Background
As part of the 1994 Health Care Reform Act, state universities were permitted to cooperatively provide mid-level health care programs to students in medically under served areas of the state.
Consistent with this concept, the University of Kentucky College of Allied Health Professions, Morehead State University's College of Science and Technology, St. Claire Medical Center, and the Northeast Kentucky Area Health Education Center combined efforts for the Physician Assistant Extension Program at MSU, which began in August 1996.
In 1998, eight students: Marcia Adams of Wurtland; Kim Bromagen of Mt. Sterling; Andy Edie of Morehead; Mark Fairchild of West Liberty; Jennifer Hardin of Morehead, Jennifer House of Williamstown; Laura Lueken of Ashland, and Jill Short of Pippa Passes were the first to graduate from the MSU/UK Physician Assistant Program with bachelor of science degrees from UK.
Timeline
The Morehead Campus of the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Program was established in 1996 through a partnership between the University of Kentucky, Morehead State University, St. Claire Medical Center, and regional health care leaders. The campus was created to address the shortage of health care providers in eastern Kentucky by educating physician assistants who would practice in rural and underserved communities.
Early Leadership
- Dr. Brad Schwarz served as the inaugural director during the program's establishment and early years.
- Jim Fry, PA-C was among the earliest leaders and faculty members who helped build the educational and clinical infrastructure of the program.
- Bill Grimes, PA-C became an important faculty member and mentor, bringing extensive experience in rural primary care and helping shape the program's mission of service to eastern Kentucky.
Bill Grimes' Contribution
After 27 years in primary care practice, Bill Grimes joined the UK PA Program at Morehead and became one of the most influential educators in the program's history. He was known for:
- Emphasizing compassionate, patient-centered care.
- Mentoring generations of PA students.
- Promoting service to rural and underserved populations.
- Building strong relationships with regional clinical sites and providers.
- Helping graduates develop a commitment to practicing in eastern Kentucky.
His philosophy, "Always keep the care in health care," became a hallmark of his teaching.
Later Leadership
The program continued to grow under subsequent leaders including:
Each contributed to expanding student enrollment, clinical training opportunities, and the reputation of the Morehead Campus throughout Kentucky.
Legacy
One of the greatest achievements of the Morehead Campus has been its success in educating physician assistants who remain in eastern Kentucky and other rural areas of the Commonwealth. Bill Grimes noted that many graduates of the program are now practicing throughout the region, reflecting the campus's original mission of improving rural health care access.