No one understands the importance of quality healthcare and access to preventive medicine more than we do. Together, we have both experienced medical scares that threatened not only our health but our lives. Thankfully, we were surrounded by teams of doctors, close to home, that not only provided the care in our hour of need but also continued to serve as our medical team throughout our recovery.  
 

From laying on the floor of the football office having a heart attack to discovering a mole that ended up being stage 2 melanoma, we both experienced moments where our lives were changed. Since then, our recovery journey has included advocating for the need for preventative care–something that starts with having access to primary care physicians.  
 

The reality is, not all Kentuckians are as fortunate to have doctors in their hometown. Many are living in communities with few, if any, primary care physicians. One cannot deny that more doctors in Kentucky–and especially in our rural and underserved areas of the state–will improve the health of our communities. Colonel Nation deserves that. Kentuckians deserve that. 
 

Support for HB 407 by the General Assembly would allow EKU to pursue the first public College of Osteopathic Medicine. This means more Kentuckians will have access to healthcare and preventative care which will equate to more lives saved. 

EKU is already winning in the area of healthcare education. Our outstanding faculty works every day to ensure Kentucky's healthcare workforce is prepared. Our graduates are heavily recruited for their work in nursing, emergency medicine, occupational therapy, and psychology to name a few. A medical school, like the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine, will only add to that already exceptional portfolio. 
 

Please join us in supporting EKU's effort to bring more doctors to Kentucky! We need your help. Please visit go.eku.edu/do.  
 

Coach A.W. Hamilton is the EKU Head Men's Basketball Coach and Coach Walt Wells is the EKU Head Football Coach.