Murray State University continues to make progress on a new medical school and pre-medicine program in collaboration with the University of Louisville.
The partnership, announced in November, would include what is known as a “2+2” program where pre-med students who have completed their undergraduate education at Murray State would then be able to enroll at the University of Louisville, but remain at Murray State for the first two years of medical school. The initiative also includes a potential University of Louisville School of Medicine to be built on Murray State’s campus.
In the Board of Regents quarterly meeting held on Aug. 29, Jordan Smith, assistant vice president of Public Affairs, presented a proposed legislative request for the upcoming state 2026 budget session. Included in the 2026 budget priorities was a general funding request for a $60 million UofL medicine building.
While the medicine building is considered an important item in the budget, Smith said the construction of an emergency veterinary and teaching clinic “is our number one priority (at) $48.5 million.”
Also during the quarterly meeting, Vice President for Academic Affairs Tim Todd provided a brief update on the progress being made with UofL officials. Todd said he and Jeffrey Bumpous, UofL dean of the school of medicine, are working on an economic impact study with the aid of business professors from both schools.
“Once that is done, we will have the study and what (the medicine school program) means to this region, to the Commonwealth and to the United States,” Todd said. “Good progress is still being made.”
Dr. Kelli Bullard Dunn, vice dean for community engagement and professor of surgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, said each year, 10 to 12 medical students graduate from Murray State, with many of them choosing to remain in Kentucky to continue their education at UofL or other universities.
Cole Wyatt, a Murray State alumnus who graduated in the class of 2023, is one of these students.
“As I progress through my third year of medical school at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, I am continually reminded of the strong foundation I gained during my time at Murray State University, which has provided me with a distinct advantage in my medical education,” Wyatt said. “From the distinguished faculty to the thoughtfully designed curriculum and meticulous attention to detail, my four years at Murray State University shaped me into a student prepared not only to succeed in medical school but to excel.”
Dunn said this new partnership between the two universities will “further (enrich) this pipeline” from Murray State undergrad to UofL med school by offering new “programming and mentorship opportunities that strengthen student preparation.”
“We are proud to support Murray State University’s outstanding pre-med track, which continues to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to thrive in medical school,” Dunn said. “We value this relationship deeply and enthusiastically support Murray State’s continued efforts to develop the next generation of physicians for Kentucky and beyond.”
Wyatt’s 2027 graduation approaches swiftly, but students like him are only expected to grow in number as this partnership is established.
“As I look ahead to residency, I find myself deeply grateful—grateful for the exceptional medical training I am receiving at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and equally grateful for the education and lifelong memories I gained while at Murray State University, the finest place I know. Forever Blue and Gold,” Wyatt said.
