The University of Kentucky is constructing the Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building, a major addition to South Campus expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027. University leaders say the project will significantly expand enrollment capacity across several health care colleges while reshaping how students train and collaborate.
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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 increase enrollment in multiple programs:
In 2025, more than 7,600 UK students were enrolled in health-related colleges, according to university data. The new building is designed to meet growing demand for health care professionals across Kentucky.
The Health Education Building will consolidate the Colleges of Public Health, Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences, along with the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education, into one centralized location on South Campus. The site is positioned near the university’s hospital system and research facilities, forming what DiPaola described as an emerging medical district.
“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,” DiPaola said.
University officials say the proximity to clinical settings will streamline students’ transitions between classroom learning and hospital-based training.
The construction is part of a broader effort to strengthen Kentucky’s health care workforce. By expanding classroom space, simulation labs and collaborative learning environments, UK aims to address workforce shortages, particularly in nursing and rural medicine.
Planned features inside the Health Education Building include:
DiPaola emphasized that doubling nursing graduates is a central goal. “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,” he said.
The project aligns with other South Campus developments, including the planned expansion of Albert B. Chandler Hospital. According to Kevin Locke, UK’s associate vice president of planning, design and construction, the hospital expansion will extend across the block from University Drive to Hospital Drive.
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UK officials also highlighted programs such as the rural Physician Leadership Program in Morehead, which encourages medical graduates to complete residencies and practice in underserved areas. Consolidating programs near clinical facilities is expected to further support that mission.
By increasing enrollment capacity and enhancing interprofessional education, university leaders say the Health Education Building represents a long-term investment in improving health outcomes throughout the state.
Originally reported by Abby Sears, Staff Reporter in Kentucky Kernel.
