The Economic Future Looks Bright for Kentucky’s Optometry Students
The inaugural class of 65 students at University of Pikeville's Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), one of only two optometry schools in the Appalachian Region, is entering its second year. The group is expected to graduate in 2020. One of those students is Travis Keene, a displaced coal miner from Eastern Kentucky. When Keene lost his job in the mines he decided to go back to school and finish his undergraduate degree at the University of Pikeville. His interest in the sciences led him to apply to the university’s Kentucky College of Optometry. “Sometimes it still seems unreal,” said Keene. “But the future looks strong because of the opportunities this school provides…As someone from a rural area, I believe the experience will help me in treating patients.”
ARC supported start-up operations of the KYCO in 2014-- including developing a curriculum, hiring staff and faculty, securing pre-accreditation status, and establishing clinical partnerships-- with the goal of creating businesses and jobs, and expanding the regional healthcare workforce. An additional POWER grant allowed KYCO to purchase equipment, furnishings, instructional supplies, and signage for the school’s new facility, which is nearing completion. The school's operation will have a substantial direct economic impact on Pikeville and surrounding communities. Once trained, a large share of graduates are expected to remain in Appalachia and in coal-impacted communities, generating ongoing economic benefits while also improving health outcomes for the people they serve.
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