UK HealthCare highlights 18 months of UK St. Claire integration, expanding care and workforce

Leslie M. Sizemore, CPE; Debra Neff, UK St. Claire; CPE President Aaron Thompson; Patrick Pabian, UK; and Kayla Harrison, Elizabeth Reynolds and Casey Potter, all from UK St. Claire, accept award from CPE. Photo submitted.

MOREHEAD, Ky. — After more than six decades of collaboration and 18 months as part of UK HealthCare, UK St. Claire’s integration into the University of Kentucky health system continues to expand access to care, strengthen the health care workforce and help families across eastern Kentucky receive high-quality care close to home.

Over the past three years — which includes significant growth during the last 18 months — UK St. Claire has recruited 43 physicians and added nine specialty service lines, increasing access to high-demand care across its eight-county primary market. New services include endocrinology, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, orthopaedic spine surgery, plastic and hand surgery, and vascular surgery.

“Integrating UK St. Claire into UK HealthCare strengthens our ability to advance the health of Kentucky,” said Eric N. Monday, executive vice president for finance and administration and co-executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Kentucky. “UK St. Claire plays a critical role in expanding access to high-quality care and opportunity across the commonwealth.”

As part of UK HealthCare, UK St. Claire has expanded workforce development and education efforts. The organization now collaborates with all University of Kentucky health colleges to support clinical education and training opportunities and help build sustainable pipelines into high-demand health care careers.

“Here in eastern Kentucky, that impact is tangible,” said Donald H. Lloyd II, president and CEO of UK St. Claire. “Being part of UK HealthCare means more services, more physicians and the ability to care for our neighbors close to home while remaining connected to the commonwealth’s flagship university.”

Through the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund, UK HealthCare and UK St. Claire have supported approximately $1.53 million in postsecondary workforce investments, including training for nursing, imaging and physician assistant programs and a recent $300,000 Doctor of Physical Therapy award. The award supports University of Kentucky Doctor of Physical Therapy students who commit to serving patients locally after graduation.

In addition, the University of Kentucky Rural Family Medicine Residency – Morehead, based at UK St. Claire, was named to the Rural Medical Training Collaborative’s 2025 Rural Recognition List. The program is the only one in Kentucky — and one of just 31 nationwide — recognized for its success in training physicians who choose community-based practice.

UK St. Claire is also aligning clinical and operational systems with UK HealthCare to support consistent, safe patient care across the system. For patients, one of the most visible changes is planned for summer 2026 with the launch of MyChart, improving access to health information and care teams.
 

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