Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) received funding from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) to host a summer program for rising high school seniors interested in the health sciences. The program, called Healthcare Exploration and Academic Transition (HEAT), aims to provide students with opportunities to explore healthcare careers through hands-on experiences, simulations and essential skill development for pursuing postsecondary education in healthcare fields.
“EKU’s reach into the health sciences extends deep into the communities of our service region through outreach programs like HEAT,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “In our commitment to serve the needs of our service region and state, we take a proactive approach in cultivating an interest in healthcare among youth in our communities, providing a high-quality education at EKU and then getting graduates back into their hometowns to serve their families, friends and neighbors in a meaningful way.”
According to the Rural Health Information Hub, nearly all of the state’s counties are considered health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). Through a variety of healthcare-related programs, EKU helps to fill healthcare needs. Nearly 4,000 EKU students enrolled in a healthcare degree program in Fall 2024, and 72% of EKU health graduates are employed in Kentucky three years after graduation.
Student Engagement Director of EKU’s College of Health Sciences and Director of the HEAT Program 2025, Dr. Jamie Woolery, said, “The HEAT program is designed to help foster high school students’ interest in all aspects of healthcare careers and encourage them to pursue a healthcare major at a post-secondary school. In turn, this will hopefully increase the amount of providers we are putting back into communities. With the national shortage of healthcare workers, this is an intentional program with that goal in mind.”
The HEAT program specifically targets high school students from three regions—Whitley County, Estill County, Lexington/Fayette County and their adjacent counties. Through an application process, 30 high school students from each subregion will be selected to participate in the program.
HEAT program participation includes two immersive days for aspiring healthcare students this summer: one in the field and one on EKU’s campus in Richmond, exploring healthcare careers in the College of Health Sciences. In local communities, they’ll shadow healthcare professionals at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. EKU partnered with Baptist Health Corbin, Mercy Health Marcum and Wallace and others to offer this experience.
“EKU and the College of Health Sciences are well positioned for this program due to our many community partners and experience partnering with Baptist Health Richmond and Madison County Schools for the Medical Explorers Academy,” Woolery said. “Our innovation and commitment to pouring into our communities and developing partnerships in these communities ultimately helps to increase the healthcare workforce.”
CPE awarded EKU $54,833 to fund one year of the HEAT program, but Woolery hopes to expand funding options to continue the initiative beyond 2025.
“These summer programs are a win-win for Kentucky, as they increase our college-going rate and help address workforce shortages,” said Leslie Sizemore, CPE associate vice president for workforce and economic initiatives.
EKU offers opportunities for students to pursue careers in healthcare through degrees in nursing, occupational therapy, medical laboratory science, emergency medical care, communication disorders, psychology, biomedical sciences, public health and exercise and sport science. In an effort to further combat the healthcare shortage in rural Kentucky, EKU is currently seeking approval from the Kentucky General Assembly to offer the state’s first public College of Osteopathic Medicine.
By Elise Russell
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