When medical students at the University of Kentucky begin their journey, they often think about where medicine will take them — into hospitals, clinics, and communities across the Commonwealth and beyond. For those drawn to the personal relationships, continuity of care, and advocacy at the heart of medicine, the primary care scholarly concentration offers a way to turn that calling into a career.
Kentucky faces a critical shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in rural and underserved regions. The primary care scholarly concentration was created to help change that narrative — preparing students not only to serve, but to lead in addressing health disparities across the state.
UK’s investment in growing the primary care workforce also extends beyond the classroom. In fall 2023, the University received a four-year grant of nearly $16 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand primary care training and strengthen physician retention in rural and underserved regions. This federal support amplifies the mission already taking root within the primary care scholarly concentration — to cultivate future physicians who are ready to serve where they’re needed most.
“This concentration is unique in that it provides mentorship and shadowing opportunities with primary care physicians across the Commonwealth in a variety of practices,” said Shannon Voogt, MD, associate professor of family and community medicine and director of the primary care track. “Students are placed with primary care physicians for short and long-term shadowing, including options to live and experience medicine in a rural area during the first summer of medical school.”
Unlike other concentrations that focus primarily on research or specific disciplines, the primary care track blends mentorship, clinical immersion, and leadership development to help students see the full picture of what it means to practice medicine as primary care providers. Early on, participants gain clinical exposure by shadowing primary care physicians, giving them a front-row view of the everyday challenges and rewards of the field.
Through these early experiences, students don’t just learn how to treat illness — they witness the trust and connection that define primary care.
“Throughout the elective courses in the first two years, students meet a variety of primary care physicians from UK as well as the community,” Dr. Voogt said. “Students also visit the college’s Morehead Campus to discuss rural health care, and hear from different local leaders, physicians, and researchers about health disparities and how primary care plays a vital role in reducing those.”
After the M1 year, students participate in a three-week intensive clinical experience in a primary care clinic — often in a rural or underserved setting — deepening both their skills and their sense of purpose.
Throughout medical school, students tailor their coursework through electives and complete research or community-based quality improvement projects during the M4 year. These experiences build a bridge between the classroom and the clinic, fostering problem-solvers who understand not just disease, but the systems and social conditions that shape health.
A cornerstone of the program is its mentorship model. Students work closely with primary care faculty and community physicians who provide guidance, support, and real-world insight throughout their training. By graduation, students emerge with a richer understanding of urban and rural health systems, training in cultural humility, and the confidence to lead in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and beyond.
“I have been so impressed with the students enrolled in this concentration,” Dr. Voogt said. “They are engaged, passionate about helping their future patients, and poised to be leaders in their communities.”
Primary care sits at the foundation of every strong health system. Through the primary care scholarly concentration and broader HRSA-related initiatives, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine is not only preparing physicians — it’s building a healthier, more connected future for Kentucky.
The deadline for students to apply to be part of a scholarly concentration is Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. ET. Learn more here: https://medicine.uky.edu/sites/meded/scholarly-concentration-program
