSN ($318,000), with King’s Daughter’s Medical Center
• Lindsey Wilson College, BSN ($57,000), with Taylor Regional Hospital
• Midway University, ADN ($60,000), with Bluegrass Care Navigators
• Morehead State University, ADN ( $190,000), with King’s Daughter’s Medical Center
• Morehead State University, Imaging Sciences ($300,000), with UK Saint Claire
• Morehead State University, BSN ($190,000), with King’s Daughters Medical Center
• Morehead State University, Radiography ($152,000), with King’s Daughter’s Medical Center
• Murray State University, BSN ($50,000), with Baptist Health Paducah
• Murray State University, BSN ($40,000), with Bon Secours Mercy Health
• Murray State University, BSN ($100,000), with Jackson Purchase Medical Center
• Northern Kentucky University, Social Work ($100,000), with Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky
• Northern Kentucky University, Social Work ($25,000), with Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions
• Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, ADN ($100,000), with Med Center Health
• Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Radiography, Radiology ($20,000), with Med Center Health
• University of Kentucky, BSN ($721,070), with UK Healthcare
• University of Kentucky, Certified Physician Assistant ($320,000), with UK Saint Claire
• Western Kentucky University, BSN ($200,000), with Med Center Health