Construction of the Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building at the University of Kentucky is expected to significantly expand enrollment capacity across the institution’s healthcare colleges when it opens in late 2026 or early 2027.
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Robert S. DiPaola, UK’s co-executive vice president for health affairs, said the new facility will allow the university to nearly double enrollment capacity in several programs critical to the state’s healthcare workforce pipeline.
According to DiPaola, projected enrollment increases include:
In 2025, more than 7,600 students were enrolled in health-related colleges at UK, according to university data.
The Health Education Building will bring together the Colleges of Public Health, Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences, along with the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education, into a centralized South Campus location.
“What this is going to allow for the College of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Health Sciences, not only are they in the same building, but that building is co-located near the cancer center, the hospital and near some of the other medical-related facilities, and even one of the research buildings,” DiPaola said.
University officials say the move is designed to create a more cohesive medical district adjacent to clinical and research operations. By placing students closer to hospitals and research centers, the university aims to strengthen hands-on training opportunities and streamline the transition between classroom learning and clinical practice.
According to DiPaola, consolidating the colleges next to hospital facilities enhances both instruction and workforce preparation.
The broader South Campus redevelopment also includes plans to expand Albert B. Chandler Hospital, with construction extending along the block between University Drive and Hospital Drive. Kevin Locke, UK’s associate vice president of planning, design and construction, said the hospital expansion is part of a larger strategy to meet growing healthcare demands statewide.
“We’re trying to do things to help our partners throughout the state, well, our partners also include other hospitals that need health care workers,” DiPaola said. “We will get to the point of literally doubling the number of nurses that we train each year so that we can help with that pipeline as well.”
University leaders say increasing nursing and medical graduate output is essential to addressing staffing shortages across Kentucky, particularly in rural areas.
The new facility will include:
DiPaola said the building’s design emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and operational efficiency, enabling programs to expand while maintaining educational quality.
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“A great example of that is the rural Physician Leadership Program in Morehead,” DiPaola said. “And what we’re seeing is the students that tend to graduate from there, or I should say, the students that graduate from there, tend to want to do their residency there and have a greater likelihood of even practicing in more rural regions.”
Officials say initiatives like the Morehead-based rural physician program demonstrate how facility investments can align with broader state healthcare goals — increasing in-state training opportunities and encouraging graduates to practice in underserved communities.
Originally reported by Abby Sears, Staff Reporter in Kentucky Kernel.
