The academic, clinical, and practicum activities of the residency are combined over the two-year (PGY2/PGY3) program.

• Coursework in health services administration, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, and risk/hazard control and communication
• Capstone research project (MPH requirement)
• Weekly didactic curriculum to expose the resident to real-world applications of the principles of preventive medicine and to think critically about how health and quality of life can be optimized for both individuals and populations, including clinical preventive medicine and lifestyle medicine
• Journal clubs to critically analyze current research in the areas of public health and preventive medicine
• Inter-professional conferences/ didactic opportunities
• Annual professional conferences

The practicum experience is designed to be flexible in providing core and specialty competencies in a variety of settings that represent a spectrum of health concerns and issues.

• Residents longitudinally complete at least 80 half days of clinical care each PGY in outpatient settings.
• Additional clinical opportunities may be taken as an elective at the University of Kentucky.

• Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH)
• Lexington-Fayette County Health Department
• Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• University of Kentucky (UK)

The program director and each resident collaborate in designing a unique practicum experience. These exposures will provide the resident with experience in planning and delivering both individual and population-based preventive services. The objectives for each practicum site may be met over a series of rotations occurring during PGY2/PGY3 and are designed to help each resident achieve the ACGME core competencies in Preventive Medicine.

Past rotations sites and focus include the following examples: Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), addiction medicine, Kentucky Health Information Exchange, informatics, UK Center for Health Services Research, UK Center for Innovation in Population Health, research, KDPH Office of Health Equity, integrative medicine, and health policy.

Resident coursework is completed at the UK College of Public Health, a nationally ranked MPH program and a fully-accredited school of public health. Residents concentrate in environmental health.

The MPH requires a minimum of 42 credit hours. All students must complete 15 semester hours of required core coursework and at least nine credit hours of electives and area requirements in their concentration of environmental health. In addition, a one credit hour public health overview course, three credit hour field practicum experience, three credit hour of research, and capstone project are required. The MPH core course requirements provide a broad overview of the disciplines of public health and the basic principles of public health practice. Specialty coursework develops the skills and knowledge upon which to build or enhance a career in public health. The culminating experience is a research-based capstone project that requires a formal written product and a final examination presentation.

For additional information go to Master of Public Health | College of Public Health (uky.edu).

Applications are accepted from any physician who has successfully completed at least 12 months of clinical education in a residency program from an ACGME-accredited residency program, AOA-approved residency program, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)-accredited residency program located in Canada, or in residency programs with ACGME International (ACGME-I) Advanced Specialty Accreditation that includes at least ten months of direct patient care in both inpatient and outpatient settings (PGY1/internship). USMLE Step III/COMLEX-USA Level 3 must be passed prior to starting the program to be considered eligible for this program. 

We utilize the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) for applications. 

• Personal statement
• Curriculum vitae
• Medical school transcript
• Copy of medical school diploma
• Dean's letter from medical school (optional)
• Certificate of completion of PGY1 clinical year (and subsequent years, if applicable)
• Copy of board certification (if applicable)
• Copy of current licensure and DEA certificate (if applicable)
• Copy of USMLE, COMLEX, or other nationally recognized assessment examination results

• Three letters of recommendation, including one from the program director at the end of PGY1/residency program, and will include the following:
  • a statement that the applicant successfully completed 12 months of PGY1 training with at least ten months direct patient care

• Successful completion of PGY1 (see above for additional requirements)
• Unrestricted license by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
• Acceptance into the UK College of Public Health MPH
• Attendance at evening classes, day trips to off-site rotations, and provide outpatient clinical care