Morehead Campus
Experience Purpose-Driven MD Training Close to Home
Why Students Choose Morehead
Students choose the Morehead campus for its sense of purpose and strong community. They want UK’s MD training in a place where they feel known, supported, and connected to the region they serve.
Many are drawn to the mission of caring for rural communities, the close mentorship from faculty, and the opportunity to grow through service-learning and community engagement. Morehead offers a supportive, mission-driven environment where students can stay close to home, build meaningful relationships, and prepare to make a real impact in Eastern Kentucky.
Rural Physician Leadership Program
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP) is Morehead's educational program, designed to train future physicians and health care leaders to provide high-quality, compassionate care in rural settings.
This is a unique, four-year medical education program where graduates gain the knowledge and experience needed to work with civic and community leaders to improve the general health of the communities they serve.
- The first two years of medical school start in Lexington and years three and four are based in Morehead, Ky.
- Students gain experience through UK St. Claire and with physicians in the Northeast Kentucky region serving as preceptors.
- RPLP currently accepts at least 12 students per year.
UK's Morehead Campus Offers:
- A strong sense of belonging and close relationships with faculty
- A steady, supportive environment ideal for focused learning
- Deep ties to Eastern Kentucky communities and providers
- Robust training through the Rural Physician Leadership Program
- A campus culture built on trust, purpose, and local connection
- Opportunities to understand rural health care firsthand
What Our Students Say
“I have had irreplaceable hands on experiences in the operating room, one-on-one time with attendings learning evidence-based medicine, and the ability to learn from and give back to a region that has given so much to me."
A Supportive and Close-Knit Community
At the Morehead Campus, you’ll learn alongside a small cohort of students who quickly become part of your support system. The environment is collaborative and welcoming, with campus events and shared study opportunities that make it easy to connect.
Here, you’re known.
Faculty understand your goals, classmates become partners in your journey, and the relationships you build strengthen both your well-being and your success in medical school.
Building a Healthier Future for Rural Kentucky
Kentucky’s rural communities deserve exceptional physicians — and Morehead helps prepare them. You’ll study UK’s MD curriculum in a setting where faculty know their students well and provide the guidance needed to navigate each stage of training.
Morehead attracts students who want to serve with purpose.
Through service-learning, student-led initiatives, and community health work, you’ll broaden your understanding of rural care and see the direct impact your efforts have across Eastern Kentucky. Purpose, connection, and community support you as you grow into the physician you want to become.
Hear from an RPLP Med Student:
Life in Morehead, KY
Morehead sits in Eastern Kentucky, surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It’s a region known for its natural beauty, welcoming communities, and endless outdoor recreation.
If you enjoy the outdoors, you’ll find plenty to explore:
- Mountain biking in the Daniel Boone National Forest
- ATV trails that wind through wooded terrain
- Water activities on Cave Run Lake, from jet skiing to some of the nation’s best muskie fishing
- Hiking through the Appalachian Trail and climbing in the Red River Gorge
- Site seeing the trails at Carter Caves State Park and throughout the national forest
Beyond the outdoors, Eastern Kentucky’s culture is vibrant and community-centered. You’ll hear live bluegrass music most weekends, enjoy local festivals like the Morgan County Sorghum Festival, and experience the craft traditions the region is known for. In the winter, Morehead State University basketball adds another layer of local pride and connection.
To learn more about the region, visit the Morehead Chamber of Commerce or the Morehead Visitors Center. You can also explore city resources at morehead-ky.gov.
